Formula one: After blowouts, Pirelli set to strengthen tyres
Formula One teams contributed to the dramatic blowouts by mounting rear tyres the wrong way around.
LONDON:
Pirelli is to strengthen its tyres for the German Grand Prix after a series of dangerous blowouts at Silverstone led to calls for urgent action.
Safety concerns were expressed after Sunday’s British Grand Prix when Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso and Sergio Perez of McLaren all suffered blowouts.
However, they also believed that Formula One teams contributed to the dramatic blowouts by mounting rear tyres the wrong way around and running them with low pressures.
In response, Pirelli said they would make the rear tyres’ internal belt with the high-strength synthetic fibre Kevlar instead of the usual steel to reduce temperatures and the risk of punctures.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2013.
Pirelli is to strengthen its tyres for the German Grand Prix after a series of dangerous blowouts at Silverstone led to calls for urgent action.
Safety concerns were expressed after Sunday’s British Grand Prix when Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso and Sergio Perez of McLaren all suffered blowouts.
However, they also believed that Formula One teams contributed to the dramatic blowouts by mounting rear tyres the wrong way around and running them with low pressures.
In response, Pirelli said they would make the rear tyres’ internal belt with the high-strength synthetic fibre Kevlar instead of the usual steel to reduce temperatures and the risk of punctures.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2013.