2009 Bridgestones

[mu22stang]

The softer compound will be distinguished by a green band on the sidewall, and the two compounds for 2009 will be chosen non-consecutively.

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[Ardius]

While were on the subject (its oddly not come up very often), what are the chances of a return of another tyre manufacturer to F1 in future?
The different tyre manufacturers used to play an interesting part of races, but now with one sole manufacturer for all teams its a little dull. (in terms of tyre performance)

Do Bridgestone have an exclusivity contract with the FIA for supply? Or can another manufacturer jump in at any time?

 

[MagpieRacer]

Even before Michelin left the plan was to go to a single tyre supplier.

 

[Only_in_f1]

To stop another US GP happening..

 

[crooky369]

One way to ruin the good look of slicks.....

 

[Roo]

The different tyre manufacturers used to play an interesting part of races, but now with one sole manufacturer for all teams its a little dull. (in terms of tyre performance)

Dull vs expensive: choose one.

One tyre manufacturer will produce a slightly conservative tyre, two will push the extremes at a price.

I don't think the green will look any worse than the red sidewalls in the IRL. A pity, I was hoping for white walls

 

[CAMikaze]

The softer compound will be distinguished by a green band on the sidewall, and the two compounds for 2009 will be chosen non-consecutively.

Read more

I don't think the green will look any worse than the red sidewalls in the IRL. A pity, I was hoping for white walls

I would mind seeing the red sidewalls myself. Though I think the white sidewalls would make the Bridgestone logo stand out a little more with their trademark 'B'.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Didn't Bridgestone experiment with marking the sidewall of the tyres at Albert Park last year and changed to marking the grooves when it didn't work? Or did they just have a large dot there that was supposed to appear to be a ring when the car was in motion?

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Or did they just have a large dot there that was supposed to appear to be a ring when the car was in motion?

That. I don't know why they don't just colour the whole sidewall.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

They probably figured it would get in the way of the Bridgestone logo on the sidewall.

 

[Ardius]

Dull vs expensive: choose one.

One tyre manufacturer will produce a slightly conservative tyre, two will push the extremes at a price.

Well, thats the current debate isn't it? Should they make F1 cheaper but using spec cars or should they keep it all about the differences in technology but expensive?
I see the point though and agree that at least tyres don't need to be different, though I do miss the differences and their effects on races.

 

[mu22stang]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the most significant part of this article - the nonconsecutive tire choice. The impact may not be huge, but tire strategy will definately be more involved. I mean, in 2008 certain cars would run superb with one set of tires and less so with the other set, and that was with consecutive tire choices. Setting up the cars will definately be challenging.

 

[Tired Tyres]

I wish they would get rid of this two types of tyre rule.

If someone wants to run light, stop more and use soft tyres then they should be able to do so.

If on the other hand you want a minimum stop run you could have hard tyres.

Having to use both types in a race is an artificial way of trying to mix things up and I'm not a fan of it.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I don't like it either, especially when teams have to use a tire that turns out to be relatively crap for the track or conditions. It limits the strategies for the teams. That was a good thing about multiple tire manufacturers; rules like this could not have been made.

 

[VNAF Ace]

I don't know why they don't just colour the whole sidewall.

Because arrogant snobs run the FIA. When the FIA and Bridgestone introduced soft tires in F1, the FIA forbade Bridgestone from coloring the sidewalls because they didn't want to look like they were copying Champ Car. That's why the soft tires only had a white spot at the 1st race of the 2007 F1 season. Of course, after fans and broadcasters complained that they couldn't see the white spot, the FIA let Bridgestone paint one of the grooves white. Today, the FIA doesn't want to look like they're copying the IRL (since the IRL adopted Champ Car's soft tire idea after reunification).

 

[mu22stang]

It's green because of the Bridgestone's Make Cars Green campaign. Anyways, it really doesn't matter and the FIA being "arrogant snobs" doesn't really equate to anything but an opinion. The fact is, most companies, brands, and marketers try to distinguish their product from others to avoid confusion - and in this case, unwarranted comparisons.

 

[VNAF Ace]

You have to admit that the FIA forcing Bridgestone to paint a white spot on the sidewall of the soft tires was a pretty idiotic decision. What's the point of distinguishing F1 racing from IndyCar racing if the FIA confuses broadcasters and fans with their ridiculous rules? Green wall soft tires are obviously easier for broadcasters and fans to see.