Why low profile tyres make sense for F1

Would be good in my opinion, I'm not bothered about the size as such, but the potential for better racing and more relevance is great.
The photoshop of the Mclaren with the 18" wheels looks so odd!
 
Ain't gonna happen IMO due to budgets. Change in wheel/tyres sizes = total chassis redesign. The newbie teams particularly, and probably Force India and Williams, would almost certainly veto it.
 
I don't get why the wheels would be heavier. Surely the increase in weight of the actual wheel would be pretty much countered by the weight of the smaller rubber due to not having massive sidewalls any more? Anyway - extra stress on the gearbox, surely the amounts they are talking about aren't that significant? Can't see it making a massive difference to the strain the gearboxes will already be under with a massively powerfull engine, quick gear changing and high resistance from massive downforce?
 
Heavier in part due to there being less space for the nitrogen.
18's are probably a step too far - 15's or 16's certainly look better
 
Skeeter said:
This. Isnt a sizeable amount of the suspension travel in an F1 car actually in the sidewall of the tyres?
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Not sure about now - but we always worked around a normal maximum 5mm of movement in the damper itself - unless the damper was of a certain type where a blow-off valve was fitted and allowed massively more movement very easily - required a very high initial load to pass that point though. Normally used for drivers who used the kerbs a lot.

On top of that 5mm there was normally around 3-5mm movement in the tyre.
 
Flibster said:
Not sure about now - but we always worked around a normal maximum 5mm of movement in the damper itself - unless the damper was of a certain type where a blow-off valve was fitted and allowed massively more movement very easily - required a very high initial load to pass that point though. Normally used for drivers who used the kerbs a lot.

On top of that 5mm there was normally around 3-5mm movement in the tyre.
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So very rough figures would suggest a 50/50 split. So if you reduce the sidewall and reduce tyre travel by half, you would need to increase suspension travel by half to balance it out to a 25/75 split? With the high fuel loads and massive weight change already causing ride height issues with teams, I cant see them wanting to increase the suspension travel.

But then again, if it makes it better for the fans, screw the teams!
 
Big wheels would allow the teams to fit bigger brakes. Bigger brakes would make the currently very short braking distances even shorter. Outbraking and thus overtaking would then become almost impossible.
 
kaiowas said:
Big wheels would allow the teams to fit bigger brakes. Bigger brakes would make the currently very short braking distances even shorter. Outbraking and thus overtaking would then become almost impossible.
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That assumes the rules dictating brake disc sizes would also be changed at the same time... ;)
 
Flibster said:
Not sure about now - but we always worked around a normal maximum 5mm of movement in the damper itself - unless the damper was of a certain type where a blow-off valve was fitted and allowed massively more movement very easily - required a very high initial load to pass that point though. Normally used for drivers who used the kerbs a lot.

On top of that 5mm there was normally around 3-5mm movement in the tyre.
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The F1 dampers only have about 10mm of stroke if I remember correctly from the old Force India one I handled the other month, so about 5mm in the damper sounds about right
The other issue is that you would need stronger suspension components due to the tyres not adsorbing the rumble strip strikes as much
 
kaiowas said:
Big wheels would allow the teams to fit bigger brakes. Bigger brakes would make the currently very short braking distances even shorter. Outbraking and thus overtaking would then become almost impossible.
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NathanE said:
That assumes the rules dictating brake disc sizes would also be changed at the same time... ;)
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This. I doubt the FIA would change any rules to make F1 cars bakrs any better. If anything, they should make them worse.
 
kaiowas said:
Big wheels would allow the teams to fit bigger brakes. Bigger brakes would make the currently very short braking distances even shorter. Outbraking and thus overtaking would then become almost impossible.
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You are assuming that the drivers aren't already traction limited in their braking.

If thats the case it won't make any difference how big the brakes are.. the tyre only has so much grip.
 
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