Car Launches Soon so Here’s a Recap of the New Rules: Slicks

Car launches are just about to begin and so are the 2009 rule changes.  Here’s just a reminder of what to expect this season and the most noticeable to us fans. If you’re interested in reading the entire 2009 rules you are welcome to read them here although you will need some time to get through them.

The first is “Slicks”

1998 was when grooved tires were brought into F1. 11 years without slicks. It’s been a long time and I’m not alone in saying it’s about time they’re back. Only the cars we drive on the streets have grooves, not race cars.

Grooved tires were introduced into F1 to slow the cars down by limiting grip in the corners. It was thought that up to 10 seconds per lap could be lost with grooved tires and thus give drivers a better chance at overtaking by slowing the cars down in the corners. Fortunately for us speed freaks Goodyear and Bridgestone upped their tire war and in short order produced grooved tires just about as fast as the slicks. So why did we have grooved tires for so long? Who knows.

With the new regulations limiting aerodynamics and downforce in an effort to clear dirty air from a lead car disrupting the grip of a closely trailing car, slicks are back. (but only because of the needed mechanical grip, not because slicks should always be used on race cars.) They are to provide mechanical grip in the corners to recover some of the lost grip by the limited downforce. Theoretically
this should also aid in the ever lasting quest for overtaking.

Bridgestone will once again be the sole supplier of tires and will be providing four different compounds for the season. Slicks have no grooves to paint a white line on to distinguish hard from soft compound tires so the markings will be painted on the sidewalls.

Johny Herbert once said,

“Grooved tires have never done anything. They are a gimmick.”

Next up will be the engine rules for 2009.