page_title: Formula One tyres
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Formula One tyres / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Slick tires used in Formula One
context_page_description: Formula One tyres play a significant role in the performance of a Formula One car. The tyres have undergone major changes throughout the history of Formula One, with different manufacturers and specifications used in the sport.
context_section_description: During the 1950s and 1960s, Formula One tyres were supplied by Dunlop, Firestone, Continental and Goodyear. In 1958, Dunlop introduced its R5 racing tyre, replacing the cotton fabric of the earlier R1 to R4 tyres with nylon fabric, allowing for a reported 12 lb reduction in tyre weight. During the 1960s, Dunlop introduced improved nylon casings, reduced aspect ratio, significantly increased tyre width, and the use of synthetic rubber.
  Slick tyres were introduced to Formula One by Firestone at the 1971 Spanish Grand Prix.  1975's Ferrari 312T utilised a Goodyear 26.0"x16.2"-13" slick tyre (overall diameter x width) in the rear on a 13"x18" rim, with a Goodyear 20.0"x9.2"-13" slick tyre in the front on a 13x10" rim.
  For the 1981 season the maximum diameter of the rear tyre was reduced to 26.0", while the diameter of the front tyres was increased.   Therefore from 1981 until 1992, Goodyear supplied white sidewall marked Eagle tyres with the sizes of 25.0"x10.0"-13" in the front and 26.0"x15.0"-13" in the rear. For the 1993 season, the complete wheel width of the rear was reduced from 18" to 15", prompting Goodyear to change to yellow sidewall markings to correspond to the new, narrower rear tyres which were approximately 12.8" wide, down from the previous 15.0".
  For the 1997 F1 season, Bridgestone joined Goodyear in supplying tyres to F1 competitors, creating a competition between the two manufacturers.
  In 1998 grooved tyres were introduced with three grooves in the front tyres and four grooves in the rear tyres. Between 1999 and 2008, regulations required the tyres to feature a minimum of four 14 mm (0.55 in) grooves in them, with the intention of slowing the cars down (a slick tyre, with no indentations, is best in dry conditions). They could be no wider than 355 mm (14 in) at the front and 380 mm (15 in) at the rear, and the maximum diameter was 660 mm (26 in), or 670 mm (26.4 in) for wet tyres.
  In 2005, tyre changes were disallowed in Formula One, therefore the compounds were harder as the tyres had to last the full race distance of around 300 km (200 miles). Tyre changes were re-instated in 2006, following the dramatic and highly political 2005 United States Grand Prix.
  For 2007, Bridgestone became the sole tyre supplier in Formula One with the withdrawal of Michelin, and introduced four compounds of tyre, two of which are made available at each race. The harder tyre (referred to as the "prime" tyre) is more durable but gives less grip, and the softer tyre (referred to as the "option" tyre) gives more grip but is less durable. Both compounds have to be used by each car during a race and the softer tyre had a painted white stripe in the second groove to distinguish between compounds. This was introduced after the first race of the season when confusion occurred because a small dot was put on the sidewall of the tyre, instead of the white stripe. Upon the reintroduction of slicks in 2009, the sidewalls of the softer tyres were painted green to indicate the difference in compound, as there were no longer any grooves in tyres. Each team must use each specification during the race, unless wet or intermediate tyres are used during the race, in which case this rule no longer applies.
  Slick tyres were reintroduced at the beginning of 2009, along with aerodynamic changes intended to shift the balance towards mechanical grip in an attempt to increase overtaking.
  On 2 November 2009, Bridgestone announced their withdrawal from Formula One at the end of the 2010 season. Michelin, Cooper Avon and Pirelli showed interest in taking over the role of tyre supplier. In June 2010, it was announced that Pirelli would be the sole tyre supplier for 2011 and would receive a three-year contract after spending three years as an official tyre supplier for both Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and FIA World Rally Championship auto racing tournaments (Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series switched to Continental Tires and FIA World Rally Championship switch to Michelin respectively in 2011). During August 2010, Pirelli commenced its test programme with
caption: Reintroduced for the 2009 season, a set of slick F1 tyres.
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