In short, tyre management is balancing the wear of the tyre with the optimum race pace. Tyre management is a skill that drivers must master in order to maximise strategic opportunities. Following distance, braking and corner technique can all affect the rate of wear of the tyre and contribute to its degradation and wear.
Each tyre compound will have a predetermined level of performance unique to the track surface and temperature and teams will match this to a "pit stop strategy". Pundits will talk about the "pit window" which is the optimum lap range for a pit stop.
A driver will greatly improve his strategic options if he can manage his tyres and extend their effective life. Running longer on one set may be the difference between a one-stop or two-stop strategy.
[caption id="attachment_6450" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Tyre management : planetf1.com[/caption]