Comparison: A Positive Assessment for Pirelli Tires 2014

In compliance with the specifications that were provided, Pirelli supplied teams with increasingly softer tires to encourage pit stops and thus different strategies with the aim of enhancing the spectacle.

In a statement, the Milan brand praises the work accomplished: « For three years, Pirelli has focused on designing tires characterized by deliberate wear, in accordance with the specifications. However, the revolutionary new regulations introduced in 2014, marked by the advent of the turbocharger and increased engine torque, required the development of new, more consistent compounds, while still offering the same number of pit stops (2 or 3). Pirelli has, as always, risen to the challenge and contributed to enhancing the spectacle during the Grand Prix. »

While improving the performance of its 2014 tires, which are softer than those from 2013, Pirelli has also managed to enhance their longevity, as shown in the table below – teams also played a role in this improvement as they have become accustomed to the Italian tires and thus better at managing them. Even though the durability of the super-softs has decreased and that of the mediums is relatively low, the soft tires have made a significant leap, nearly doubling their longevity.

« By specifically modifying the soft tire, the average lifespan of the rubber increased from 47 to 93 kilometers. This has resulted in an increase in the number of possible strategies in the race, » explains Paul Hembery, Director of Pirelli Motorsport.

The longevity of the tires has been improved for the four compounds, and this is evident in the table below, except for the hard compounds, which were likely neglected in favor of the other compounds during most of the Grand Prix races in 2014.

For easier and quicker understanding, Pirelli has also compiled all this information into a single infographic that you can find below.

From the Pirelli press release