Pirelli unveils tyres for 2017 F1 season; signs tyre supplier contract till 2019 season

[caption id="attachment_3523" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The 2017-spec rear tyre from Pirelli[/caption]

The sole tyre supplier of Formula One Pirelli has showcased its new tyres in 2017 size in Monte Carlo. As a part of dramatic rule changes for the next season, aimed at cutting lap times by around four seconds, the tyres will be 25 per cent wider than the current season tyres. The front tyre, currently 245mm wide, will broaden to 305mm, while the rear will grow from 325mm to 405mm. So the new sizes for slick tyres will be 305/670-13 at the front and 405/670-13 at the rear. However, the wheel rim diameter stays unchanged at 13 inches.

The testing of 2017 tyres, using cars modified to accommodate them, will start in early August, according to a programme that has been agreed with the participating teams. Pirelli also confirmed that Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull are set to be the first teams to run it's 2017-spec tyres.

In a side development which is important nevertheless, Pirelli has finally signed the contract to be the sole tyre supplier of Formula 1 from 2017-19, over seven months after the Italian tyre maker was first confirmed for the role. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone announced Pirelli as the sole tyre supplier for the 2017-2019 seasons in October but paperwork is the reason it took this long to finally seal the deal.

Source: www.formula1.com

Image courtesy Pirelli