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Formula 1 tires

F1® TIRES RANGE

With the same sizes confirmed as 2017 (305/670-13 front, 405/670-13 rear), the 2018 F1 tire range introduces new profiles, constructions and compounds that are one step softer than last year across the board. The slick range also grows from five to seven compounds, with the introduction of a new Orange superhard tire and the new Pink hypersoft.

Formula 1 tires
Pink Hypersoft F1 car tire

PINK HYPERSOFT

Brand new for 2018, the Pink hypersoft tire – named by fans following a social media survey – is the softest and therefore the fastest compound that Pirelli has ever made. The drivers got to sample it for the first time at a test following the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton calling it the best tire Pirelli has ever produced. The new hypersoft is suitable for all circuits that demand high levels of mechanical grip, but the trade-off for this extra speed and adhesion is the fact that the hypersoft has a considerably shorter lifespan than the other tires in the range. Getting the most out of it will be a key to race strategy.

Ultrasoft Purple F1 car tire

ULTRASOFT PURPLE

It’s designed as a low working range compound for use on tight and twisty circuits that place an emphasis on mechanical grip.
As the very softest tire in the range, designed to sit below the supersoft, it has a very rapid warm-up and huge peak performance, but the other side of this is its relatively limited overall life. The ultrasoft is not quite a qualifying tire, but it’s moving in that direction, with some interesting potential applications for it available as well during races.
Its purple markings were chosen as the result of an innovative social media campaign, with fans voting for their preferred color.

Supersoft Red F1 car tire

SUPERSOFT RED

The third-softest compound in the range is ideal for slow and twisty circuits, especially in cold weather, when maximum mechanical grip is needed.
The supersoft benefits from an extremely rapid warm-up time, which makes it ideal in qualifying as well, but the flip side to that important characteristic is of course increased degradation.
This is a low working range compound.

Soft Yellow F1 car tire

SOFT YELLOW

This is one of the most frequently used tires in the range, striking a very good balance between performance and durability, with the accent on performance.
It is still biased towards speed rather than long distances, but is nonetheless capable of providing teams with a competitive advantage both at the beginning of the race on full fuel and when used as a ‘sprint’ tire at the end.
This is a high working range compound.

Medium White F1 car tire

MEDIUM WHITE

Theoretically this is the most perfectly balanced of all the tires, with an ideal compromise between performance and durability.
As a result, it is extremely versatile, but it often comes into its own on circuits that tend towards high speeds, temperatures, and energy loadings.
This is a low working range compound.

Ice Blue F1 car tire

ICE BLUE

The second-toughest tire in Pirelli’s range is designed for the circuits that put the highest energy loadings through the tires, with fast corners or abrasive surfaces, and are often characterized by high ambient temperatures. The compound takes longer to warm up, but offers maximum durability – which frequently means that it plays a key role in race strategy. This is a high working range compound.

Superhard Orange F1 car tire

SUPERHARD ORANGE

This was introduced as an insurance policy, just in case the performance of the 2018 cars didn’t match expectations, so the plan – and the likelihood – is for it not to be used at all. With every compound being one step softer in 2018, plus a brand new hypersoft that is effectively two steps softer than the 2017 ultrasoft, the superhard now provides a tire at the opposite end of the spectrum too. It features orange markings: the traditional color for the hardest tires in Pirelli’s range.

Intermediate Green F1 car tire

INTERMEDIATE GREEN

The intermediates are the most versatile of the rain tires, dispersing approximately 25 litres of water per second at full speed.
They can be used on a wet as well as a drying track.

Wet Blue F1 car tire

WET BLUE

The full wet tires can each disperse up to 65 litres of water per second at full speed, making them the most effective solution for heavy rain.
The latest evolutions of the Cinturato Blue mean that it is also effective on a drying track, with increased durability. The result of this intensive work on the rain tire is increased drivability in a wide variety of conditions.
At the start of 2016, Pirelli carried out the very first specific wet tire test with contemporary Formula One machinery at Paul Ricard in France, in order to refine the development of the latest wet-weather tires. This has been extremely valuable in determining the latest evolutions.

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