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Tire Warmers

 

Cold tires are the enemy of the racing driver, so it's no surprise that teams go to great lengths to heat up the rubber to give the tires grip as soon as they touch the asphalt.

Credit for inventing the tire warmer goes to one Mike Drury, who take his inspiration during 1985 European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. On his corporate website Drury explains: "It was November and very cold and I saw that the teams were trying to keep the cars' tires warm by wrapping them in blankets and duvets. It occurred to me, since I was already in the business of making weatherproof jackets and anoraks, that here was an opportunity for a more creative approach." Drury's creative approach eventually bore fruit, after time spent convincing the teams that a technological approach to tire temperatures was the way forward.

But first attempt to heat the tires was recorded 1974 during 1974 GP of Canada which took place in September. As is normal in Canada in the autumn, conditions outside were somewhat chilly. The early part of the weekend saw drivers struggle for grip, and there were concerns that on the race start, tires might actually separate from their rims. McLaren find the way by converting their pit into a heated shed that would keep the tires warm so they could withstand higher internal pressure. But there was still the problem when they bring the tires on the grid. The low temperatures would cool the tires negating effect from the heated pit. The answer was found in the team's hotel. Duvets and blankets were requisitioned from the beds, wrapped around the still-hot tires on the grid to kept them warm.
Emerson Fittipaldi took the checkered flag that afternoon, having started on pole, and the concept of warming the tires entered F1, even if it took a few more years for the technology to be perfected. Which lead as back to Mike Drury.

The system that teams are using is very simple. A control box allows the tire technician to set the temperature. Power then flows trough the wires to the blankets, which are wrapped around the tires. Heating elements in the blankets are surrounded by a heat conductive gel, which heats the surface of the rubber to in excess of 100 degrees C.

Tire warmers, Ferrari garage

Basically, they wrap up the tires in the heating blankets, stack them up, plug them in and they're subjected to a constant heat until they are turned of by thermo regulating elements or by technician responsible for tires.
All clear, you think. But just consider that each tire needs to be heated for a minimum of two hours, and that numerous types of tire must be heated and on hand.

The warmer the tire, the more grip the driver has. Watch a re-start after the Safety Car has pulled into the pits and you'll see that for yourself.

Rubber temperature also influences the pressure of the tire. Pressure is as important as grip. If the pressures are low, the car will sit lower down. That makes a softer ride, whereas higher pressures make a stiffer ride. The race engineers will often request a pressure adjustment during setup, along with a mechanical change.

With so much importance placed on tire temperature, it is no surprise that technicians and the team constantly monitor the control box to make sure everything is going to plan.

Sauber F1 Team tire warmers snd control box in the midle
BMW Sauber F1 Team tire warmers and control box in the middle.
Ducati MotoGP wheels on rack wrapped with tire warmers
Ducati MotoGP wheels on rack wrapped with tire warmers
Kart Tire Warmers
Kart Tire Warmers

 

 

Ferrari's controversial tire warmers

 

Ferrari cotroversial tire warmers

 

During June 2005, there was more controversy in pitlane.
FIA's rule states that only a tire blanket may be used to keep the tires warm when the car is not running. Tire ovens, which can heat the tire more evenly, are not allowed. But, Ferrari finds a hole in the rules, and interpreted it in their own way.

Ferrari had a problem all year 2005. Their tires do not perform well during the first few laps. The tire starts to perform well only when it is heated evenly after a few laps. Qualifying and start was compromised!
Ferrari finds solution and they put a tire, together with tire blanket in a box and are using it in that way. That provides better heating than a traditional blanket in open air by heating the rims too. Basically, heat produced by heating blanket doesn't escape and is all contained inside the box providing more uniform heating. FIA seems to have checked it and decided that it is not a tire oven and approved it.

Ferrari has been using this solution since 2005 Monaco GP. They have seen better qualifying performances with the new device. The other teams have noticed this and are objecting to the tire heating box. Some are investigating in building their own boxes. Finally FIA decided to put a ban on this solution.


A couple of days ago I received an interesting email from Mr. Michael Homer. I think you will find it interesting as well. It indicates some things that were previously unknown, at least to me.
In the following box, I will publish this e-mail in full, and with Mr. Homer's permission, I also bring you a picture of Peter Warr's (Team Lotus) response letter to Mr. Homer's suggestion.
You will see that these are some new facts unknown to many Formula 1 fans.

Hi 'Seas',

I just came across your excellent F1 dictionary.

Following the start of the 2021 F1 season this weekend on F1 TV, the pundit's commentary mentioned how the new floor regulations seemed to affect cars with low rake angle (Mercedes) more than high rake cars (Red Bull).  

I googled 'Rake Angle F1' and your site came up near the top.

Perhaps you will be revising the page entry shortly to further explain!


I have quickly looked through some of your other pages - I am sure I will be coming back many times now I have found you!

Thanks for compiling this huge resource.

I am now a confirmed an armchair enthusiast these days, living in Chicago USA.

I got interested in F1 after James Hunt won the championship back in '74 when I was 14 years old.

An uncle gave me a copy of that years Autocourse for Christmas and I have been a fan since!


Anyway, I take some issue with your entry for tyre warmers!

You credit Mike Dury with inventing them - well maybe he made the first commercial set, but I was the person who suggested using electrically heated blankets to Team Lotus 2 years previous!

Back in 1983, I was in my fourth year at Nottingham Trent Polytechnic studying Mechanical Engineering.

My final dissertation was race car related - I designed and developed a pressurized engine lubrication system as an alternative to a full dry sump system. Some how I convinced the Polytechnic I should spend large parts of the academic year 'researching' this - i.e. building and racing my own race car!!!

During a metallurgy lecture on control of grain structure growth in steel castings, our professor showed us photographs of using electrically heated blankets to keep castings from rapid cooling/quenching as they were moved from foundry to heat treatment sheds . I think it was railway carriage axles or wheels or something similar.

The previous Sunday, I had heard James Hunt or Murray Walker on BBC TV explain how after a pit stop, it took several laps to warm the new tyres up. My favorite team back the was Lotus, on account of Colin Chapman's innovative chassis designs over the years. I was never a big Mansell fan.


I wrote to Peter Warr at Lotus to suggest using electrically heated blankets, as used in foundry industries, to pre-warm the tyres for Mansell.

I got a kind letter (copy attached) back from Peter Warr himself, saying that the tyres were pre-coated with a special treatment which enabled them to warm up themselves and that there was no reason to pre-heat them. If you read the letter, it was thanks but no thanks!


Imagine my surprise then to hear a couple of seasons latter that Ayrton in the Lotus was using 'my' tyre warming blankets for that demon pole setting lap at the '85 European GP! 

I had followed Ayrton Da Silva through Formula Ford 1600 to F1, regularly getting to Silverstone, Mallory Park and Brands Hatch in '81 and '82 to watch him race so I wasn't at all put out that he was benefiting from my suggestion to Peter. 

I got to see Ayrton win again at the European GP some years later at Donington in '93. We were living nearby in Ruddington, a small town outside of Nottingham. My wife surprised me on Easter Sunday with a chocolate Easter egg, hidden inside was a grandstand ticket for that afternoon's race! My allocated seat was set a little back from the start line, higher up with eye level opposite the drivers briefing room. It was a 'heated' pre race meeting given the wet weather conditions, I could clearly see Ayrton gesticulating at length in the window opposite me! And as it turned out, my seat was roughly in line too with where Senna started in 4th place on the grid. That race was fantastic, perhaps his best ever, especially that first lap when he came round in front!

Anyway thanks again for your dictionary and for setting me off down memory lane!

Best wishes,

 Michael Homer


Here is a picture of letter, click on it to see it as PDF.

Letter of Peter Warr, Lotus Racing, about tire warmers

 

 

 

Formula 1 Tire Suppliers - History
Tire Compouns
Tire Warmers
Using Tires
What is the most important part of a racing car?

 

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Some useful links:

Technical
- f1technical.net, a great site with a lot of technical information’s and explanations. Site is updated daily with news from F1 word.

Autosport
 - autosport.com, This site is a legend. A bible for racing lovers. News from all around the word. Unfortunately, to get access to all news, interviews and to open the site completely you should be subscribed to Autosport magazine. Anyway, great read.

Formula 1 Results
- Check the latest Formula 1 race results here. Follow Formula 1 live results, final race results, practice, warm-up and qualifying times on Flashscore!

Joe Saward blog
- joesaward is the Joe Saward official blog about Formula 1 world. Joe is an journalist, who write primarily about politics in and around motorsport, specifically on the FIA Formula 1 World Championship

Planet F1
 - planetf1, another site with many different articles, news and statistics. Biased toward British teams, but anyway good read.

Gurney flap
 - gurneyflap.com, Great history site. You can learn a lot from this site. Pictures, cars and many many more. Great.

4mula1
-
4ormula1 is a database of Formula 1 history and statistics of drivers, teams, grand prix, and all results since 1950.

Missed Apex Podcast
Enjoy range of Podcasts and Articles on Motorsport. Every week a Formula one chat on Missed Apex F1 Podcast with F1 journalist Joe Saward and tech Analyst Matthew Somerfield as guests. Also the exciting all electric racing series formula E on eRadio Show and Bike Show Lean Angle Podcast.

Racecar engineering
-Racecar Engineering, an online magazine with a lot to learn from, a lot of technical information’s and explanations

FIA
 - fia.com, La Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, representing the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users. Head organisation and ruler in auto sport.

Wikipedia
 - wikipedia.org, I don’t believe that I have to tell you anything about this site. It’s not about Formula 1 technology, but you can learn a lot about that too.

Sutton Images

grandprix photo

Vehicle freak
Another site for us normal people. Lots of tips, tricks and "What Happens if" related to the maintenance of all types of vehicles and its components. It's worth a visit.

Dare To Be Different
- Daretobedifferent.org Susie Wolff and UK governing body of UK motorsport have joined forces to launch Dare To Be Different, a high-profile new initiative which is about increasing female participation, not just on the track but in all aspects of the sport.

Giorgio Piola web site