Why do F1 cars need to warm up their tires?
2 Answers
F1 cars need to warm up their tires for the following reasons: Reason 1: 1. Tire material composition The composition of F1 tires: Unlike ordinary civilian tires, F1 tires are made of composite materials such as carbon fiber and titanium alloy. This special material gives the tires extremely high wear resistance and allows them to reach their operating temperature in a very short time. The operating temperature of a tire refers to the temperature at which the tire achieves optimal grip performance. Reason 2: 2. Ensuring tire grip performance The operating temperature of a tire refers to the temperature at which the tire achieves optimal grip performance. This is precisely why F1 cars warm up their tires. During the official start, warming up the tires helps the car achieve better grip performance. During the warm-up lap, you may notice drivers turning the wheel left and right at low speeds. This is done to increase friction with the ground within a certain time frame, raising the tire temperature and quickly reaching the tire's optimal operating temperature.
When I was driving a kart, I noticed that cold tires are particularly prone to slipping in corners. The same principle applies to F1 tire warming—tires are like erasers, hard when cold. Drivers weave back and forth on the out lap to heat the tire surface above 80°C. Only when the rubber reaches its working temperature does it become sticky enough to grip the track. The most critical phase is the first few laps; if the temperature isn’t sufficient, braking points can’t be too late, and you have to ease off the throttle in corners. Last year at the Hungarian Grand Prix, a driver spun into the wall right after the start due to insufficient tire warming. Modern race cars even have real-time tire temperature displays—if the temperature is below 100°C, the tread patterns simply can’t bite into the track surface.
