Tyres

By regulation, the tyres feature a minimum of four grooves in them, with the intention of slowing down the cars when cornering while maintaining a high drag coefficient that limits top speed. Had the slick tyre simply been made narrower, faster speeds would have been obtained on the straights.

Tyres can be no wider than 355 mm (14 in) and 380 mm (15 in) at the front and rear respectively. Unlike the fuel, the tyres bear only a superficial resemblance to a normal road tyre. Whereas a roadcar tyre has a useful life of up to 80,000 km (49,710 mi), in 2005, a Formula One tyre is built to last just one race distance (a little over 300 km (186 mi)). This is the result of a drive to maximize the road-holding ability, leading to the use of very soft compounds (to ensure that the tyre surface conforms to the road surface as closely as possible). However, tyre changes were re-instated in 2006, following the dramatic and highly political 2005 United States Grand Prix.

Since the start of the 2007 season Bridgestone is the sole tyre supplier and have introduced four compounds of tyre, two of which will be made available at each race. The harder tyre is more durable but gives less grip, and the softer tyre gives more grip but is less durable. Both compounds have to be used by teams in a race and the softer tyre has a painted white stripe in the second groove. This was introduced after the first race of the season when confusion occurred because a small dot was put instead of the white stripe. Each team must use each specification during the race, unless wet or intermediate tyres are used during the race, in which case this rule no longer applies.

Slick tyres have returned as a part of revisions to the rules for the current 2009 season, slicks have no groves and give up to 18% more contact with the track.