By Alex Kapadia

Pirelli could be set to begin supplying special ‘qualifying tyres’ to Formula One teams from next year.

The news comes in the wake of criticism of this seasons tyres, which seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher has likened to driving on ‘raw eggs’.

With the emphasis of the sport’s spectacle now relying on the complex and heavily degrading control tyres, it was the qualifying session that suffered last weekend in Barcelona.

The teams took an exceedingly strategic view of the fight for pole position during qualifying, with some drivers sitting out the decisive ‘Q3′ runout altogether.

One solution, according to Pirelli’s chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera, is the return of ‘qualifying tyres’.

Tronchetti defended his marque’s approach in an interview with Italian radio Rai GR Parlamento.

He said: “What we have is many competitive cars, which is what the teams wanted - opportunity for everyone who is able to win.

“So it’s fine if someone complains. We are available to the teams. We are ready to make qualifying tyres tomorrow.

“But they are choices that are not ours.”

By Denna Bowman

The dangers of part worn tyres were highlighted at an industry briefing organised by TyreSafe, the UK’s leading tyre safety group.

More than 170 delegates attended the event, which was open to anyone with an interest in tyre and road safety and attracted organisations including tyre retailers and manufacturers, car makers, insurers, fleet providers, emergency services and trading standards.

According to TyreSafe, the key to the event’s success was that it did not shy away from tackling topical and relevant subject matters, particularly those of part worn tyres.

Attendees also heard a fascinating case study from Chandlers BMW and Sussex Police as to how they worked together in last year’s Tyre Safety Month.

It showed that with minimal expenditure and some creative thinking that great results in terms of public interaction and media coverage can be achieved – improving road safety at a local level very effectively and cost efficiently.

By Alex Kapadia

Tyres strategy played a key role in the Spanish Grand Prix yesterday - which saw the fifth different winner in as many races, in five cars.

Wiliams driver Pastor Maldonado started e race on the soft tyres and then used three sets of hard tyres, the same strategy adpted by Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who finished second.

They key was in the timing of the changes for Maldonado.

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton also put in an exceptional performance, finishing eighth after starting last on the grid, after his original pole position time was cancelled for a rules infringement.  during the first stint he had managed to move up to fourth.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s Motorsport director, said: “with Pastor Maldonado starting from the front and Lewis Hamilton starting from the back, this was always going to be a fascinating race, and thanks to the tyre strategy as well, it certainly delivered.

“Maldonado and Williams were quick right from free practice on Friday having consistently got the most out of both tyre compounds all weekend.

“The final 10 laps were a fantastic duel between him and Alonso, wi less than a second separating them, on similar strategies.

“Boe drivers showed their thyroid management skills perfectly, managing to avoid falling off “the cliff” despite pushing hard for the race win.

“The tyres contributed to an extremely entertaining and tense race, but as official supplier we will always follow the wishes of the teams and the promoter and our future development direction will be dictated by what they want.

“For the sport, we believe that it’s fantastic to have five races, five winners and five cars - especially when it is as well deserved as the victory that we saw from Pastor and Williams today.”

By Denna Bowman

Continental has bagged a coveted award for ‘Best Winter Tyre’ from one of the UK’s leading motoring magazines.

Auto Express singled out the ContiWinterContact TS830P tyres for the top spot in its 2012 Product awards.

The accolade comes as a direct result of Continental’s win in the 2011 Auto Express winter tyre test. In its second year, Auto Express tested the best of the best in the winter tyre market, revealing the top performers for the winter season from a series of stringent tests made in Northern Sweden.

Auto Express commented on the TS830P: “Consistently good performances earn Continental our winter tyre crown. Great all round performance with no weaknesses, sees off winter rivals and takes the win.”

Peter Robb, brand manager at Continental, added: “This additional win for the ContiWinterContact TS830P is an excellent endorsement for our product range and comes at a time of growing awareness of the need for winter tyres within the UK market.”

With one in every three cars in Europe now fitted with Continental tyres, the ContiWinterContact TS830P is a popular choice for drivers who want the highest levels of winter safety without compromising performance.

By Denna Bowman

Goodyear has scooped the 2012 Auto Express award for the Best Summer Tyre.

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 tyres received the accolade from one of the UK’s leading motoring magazines.

Auto Express reviewers praised the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2’s “great all round performance, summing is up simply as “safe and secure.”

It also complements the tyres impressive list of original equipment fitments including exclusive high performance vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Audi A4 and Porsche 911 Carrera 2.

Michelle Fisher, Goodyear UK brand manager said: “Our Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 tyre continues to prove its worth as an increasing number of independent experts discover its strengths, on both wet and dry road surfaces.

“It is a clear recognition that the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 is being seen as one of the best tyres on the market today, and being named as the ‘Best Tyre’ by such an influential automotive magazine really adds credibility to our message.”

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 2 was named as a “commended” product in the winter tyre category.

By Alex Kapadia

Warm weather will add to the challenges Pirelli’s controversial Formula One tyres will face at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.

The race on the Circuit de Catalunya just outside Barcelona will present the teams with a number of strategic options.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsport director, said: “The race should present something of a contrast to the last pre-season test in Barcelona, where low ambient temperatures meant that it was difficult to get heat into the tyres!

“This time we’re expecting warmer weather, which only adds to the many challenges that the tyres will face.

“We’ve nominated the soft and hard tyre in order to highlight performance differences that will create a different challenge for the teams, showcasing both the speed and durability of our products.

“There is a whole step in between our two nominations for the first time this year and this should allow the teams to come up with a number of different tyre strategies that could make a big difference to the final outcome.

“With many teams having expanded their knowledge of our tyre range and tested new components at Mugello, we’re expecting a closely-fought Spanish Grand Prix - and maybe even the fifth different winner in five races.”

By Denna Bowman

High fuel prices are forcing UK motorists to abandon their cars and travel by other means in order to save money, according to a survey by Bridgestone tyres.

According to the tyres manufacturer’s research, almost two thirds are limiting driving for only the most crucial journeys.

The research, commissioned by Bridgestone UK, found that 65 per cent of people have stopped using their car so often in an effort to save money and 67 per cent are encouraging their families to walk more as part of a wider cost cutting exercise.

Vehicle owners are also reducing their mileage to only necessary commuting and grocery shopping after fuel prices recently rose past £1.40 per litre in many parts of the country.

Andy Dingley, Bridgestone UK Communications Manager, said: “Our research shows that people are sacrificing journeys because they simply can’t afford to fill up as much so the car is being left behind on all non-essential travel.

“The current prices are amongst the highest we have seen and coupled with the fact that people’s budgets are extremely tight, economies are having to be made to ensure that commuting and grocery mileage can continue to be afforded.”

Elsewhere the survey discovered that as high as fuel prices currently are, the vast majority of people were opposed to parting with their vehicle, with only four per cent saying that this was an option they would ideally take and almost 60 per cent ruling out a switch to alternative fuels.

By Denna Bowan

Bridgestone tyres is continuing its sponsorship of Alpine Ski World Cup events - a sport which shares the same performance values as its products.

The tyres manufacturer believes strong media coverage, corporate hospitality and local marketing activation surrounding the sport have helped to promote its premium winter tyres in Europe.

Tomohiro Fukuda, Managing Director Consumer Business Unit, Bridgestone Europe, announced: “This partnership has built a clear connection between high-performance Alpine Skiing World Cup and Bridgestone winter tyres.

“This dynamic sport displays the same performance values as our products: control, balance, safety and grip.”

Bridgestone Europe, which will continue its sponsorship in the 2012/2013 season, will be a main partner at 35 World Cup Alpine Ski events in eight European countries – Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland – starting in October 2012.

As in the previous season, Bridgestone will add to its sponsorship branding package on start huts, gate flags and athlete singlets with high-visibility track-side signage and local marketing programmes.

Fukuda added: “As well as building up the image of Bridgestone winter tyres, the Alpine Skiing World Cup event sponsorship has further strengthened Bridgestone’s growing winter tyre business.”

Results from Bridgestone’s first season in the Alpine Ski World Cup exceeded the expectations in media coverage, business networking opportunities as well as the marketing activation, giving Bridgestone’s range of premium winter tyres higher impact at the point of sale.

By Denna Bowman

A short animated film is being launched to help UK motorists get to grips with the new tyre labelling regulations coming into force in November.

TyreSafe, the UK’s leading tyres safety organisation, is responsible for the short film featuring the McIntyres, its family of crash test dummies.

The not-for-profit organisation has also produced a leaflet for drivers to explain what the new tyre labels will mean.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, said: “This new legislation is one of the biggest changes to affect the way drivers buy tyres in recent years, but many motorists don’t even know it’s going to happen.

“From 1st November 2012 all new car tyre labels will display three key measures including wet braking performance, which is critical to road safety. Our educational material explains what they are and what they mean in a clear and concise manner.”

The performance measures will rate the tyre’s fuel efficiency, wet braking performance and exterior noise emission characteristics.”

Jackson added: “The labels will help to explain to motorists how tyres perform in these three key areas and help them make a more informed choice about safer and more environmentally friendly driving. ”

By Alex Kapadia

Formula One teams benefitted from extra running with Pirelli’s 2012 tyres at the first in-season test to take place since 2008.

The three-day session went ahead at Mugello in Italy – where Pirelli’s prototype Formula One tyres ran for the first time in August 2010.

The teams were allowed to use whichever tyres from their testing allocation of 100 sets per car per year remained to them, trying out all the slick compounds, including some runs on the supersoft during the final day.

The allocation of 100 tyres also includes the young driver test at the end of the year.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsport director, said: “With so few testing opportunities available over the course of the year, this was a valuable chance for the teams to expand their knowledge of the characteristics of our tyre range, as well as try out different upgrades before the European season begins next weekend.

“This is traditionally a time when teams introduce new parts, and with the competition now being closer than it has ever been before, understanding how the tyres interact with the latest car developments will be key to establishing an advantage.

“The opening day at Mugello was something of a wash-out, but the teams were able to complete some longer runs over the last two days with our medium and hard tyres in particular, enabling them to collect plenty of useful data. This will be extremely valuable when it comes to planning race strategy in future.”