car expertEven in heavy rain, the cars in Formula 1 often seem to be able to continue the race. Reader Hans van den Berg wonders whether those racing cars might have better tires, which could also be interesting for ordinary motorists. Our car expert Niek Schenk provides the answer.
Ask: ‘Racing cars in Formula 1 can drive at high speed on a wet road surface without crashing. Why can they do this without crashing and do consumer cars run the risk of aquaplaning, where the tires lose contact with the road and the car becomes unmanageable? Can’t Formula 1 tire technology also be used for regular cars?’
Auto editor Niek Schenk answers: ‘The cars and the conditions can hardly be compared, which means the technology is not interchangeable. The standard tires in Formula 1 have no profile, so they provide full grip on the road. But if it starts to rain and water forms on the circuit, these tires are replaced by special rain tires. They do have a profile and can therefore move rainwater quickly, reducing the risk of aquaplaning. For the drivers, the disadvantage of rain tires is that they can drive at much slower speeds; the handling suffers.
The fact that Formula 1 allows driving at relatively high speed in the rain is not only due to the – by the way, extremely wide – tires. For example, a race circuit often has an ingenious drainage system with drainage channels that a normal highway does not have. The better aerodynamics of racing cars also play a role. During the construction, every effort is made to keep the car firmly on the track with the downward pressure of the wind.’
Our car editor Niek Schenk answers reader questions every week. Email your question to [email protected]
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