Pirelli unveils 2017 F1 tyres in Monaco

Pirelli has unveiled its 2017 F1 tyres on a show car at the Monaco Grand Prix to show off the wider dimensions.

The wider tyres will be introduced next season in an attempt to increase mechanical grip from a larger contact patch, making it easier for cars to follow each other. The dimensions increase from 245mm to 305mm at the front and from 325mm to 405mm at the rear, with Pirelli racing manager Mario Isola explaining the increase in weight as a result when the tyres were on display.

"We are still developing the first prototypes, the front is currently 8.5kg and will increase by 1kg, but I am talking only about the tyres because then there is an additional weight because of the bigger rim," Isola said. "The rear tyre is now 10kg and it will be around 11.5kg, depending on the final version of the prototype."

However, Isola says the weight of the bigger rim remain unknown, with Pirelli likely to start testing before the new rims are finalised.

“With the rim it’s very difficult because the magnesium rims will be available quite late in the season. Obviously the teams are working with the rim manufacturers right now but I think we will start with aluminium rims at the beginning to have some rims available.”

Pirelli is keen to test the new tyres as soon as possible - with the tyre manufacturer saying it will start in early August - but when asked for a firm date Isola replied: “At the moment I don’t have a date to give you.”

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.