Pirelli stocks up on rubber before Barcelona

Pirelli, F1's exclusive tyre supplier, will have about 3500 tyres  at the disposal of teams when pre-season kicks off on Monday in Barcelona.

Specifications for the wider 2017 tyres, were determined following extensive analysis and simulation data, as well as by three separate tests carried out last year by Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari mule cars based on 2015 chassis.

Wheel rim diameters remain unchanged at 13 inches but front tyre width goes from 145mm to 305mm while at the rear, tyre width is increased from 325mm to 405mm.

Each one of Pirelli's all-new compounds will be available in Barcelona, including intermediates and full wets, with a specific  wet-weather day scheduled on March 2, the last day of the first week of pre-season testing.

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It is understood however that this could be changed at the team's discretion, should rain set in at any point next week and naturally soak the Circuit de Catalunya.

Teams have requested a total of 810 sets of the 2017-spec rubber, with the Medium and Soft compounds making the bulk of the inventory.

Pirelli's mandate this year, as imposed by the FIA, is to supply a range of tyres  offering  increased performance but lower degradation compared to 2016, while obviously remaining within the margins of safety given the higher loads derived from a much higher level of downforce.

As a matter of precaution, Pirelli will also bring backup compounds to the Montmelo  test. These tyres will be similar in construction and compound to what Pirelli supplied in 2016, just in case aero loads and performance of the new tyres turn out to be lower than expected.

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