The title may make you smile and yet it is absolutely true. The practice of warming up performance tires with a heated blanket is quite common among Formula 1 teams. To ensure optimal ride and feel even at the beginning of the race, the rubber is heated up to 70 degrees Celsius. As you can see, this is a time-consuming and energy-intensive process, but that could change.
In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of their sport of choice, manufacturer Pirelli is promising the complete removal of these covers by 2024. With the development of more efficient materials, they could indeed soon become a thing of the past. But what to do in the meantime, and more importantly, what impact will this have on consumers like you and me?
Meanwhile, in Mexico City…
Recently, the Italian company began its transition in an experimental way at two events in Austin and Mexico City. Rather than raising the tires to the conventional 70°C, the blankets were heated to just 50°C in Austin while they were left for an hour less in Mexico City. Although some of the drivers seemed reluctant to do this, the tests proved to be quite successful.
Both Max Verstappen, the winner, and Lewis Hamilton, second on the podium, only needed one tire change during the competition. Skeptics will be confounded, it seems that Pirelli has indeed found a way to save energy…
But do we truly need blankets?
Don’t go looking for heated blankets on the web, though! For passenger car owners, such a gadget is frankly not necessary. The driving advantage you’ll gain probably won’t be worth the energy spent. Not everyone is a Verstappen, unfortunately!
The technological advances that will allow Pirelli to stop this practice, on the other hand, could one day make their way to the market. New composite rubber used in high-tech vehicles has long inspired innovative consumer products. So it would not be surprising to see new tires with impressive all-weather performance from such additives within a few years.
At least until then, Pirelli still offers quality products that are able to operate efficiently and remain strong in all conditions. For this winter, we can mention the Winter Sottozero 3 and the Scorpion Winter. If you look around on Blackcircles.ca, you will probably understand what I mean!
