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Exploding tyres: Pirelli responds

LONDON, England - Pirelli will strengthen its tyres for the 2013 German Grand Prix following a series of dangerous blow-outs at the 2013 British Grand Prix.

Safety concerns were expressed after the Silverstone race when Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne and McLaren's Sergio Perez suffered blow-outs.

In response, Pirelli said it would make its rear tyres' internal belt with synthetic kevlar instead of steel to reduce temperatures and the risk of punctures.

'EXHAUSTIVE ANALYSIS'

Formula 1 teams, Pirelli and the International Automobile Federation (FIA), will meet to discuss the matter at Nurburgring.

Only the rear tyres will be changed for the German GP, although a complete change will be introduced for the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix on July 28 using the 2012 tyre design.

In a statement, Pirelli said that after "exhaustive analysis" it concluded the issues at Silverstone were caused by a number of factors:

  • Rear tyres were mounted the wrong way round: "The right hand tyre being placed where the left hand one should be and vice versa, on cars that suffered failures."
  • Inexact tyre pressures
  • The use of extreme camber angles on the circuit
  • Aggressive kerbing on fast corners.

Pirelli said: "...the 2013 tyre range does not compromise driver safety in any way if used in the correct manner, and that it meets all the safety standards requested by the FIA."
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