VOLUME 59 ISSUE 35 AUGUST 30, 2022 P109
What's
The Solution?
"We need a new front tire. This
is absolutely sure. But how the
hell is Michelin meant to do
that with the test days we have,
with guaranteeing it works in
different temperatures, different
conditions, every asphalt is dif-
ferent, every bike is different?
You're talking about a bringing
a new profile. You also have to
bring new compounds. It's a
massive task."
That was the opinion of Trevathan
on the job at hand for the French tire
firm. And as he intimated, this is not a
change that can be conjured up over-
night. But Michelin does have plans to
introduce a new front tire, with a rede-
signed profile, construction and com-
pound for the 2025 season.
"We've started working on a new
front tire," revealed Michelin's Taram-
asso. "The prototype will be ready at the
beginning of next season. We will test it
in 2023 and 2024 to introduce it in the
it takes just five tests.
But you need much
more time for a front tire.
This is what gives you
the feeling.
"Different riders have different needs.
We'll need a lot of tests in different
tracks and condition—the cold at Le
Mans and the heat at Sepang, fast
tracks like Mugello and slow ones like
Valencia. Validating a front tire is prob-
ably the most difficult thing for us. It's a
new concept of front tire, quite different
"The front tire is the holy grail
of the motorcycle world."
KTM used to be the
masters of the hard
front tire. Now they
claim, due to the
aero, the hardest
front-tire compound
isn't hard enough in
most cases.
2025 season. The front tire is designed
to support better this effort, this stress.
It will work with lower tire pressure. We'll
also increase the contact patch when
you go into the braking zone."
But even the Italian acknowledges the
job at hand. "Asking a manufacturer to
test a new tire, they feel they're losing
time. Also, with Covid, it was not easy to
find a time and a place to test. I think it'll
be better next year. Now the big difficulty
will be to validate the front. For a rear tire,
compared to this one. We'll change the
construction and profile. It'll take a while
to understand the tire. Riders will have
to adapt their style; the manufacturers
will have to adapt their bikes. It's a big
challenge but I'm sure we'll do it."
Prior to that, there is a chance to
reduce aero or ride height devices. But
series organizer Dorna knows it won't
be able to do that without a fight with
the factories, notably Ducati, currently
propping up the championship.
CN
