Pirelli has been the Formula 1 tire supplier since it replaced Bridgestone in 2011 and this year it comes with news for the World Cup. The main one is that it increases its range of compounds from five to six with the introduction of a new rubber among the hardest. This will allow you a more balanced selection for the race weekends in which the tires will be differentiated into three colors according to your choice: white for the hardest, yellow for the medium and red for the soft. A system of tones that was simplified after using others with more variables to make it more understandable for the viewer.
In addition to this, and as confirmed by the FIA ​​Commission after its last meeting, Pirelli will introduce a new extreme rain tire from the Emilia Romagna GP (May 19-21) which ensures that it will be much more efficient than the current one with which the season will begin, so much so that they will not need to be covered with heaters. Continuing with the color scheme, these extreme compounds are differentiated with blue and the intermediate ones with green. Below we explain the full range of dry tires for 2023.
Pirelli’s five slick compounds for 2023
C0: Last year’s C1 tire becomes the 2023 C0. It is the hardest tire in the range, which will be selected for circuits that demand the most energy from the tyres. It is designed to provide maximum resistance to heat and extreme forces, while being capable of operating for very long periods.
C1: This new-for-2023 compound sits between last year’s C1 and C2. Based on the latter, it was created to narrow the performance gap between what had previously been the two hardest compounds in the range.
C2: The third hardest compound is still well suited for the fastest, hottest and most abrasive tracks. The harder compounds are sometimes chosen for new circuits, providing a conservative selection so that tire loads can be verified in real race conditions for the first time.
C3: This compound is extremely versatile and can be used as the hardest, medium, or softest of any three compound selection. With an excellent balance between performance and durability, it adapts well to a wide range of conditions.
C4: A compound designed to work well on low-demand tracks, where a fairly fast warm-up is required to reach maximum performance as soon as possible. This tire is used a lot throughout the season.
C5: They are the softest tires in the range, designed for slower circuits with low wear and degradation where maximum mechanical grip is required from the rubber. These are normally seen on street circuits or where the asphalt is exceptionally smooth.