AR3-GP wrote: β12 Oct 2023, 12:27
Isn't that "graining"?
Don't think so. They usually refer to "graining" as the tread compound that comes off tben sticking to the other parts of the the tyre by rolling across tread face, to then give sub optimal lateral traction by effectively putting a rolling component between tread face and track. Notice the outer edge is clean and able to work as intended.
This looks like severe scrub damage, more likely generated by non adhesion while being pulled across the track predominantly sideways. Think that strong akerman geometry, predominantly manifested on innermost tyre during cornering, to try and pull the chassis into the radius with "mechanical" grip could be the origin of this.
Why it's interesting here is (although I've noted there's not a good comparator) is McL desire to improve slow speed cornering response. It maybe that as a consequence of chasing this attribute that we can see this effect. Everything has a compromise, this may be where they're chasing that aggressively.
Number of laps is insignificant in this case, I believe, as it shows geometry characteristic in it's wear. That maybe there in less obvious "show" with all their tyres, just most visible in the extreme in that photo.
It's the type of effect that differentiate between chassis performance, but not often on display so readily.