Washing tyres before race?

[siskue2005]

seeing this image had me really suprised! not the girl but..
do they really handwash all the tyres provided to them before race?
and do they apply some sort of chemical with it , or is it banned?

[GrizzleBoy]

Brings an all new meaning to saving a set up "scrub" tyres for the race.

[mx_tifoso]

More than likely it's a scrubbed set getting a wash to be presentable, since the wheels get very dirty from the brake dust. The starting grid is full of photographers and the cars need to look good.

[marcush.]

cleaning is one of the main tasks performed by the mechanics ..it´s not like the cars look fantastic when comiing back from a session...cleaning cleaning ..then inspecting ...then repairing /changing ...and at the end it´s setup and parc ferme..always the same

[siskue2005]

so washing with soap and water will not effect its performance?

The fact that i didnt notice the girl first and instead noticed the tyre washing make me an f1 Geek?

[JDilla]

After a formation lap or the out lap, it shouldnt make a difference if the tire was washed or not. Correct me if I am wrong!

In my mind, this is only for the optics

[Nando]

The only performance hit i could think of would be that the chemicals used to clean the tire also can dry it out but then again this is F1 and Pirelli, i´m fairly sure that they know what they are doing thus it´s just about keeping the cars clean and fresh.

[bhall]

Is it possible he's actually somehow conditioning the rubber under the pretext of cleaning it?

And shouldn't she be the one doing the "washing"? This is, after all, Bernie's world.

"You know, I've got one of these wonderful ideas that women should all be dressed in white like all the
other domestic appliances." ~ Bernard Charles Ecclestone

[Jersey Tom]

Is it possible he's actually somehow conditioning the rubber under the pretext of cleaning it?

Don't think so. You'd smell the solvents or whatever of a "tire treatment" I'd reckon.

Besides, that's an absolutely immense.. IMMENSE risk to take. Primarily with safety, but additionally.. if it were here.. you get caught doping tires and I bet you'd be outright banned.

[siskue2005]

So you guys are saying this is just for show and display
the actual racing tyres wont be cleaned like this
thanks guys

[bhall]

No, I think the consensus is that the tires are washed, even those to be used for the race, just so they look nice. This is all one big marketing game, and appearance counts.

[Nando]

50% image, 50% racing.

This is the 50% image part.

[siskue2005]

oh now i get it

[thearmofbarlow]

There's probably all manner of release agents, preservatives, dust, and various other bits of goo on those things when they arrive.

[Nando]

Funny fact: Cleaning wheel rims and removing tarmac dots and other stuff is actually more effective with a soft brush then one with hard strokes.

No idea why but it is like that for some reason.