Intermediate (tires)

Formula 1 racing car with mounted intermediates (2014)

Intermediate is the name for a racing tire that is used in motorsport on wet or drying tracks, when rain tires are not yet or no longer needed, but slicks cannot yet be used. Because usually more of these tires are needed in a racing vehicle, is usually the plural intermediates used in the English-racing jargon often Inters .

properties

In contrast to rain tires, conventional intermediates usually only have very few and not so deep longitudinal, diagonal and transverse grooves and thus more positive profile. The rubber compound is similar to that of a soft to very soft racing tire. At Intermediates, the profile is often hand-cut into the tread of a dry tire (slick) with special cutting tools on site. In terms of driving behavior, intermediates in racing tires are closest to those of sporty road tires; In some cases, production tires or street-legal sports tires are even derived or inspired by intermediates (e.g. Yokohama A 032 or Bridgestone SO 02-PP).

particularities

While intermediates are permitted in most racing series, the monopoly supplier Hankook does not provide this type of tire for the DTM . There, in mixed conditions, the drivers have to cope with the equally poorly suitable rain tires or slicks.

In the 2013 season of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24-hour race, Michelin is equipping the LMP1 teams Audi and Toyota with a new type of intermediate. This combines the soft tire compound of the well-known rain tires with a profile-free surface and is used on slightly damp roads.