The grooved tyres announced in late 1995 as a measure to reduce the speed of the car on the tracks. The first time the tyres were tested was in 1996 a lot of development was done and eventually the three grooved tyres were introduced for the 1997 season. Many drivers were against it, many fans were disgusted by those horrible looking tyres. Not sure what Goodyear, Bridgestone and Michelin thought about it. In 1998 a fourth groove was introduced on the tyres. Again everyone hated it. Though, for me, it was something appealing, it made the cars more sexy, the marks on the tarmac was more special. You know, you could see this article as a declaration of love for the Grooved Tyres. #TeamGroovedTyres
The appealing for of the grooved tyres is something I can’t explain. It is the complete look on the cars, the atmosphere. Seeing Jos Verstappen in the Tyrrel 025 in the Formule 1 magazine, with those tyres. It let me dream away, dreaming about a Formula one season that was different from what we had at that time. Anyway, it is the complete package that made it appealing. Tyres on it’s own are far from appealing grooved, slicks of Monsoon it doesn’t matter it is just rubber.
The marks on the tracks, the form it’s all part of that appealing package that make the grooved tyres special. I’m aware I’m one of the few who actually adores the grooved tyres and enjoyed the years in the F1 when they were racing with it.
The comments people still give why they hated the tyres are reasonable. At that time they introduced it to reduce the speed the cars at that point had. The accidents that happened the years previous with the horrible weekend in 1994 at Imola is obviously one of the reasons. Although, it did not really had much to do with the max speed the cars had. Ad-hoc measures were taken previously like cutting holes in the engine covers and the well known tyre chicanes. Though yes, I can understand people don’t feel lit appealing destroying the form of the car eventually.
Therefore, I won’t try to lure you to #TeamGroovedTytres who adore and love the grooved tyres from once upon a time. The grooved tyres that gave the Formula one for more then a decade a mysterious bliss. An eye-catching sweetness indescribable for the common fan. A love story could be written about this intense happiness.
Anyway I know that the grooves will never return to the Formula One. The slick tyres are much better for grip and for the speed, while I really don’t care about the speed as long DRS and other artificial stuff is needed to have drivers overtake each other. That’s for now the biggest issue in the sport we love. As long this isn’t fixed I will preach the grooved tyres every now and then!
