Formula E has different elements which make the electric championship unique. One of them is the use of only one tyre compound. What is the reason behind this choice?
The official tyre supplier of Formula E is Hankook. The South Korean manufacturer became the partner of the electric championship in 2022, presenting the ‘Hankook iON’ race tyres. The compound created by Hankook will be used until the end of Gen3, with the last season taking place between 2025 and 2026.
The Hankook tyres are more durable than any other compound used in different championships. Their main characteristic is less roll resistance, which brings more range, and high traction. Formula E tyres are used on both dry and wet tracks during the whole season. During a normal weekend, every car disposes of a compound during the traditional weekends and two during a double-header.
Formula E uses a small number of tyres during a normal race weekend: only eight! FE can take advantage of the logistics side by using fewer tyres than the other championships, with the costs of transportation being lower. Furthermore, Hankook recycles every set of tyres and uses mainly boats and containers to move the tyres, making Formula E more sustainable. The whole process reduces the carbon footprint of the electric category.
It is only during a double-header weekend that more tyres are allowed to be used, naturally. In these scenarios, teams can only use up to 12 tyres; six front tyres and 6 rear tyres in the entire weekend.
How FE tyres work in wet conditions
Formula E races on wet tracks using the same tyres used on a dry track. They are all-weather tyres. Every set presents a series of knurls on its surface, which strengthens the grip on the asphalt. However, in case of heavy rain, FE cars can’t race and the E-Prix has to be postponed, as during the Season 9 London E-Prix. For this reason, Formula E is thinking about a new compound. The new tyre would be named ‘Typhoon’, used during wet races. Every car would dispose of a train of ‘Typhoon’ during the weekend.
The project of a new compound will be studied after 2030, while Formula E works on Gen4. In the past months, the possibility of changing the tyre supplier was probed. As reported by ‘The Race’, Bridgestone is close to finding an agreement with Formula E, replacing Hankook after 2026 and the announcement could come in the next weeks. The Japanese manufacturer, previously accosted to F1 earlier this year, is now approaching a new category. It would be Bridgestone to work on the creation of the new compound, with the brand returning to a single-seater championship for the first time after 2010.
FE and pit stops
Formula E doesn’t have pit stops during a race weekend. Every single tyre is similar. Using the same compound during the whole race, it wouldn’t be useful to have a pit stop to change tyres. However, the electric championship is working to introduce a pit stop, which would be used to recharge the car’s energy. Formula E’s main goal is to extend the races, which would be possible only with a more durable amount of energy. Formula E pit stop, named ‘Fast Charge‘ should have debuted during the Season 10 Misano E-Prix, but the category postponed them to the next seasons.
