Brawn: Tyre performance 'crucial for handling'

Formula 1 fans who are looking to purchase tyres online might be interested in the comments of Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn regarding the importance of getting handling issues right.

He spoke to BBC Sport after the Valencia test on Wednesday, in which Fernando Alonso set the fastest time.

Mr Brawn said: "We've got a handling imbalance because we are all learning about these tyres here and we've seen straight away some things we want done on the tyres which we'll have done by Jerez [in Spain]."

He also explained that improving the handling and balance capabilities could help Mercedes keep up the pace with Ferrari, while problems of cracking exhausts have also been experienced.

Meanwhile, owners of fast performance cars might want to bag themselves Michelin's Primacy HP tyres, which the company claims offers a high standard of longevity and shorter braking distances on wet roads.

It also notes that the supple construction of the tyres allows them to flex more easily than traditional alternatives.