A detailed look at Pirelli’s tire choices for the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, featuring major updates such as the debut of the C1 compound—the hardest in the range
The countdown to the Japanese Grand Prix is on! As the third race of the 2025 season, following Melbourne and Shanghai, the F1 circus is set to take on Suzuka—a legendary track renowned as the most technical and complete on the calendar. This highly anticipated weekend will bring numerous changes, including new liveries, fresh asphalt, and updated tire specifications. Here’s everything to expect in Suzuka!
Pirelli’s Tire Updates for Suzuka
One of the standout changes for the 2025 season is the introduction of Pirelli’s hardest compound: the C1 Hard tire makes its debut in Japan. It will be joined by the C2 Medium and the C3 Soft tires. Notably, compared to 2024, Pirelli has made the C2 and C3 compounds slightly softer for this season.
That’s not all—tire pressures, a hot topic for both the FIA and Pirelli in recent weeks, will also see adjustments for the Japanese GP. Compared to Shanghai, the front tire pressures will be reduced from 25 to 24.5 psi, while rear tire pressures will increase from 23 to 23.5 psi. There will also be updates to the camber angle limits as outlined.
Additionally, Suzuka’s track surface has been completely resurfaced since last year. The smoother asphalt is expected to significantly enhance lap times, with Pirelli’s simulations predicting an improvement of at least 1.5 seconds per lap.
Photo: Pirelli Motorsport, press.Pirelli.com
