The Tyrrell P34 six-wheeled Grand Prix car of 1976 used four smaller front wheels instead of two standard ones, which allowed lower unsprung mass and theoretically superior aerodynamics, but the configuration created such severe tire degradation problems that the four front tires would wear completely through their usable range 15 laps faster than the rear tires—forcing pit crews to develop a complex tire rotation strategy that required removing and reinstalling wheels mid-race, ultimately making the innovative design slower than conventional four-wheeled competitors despite its aerodynamic advantages.
Car Fact #153 — November 15, 2026
