Porsche driver Thomas Preining has expressed his concern about the impact that the new DTM tire could have on the performance of the Manthey team. After a strong criticism of the Balance of Performance (BoP) at Norisring, Preining points out that the new Pirelli tire, used exclusively in the DTM since 2026, has eliminated the strengths of the Porsche.
According to Preining, “all the weaknesses we had in the Porsche have disappeared with the new tire. There is now much more grip, but this benefits all teams, not just ours.” This means that, both in wheel-to-wheel battles and in corners, their performance has noticeably worsened.
The loss of Porsche’s advantage
The new tire appears to have a greater capacity to maintain traction during braking. Previously, the DHG tire, used in the DTM and other GT3 categories, could not handle lateral and longitudinal forces simultaneously, but this would change with the new design, affecting the driving comfort of the Porsche, traditionally known for its agility in braking and acceleration.
Concerns during testing
Interestingly, Manthey had encountered problems in tire testing at Vallelunga in March, with damage to the rear wheels that forced the sessions to be interrupted. Reports indicate that the team had advocated for keeping the DHG tire after those experiences, although they maintain that they are not entirely opposed to a new tire.
Vehicle adaptation
The problems at Vallelunga could arise from the fact that Manthey’s setup was extremely optimized for the previous tire. The Porsche 911 GT3 Evo allows for multiple adjustments, and Manthey may have reached the limit of its potential with the DHG tire. The question now is whether the new tire has taken away the team’s advantage, forcing them to reinvent themselves.
Nevertheless, Preining managed to win the first race of the season at Spielberg, attributing this success to the fact that other drivers had not yet mastered the new tire. He is currently in eighth position, far from first.
Future developments
Testing restrictions hinder progress during the season, as there are not many opportunities to adjust the vehicle outside of race weekends. Manthey utilized its testing day at Nurburgring with Preining and Ricardo Feller‘s team, where conditions varied, ranging from sunny to rainy. The next challenge will be in Oschersleben, where track factors could influence the performance of the Porsche.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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