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Rally drivers choose gravel tyres from the options allowed for their event, matching the compound to expected temperature and moisture while accounting for how the road may change from one crew to the next. In FIA event examples, soft gravel tyres are preferred in cool or damp conditions, while hard tyres are preferred in warm, dry conditions—but neither is a universal rule.
What limits a rally crew’s tyre choice?
Crews do not make an unrestricted, consumer-style choice. Under the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship Sporting Regulations, two gravel tyre types are nominated for each rally. The event’s supplementary regulations or bulletins set out the authorized package, including the first and alternative choices for shakedown. Check those event documents for the current options rather than assuming a compound is available.
There are class-specific differences: the regulations specify a free gravel tread pattern for two-wheel-drive entries. The WRC’s nominated choices should not be treated as a rule covering every class or championship.
How do soft and hard gravel tyres compare?
| Option | Conditions in cited FIA examples | What that means for the decision |
|---|---|---|
| Soft compound | Preferred in cool or damp conditions in FIA event reporting from 2023. | A documented event-specific preference, not a guarantee of better performance in every wet or cool rally. |
| Hard compound | Preferred in warm and dry conditions in FIA event reporting from 2023. | A documented event-specific preference, not a universal rule for all cars, tyres or championships. |
The cited reports describe conditions and preferences, not controlled performance figures. They do not establish a universal time advantage for either compound. For a particular rally, the authorized package and event information take precedence over a general soft-versus-hard rule.
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Why can the gravel change during a stage?
Rain can alter the road as well as make it wet. In its Rally Portugal event preview, the FIA noted that heavy rain can compact gravel; mud and standing water can add further difficulty. A weather forecast alone therefore may not describe what a crew will meet on the stage.
Road position also matters. Crews can encounter different surface conditions as stages evolve, so the same nominated tyre may face a different combination of loose gravel, compacted ground, mud or water depending on when a car runs. The FIA’s Portugal preview specifically highlighted the challenge for crews starting lower in the order.
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How should crews assess the choices?
- Confirm the legal options. Read the rally’s current supplementary regulations and bulletins for its nominated gravel tyres and shakedown choices.
- Assess temperature and moisture. Use expected conditions as a guide, not a formula: FIA examples describe soft as preferred in cool or damp conditions and hard in warm, dry conditions.
- Consider how the road may evolve. Account for rain-related compaction, mud or standing water, as well as the crew’s road position and the conditions earlier cars may leave behind.
- Check the event’s allocation and class rules. The available tyres and tread-pattern rules can differ by event and entry class; use the applicable regulations rather than carrying over a number from another rally or season.
Tyre choice is also a competition judgment, not merely a technical rule. At the FIA Rally Portugal pre-event press conference, WRC2 driver Mads Østberg said, “I think it will be just trying to do the adjustments to the car, to the driving and it will be all about tyre choice.” Oliver Solberg described the decision at the same event as “critical and very difficult.” Those comments capture the challenge at that rally; they do not replace regulations or technical guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What tyre allocation example should not be generalized?
For Rally Finland in 2023, the FIA reported a maximum allocation of 28 tyres for Rally1 teams, including four for shakedown. That figure applies to that event and season’s stated Rally1 allocation; it is not a current general allowance for other rallies, seasons or classes.
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