Pirelli plans to keep MotoGP tyre pressure rule for 2027

Many MotoGP fans hoped that the controversial tyre pressure rule would disappear when Pirelli becomes the new tyre supplier in 2027. However, Pirelli has confirmed that the rule will stay for now.

The discussion about tyre pressure started again after Honda said goodbye to Joan Mir on social media. The Japanese manufacturer thanked the 2020 MotoGP world champion for his four years with the team and wrote that his time with Honda included "three podiums".

At first, some fans were confused because the official MotoGP results show Mir scored only two podium finishes with Honda. Those came at the Japanese Grand Prix and the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2025.

The missing podium came at this year's Catalan Grand Prix. Mir crossed the finish line in second place and celebrated on the podium with the other riders. However, more than an hour after the race had finished, the MotoGP stewards announced that his bike had broken the minimum front tyre pressure rule. He received a 16-second penalty, which dropped him to 13th place in the final results.

A similar situation happened to Maverick Viñales in 2025. He also finished second on the road at the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, but lost his podium after the race because of the same tyre pressure rule.

These late penalties have been criticised by many fans because the podium celebrations take place before the final results are confirmed. Riders, teams and supporters can celebrate, only to discover later that the finishing order has changed.

The tyre pressure rule was introduced in 2023 for safety reasons. In full-length Grand Prix races, the front tyre must stay above the minimum pressure for at least 60% of the race distance. In Sprint races, it must stay above the limit for 30% of the laps. Riders who fail to meet the requirement receive time penalties.

Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli's Motorcycle Racing Director, has now confirmed that the company has no plans to remove the rule when it enters MotoGP.

He said Pirelli has always expected to keep the regulation and was surprised by reports suggesting otherwise.

Barbier also showed respect for current supplier Michelin, explaining that the rule was introduced because running with tyre pressures that are too low could create safety risks. He said Pirelli cannot simply assume those risks do not exist before gaining experience with modern MotoGP bikes.

According to Barbier, MotoGP machines create conditions that Pirelli does not currently face in championships such as World Superbikes or Moto2. Modern MotoGP bikes produce huge amounts of aerodynamic downforce, use powerful carbon brakes and often run closely together in slipstreams. These factors can increase the temperature of the front tyre and make pressure management much more difficult.

Even so, Barbier believes Pirelli tyres may behave differently. He explained that Pirelli products usually have a wider operating pressure window, meaning their performance does not change as much when tyre pressures rise or fall. This could make it easier for teams to stay within the correct limits.

However, he stressed that Pirelli first needs to collect real MotoGP data before deciding whether any changes are needed.

For that reason, the tyre pressure rule will remain in place when Pirelli arrives in 2027. If the new tyres prove to be less sensitive to pressure changes, the regulation could be changed or even removed in the future.

Barbier also admitted that seeing riders lose podium finishes long after the chequered flag is not good for the sport. He said everyone would prefer to avoid those situations if possible, but safety must remain the main priority.