It seems like a step back but reigning Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen is supporting Supercars and tyre-supplier Dunlop's decision to use the 2016 tyre at Bathurst and Pukekohe this year.
Tyre failures with the soft tyres were a major issue at the Phillip Island round of the championship backin April and that compound was set to feature at Bathurst and the New Zealand round later in the year.
The 2017 tyre responds best when the cars are set up with a greater amount of camber but while that produces the fastest speeds it also leaves the tyre exposed to greater load and is more likely to result in a failure.
A decision has been reached to revert back to the 2016 tyre for the two remaining rounds where the soft compound tyre is scheduled to be used and that is the right thing to do according to van Gisbergen.
"Definitely if they aren't going to do anymore testing or try any new things," the 28-year-old Kiwi told Radio Sport.
"At Phillip Island it was a bit hard because Dunlop aren't doing anything wrong - they've made a fast, grippy tyre but the set-up that it requires goes out of the parameters that they give us so it becomes a bit dangerous.
"You are basically de-tuning your car to make the tyre last.
"At a place like Bathurst safety is paramount. You are doing 200km/hr over the top of the hill and there is no run off so you definitely don't want a tyre failure."
