Mismatched tyres Kovi's problem in China.

[cosworth151]

That's still standard circle track operation. Back when I was driving on them, I could tell the difference. In fact, on dirt, we'd run a smaller, narrow tire on the left front, since it was frequently off the ground. Those tires were known as "floaters."

Since F1 tires are supposed to be built to the highest standards, it would seem that the size issue would be held to a minimum. I'd guess it was either inflation or the number of "scuff" laps on the tires.

[Warmwater]

The tyres are all marked left or right.  I assume that they are uni-directional.

I read somewhere that the problem was that someone on the pit crew mistakenly reversed the right side and left side marks on the tires (sorry- tyres).
Wonder what it is that they do in the manufacturing process to make them uni-directional?

[Scott]

Maybe a layering system that would cause bits of the tire to more likely de-laminate if it was run in the wrong direction?  I have no idea.

[Steven Roy]

I think it is the way the tread is put on.  Run them one way and you are putting pressure on the tread to stay in position.  Run them the other way and you are lifting the thread.  It is the same with wheel nuts. The teams all use red nuts on one side of the car and green on the other. The nuts on the left hand side have a right handed thread and those on the right have a left handed thread so that the wheel rotation tightens them.  If the wrong hubs and nuts are fitted the vibration and rotation of the wheels loosens the nuts.