Michelin backs down in tyre row.

Michelin has confirmed that it will 'play by the rules' at this weekend's season opening Formula One grand prix in Melbourne.

The French company had been rumoured to be introducing tyres featuring 'asymmetric shoulders' to their grooves, which were expected, not only to gain an advantage over rivals Bridgestone, but also run the regulations very close indeed. Under threat of disqualification, however, the company has withdrawn the tyres in favour of more conventional designs.

Michelin's pre-event press release, complete with technical specifications of its tyres, underlined the point that the rubber would conform adequately to the rule book:

"All dry-weather tyres feature mandatory grooves perpendicular to the wheel axis and running continuously around the circumference of the contact patch. When new, each dry tyre - front or rear - must feature 4 grooves that:

- Are arranged symmetrically in relation to the centre of the tread;

- Are at least 14 mm wide at the contact surface and taper uniformly to a minimum width of 10mm at the lower surface;

- Are at least 2.5 mm deep across the whole lower surface and spaced 50mm apart between centres (with a tolerance
of ? 1.0 mm).

- The front tyres' tread width must not exceed 270 mm."

The company continues to insist that it latest product is legal, but will not push the issue at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix.