Wheel Tethers

In Simple Terms

Each wheel must be attached to the car with three safety cables called tethers that meet strict FIA standards. These tethers are designed to catch a wheel if it detaches during a crash, preventing it from flying into the crowd or other cars. The cables must be strong enough to absorb significant energy while keeping the force on attachment points under control.

• Three tethers required per wheel, each capable of absorbing at least 3kJ of energy (total minimum 15kJ per wheel)
• All tethers must comply with FIA 8864-2022 safety standard and have peak force limits of 70kN maximum
• Tethers connect the wheel upright to either the Survival Cell or Gearbox with attachment points at least 300mm apart in the X-direction
• Purpose is to retain wheels during accidents and prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles