Tyre

Description
Developed as an upgraded replacement for the popular Corsair, the Tyre Aerospace Fighter is an ideal DropShip escort and staple of all Clan second-line forces.

Barely entering service with the SLDF prior to Operation Exodus, the effective Corsair was much admired but had all but disappeared among Kerensky's exiles when the Clans were formed. Seeking to produce a home-grown version, after numerous enhancements and capability changes Clan Steel Viper designers developed the Tyre, which formed a large part of the Vipers' aerospace fleet until the introduction of OmniFighters.

Trading speed for firepower, the Tyre is a resilient and economical craft. Rather than being seen as a negative, the designers kept the speed high enough to keep up with DropShips it was intended to escort, while low enough to discourage pilots from being drawn away. Seven and a half tons of standard Formula TSF armor allow the Tyre to weather heavy weapons fire, and sixteen double heat sinks allow it give as good as it gets.

Weapons and Equipment
While relatively slow, the Tyre boasts an impressively powerful if short-ranged weapons array built around the Type 9a Ultra AC/10 mounted in its nose. The autocannon is supported by seven Medium Pulse Lasers, three in the nose and two more in each wing. Three tons of ammunition give the Ultra Autocannon reasonable endurance, while a single rear facing ER Small Laser discourages pursuit.

Variants

 * Tyre 2 : Developed to overcome the frequent complaints about the Tyre's lack of reach, this variant swaps each pair of wing mounted Medium Pulse Lasers for a single ER Large Laser, unfortunately over-stressing the fighter's heat sinks. BV (1.0) = 1,632, BV (2.0) = 1,837


 * Tyre 3 : This version of the Tyre was built by Janesek Industries on Orestes. The weapons of the standard Tyre were replaced by a nose mounted LRM-20 mated to an Artemis V FCS, supported by a pair of ER Medium Lasers. Each wing received an Improved Heavy Large Laser. To cover the rear arc, engineers installed a Laser Anti-Missile System. The standard armor of the Tyre was replaced by Ferro-Aluminum. Although this model is capable of powerful fire, the twelve double heat sinks are inadequate to dissipate all the heat generated. BV (2.0) = 1,499

Custom Variants

 * Tyre Michiko : This variant of the Tyre was developed by Clan Blood Spirit during their fight with Clan Star Adder on York. This Tyre removes the standard engine in favor of a larger 275 model which increases the fighter's speed by almost 40%. The armor protection has been upgraded to ten tons. The nose-mounted weapons bay was destroyed, so technicians replaced the autocannon with a Streak SRM-6 and a pair of Heavy Medium Lasers. BV (1.0) = 1,789

Design Quirks
The Tyre 3 variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:
 * Atmospheric Flight Instability
 * Bad Reputation
 * Rumble Seat