Goodyear’s ultimate all-rounder.

New Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 and race-inspired Eagle F1 SuperSport range for road and track.

Goodyear has announced its next-generation Ultra High Performance (UHP) road tyre, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5. Conceived as the ultimate all-round summer tyre, Goodyear has utilized innovative technologies to unlock significant improvements in wet braking and dry handling without compromising ride comfort or road noise.

Key to the tyre’s breadth of ability is Goodyear’s development of a highly-refined compound that combines wet weather capabilities without sacrificing endurance or dry handling performance. Thanks to a contact patch designed to extend when braking, the tyre’s contact with the road increases to a level more usually associated with a track tyre, resulting in wet stopping distances which are a significant 4 percent shorter compared to the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3.

Goodyear’s efforts to optimize performance focused on reducing flex in the tread pattern as lateral forces are transmitted. The resultant crisp, precise turn-in, higher grip levels and efficient, clean acceleration facilitate an improvement in dry handling. Feedback through the steering is also enhanced, providing a more communicative and confidence-inspiring driving experience, with intended fitments ranging from cars such as the Volkswagen Golf, through more luxurious cars such as the Mercedes C-Class and the BMW 3 series to the standard versions of the Porsche 911.

Goodyear also announced a new range of three Ultra Ultra High Performance (UUHP) tyres, branded Eagle F1 SuperSport, SuperSport R and SuperSport RS. Goodyear’s flagship performance tyres, the SuperSport range, deploy innovative technologies and compounds that enable significant improvements to braking distances and lap times without neglecting more intangible elements of the driving experience, such as feedback during turn-in, under braking and approaching breakaway.

The Eagle F1 SuperSport draws on Goodyear’s racing experience to provide superior grip and handling. Responsive directional changes are ensured through the stiff tread ribs while a massive closed outside pattern, used on the tyre’s shoulder, provides control during load transfers in corners. A super-stiff sidewall design further improves handling without unduly compromising ride comfort. Although primarily developed for dry conditions, Goodyear has innovatively addressed wet performance through the deployment of a multi-compound combination that sees dry-optimized outer sections paired with three wet-optimized central segments. This enables drivers to safely push harder through corners on dry roads while still enjoying an exceptional wet braking and wet handling performance.

With possible fitments ranging from 18” to 21” diameters, 205 to 315 mm widths and an aspect ratio ranging from 45 to 30, the Eagle F1 SuperSport is intended for hot hatches like the Volkswagen Golf GTI, high-performance saloons including the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63, and everyday supercars such as the Porsche 911 Turbo.

The Eagle F1 SuperSport R further increases grip levels and steering precision on and off track. Grip levels are enhanced through use of a high-friction compound that provides exceptional dry grip levels, while excellent cornering stability is ensured by bridges in the tread pattern’s inner groove reducing deformation of tread blocks under extreme cornering forces. Steering precision and feedback have also been further enhanced by optimizing the tyre’s footprint for more consistent pressure distribution.

Availible 19” diameter, 235 to 265 mm widths and an aspect ratio of 35, the Eagle F1 SuperSport R has been developed for performance-focused vehicles, such as the Volkswagen Golf Club sport, BMW M4 CS and Porsche 911 GT3.

The Eagle F1 SuperSport RS is Goodyear’s most race-focused tyre, designed to push the limit on track while remaining road legal. A highly specialized racing-originated compound provides ultimate grip and performance levels in dry conditions. Two SKUs will be introduced, sized 265/35 ZR20 and 325/30 ZR21.

Article: Johann van Tonder