Brian Joss – 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 used 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 optimise 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, the company said.
Goodyear will introduce 34 SKUs between 2019 and 2020, ranging from 17″ to 21″ diameter, 205 to 285 mm widths, and 50 to 30 side profiles, 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.
CAPTION: High-performance market: testing the new Eagle F1. Picture: Quickpic
