Goodyear Launches Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 UHP Tire

Caters to growing Ultra High Performance (UHP) market, with 61 SKUs arriving between February and December 2019 with fitments from Volkswagen Golf to Porsche 911

Goodyear has launched what it says is the ultimate all-round summer tire, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Ultra High Performance (UHP) road tire. The tire is the successor to the tire manufacturer’s popular Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 range of tires and compared to its predecessor offers superior wet braking and dry handling performance thanks to the use of innovative technologies. The improvement in handling and wet braking is delivered without any compromise in road noise or ride comfort.

The main factor that contributes to the tire’s characteristics is the use of a highly-refined compound that Goodyear developed. This compound offers excellent wet weather capabilities without sacrificing endurance or dry handling performance. The tire’s contact patch has been designed to extend when braking, and hence its contact with the road increases to a level that is more similar to that of a track tire. The outcome is that when Goodyear conducted tests comparing the tire’s performance to that of its predecessor, the wet stopping distances were 4 percent shorter compared to the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 tire.

With regard to tire performance, Goodyear focused on reducing the flex in the tread pattern when lateral forces are transmitted. The result is that the tire offers higher grip levels, crisp and precise turn-in and efficient, clean acceleration to enhance dry handling. The response from the steering is also significantly better thus providing the motorist with a more communicative and confidence-inspiring drive.

Goodyear’s plan is to introduce 51 SKUs in the period from February to May 2019, with 10 more being launched between June and December 2019. Goodyear will offer the tire in 17” to 22” diameters, 205 to 315 mm widths, and 50 to 25 side profiles and is planning to snag OE fitments for vehicles ranging from the Volkswagen Golf to more luxurious cars like the Mercedes C-Class, the BMW 3 series and the standard versions of the Porsche 911.

The debut of this tire will increase Goodyear’s ability to cater to the growing robust 8.3 percent year-on-year growth in demand seen in the 17” and above UHP tire segment from 2012, with such tires now accounting for 22 percent of overall summer volume. It is also projected that upper segment vehicle sales will increase from 17.5 to 18.2 percent by 2023. Figures indicating that UHP demand in north-east and south-east Europe is expanding 18 and 25 percent year-on-year from 2012 further increases the potential for the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5’s relevance in the tire market.