Goodyear’s latest Eagle has landed

Goodyear has launched the latest in its celebrated Eagle tyre family; the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3. This brand new ultra-high performance (UHP) tyre offers up to 2.6 metres shorter braking distance on wet roads than its main competitors to help drivers stay in control. According to Goodyear, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 redefines tyre performance for powerful saloons and sports cars as well as their drivers’ expectations. The launch of the new tyre comes at a time when the company foresees significant growth in the UHP market segment.

Active braking technology is a key feature that allows shorter braking distance by increasing the contact surface and grip when braking. Additionally, a new grip booster compound ensures increased adhesion during braking and handling. An adhesive resin provides stickiness which further delivers strong grip for shorter braking, and performance handling on wet and dry roads. New stronger lightweight reinforced construction technology improves handling, cornering performance, tread wear and fuel efficiency as well as giving steering precision and durability.

The tyre is the result of more than 36,000 engineering hours spent in its development. This work includes over 5,000 tests of which 1,200 were run on the road and 3,800 at five test locations in five countries, covering a total of 330,000 kilometres.

The new tyre is expected to be attractive to tyre dealers as Goodyear forecasts an expected compound annual growth rate of more than 3% in the UHP market segment from 2015 to 2020. The market is expected to grow by more than nine million units. This is primarily driven by the growth of the car parc in the medium, executive, large and luxury car segments that, according to an IHS Global Insight report from March 2015, are increasingly fitted with UHP rated tyres.

To confirm the performance of the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3, Goodyear commissioned independent testing expert TÜV Süd to run benchmark testing. This confirmed the key strengths of the tyre; showing that the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 enables a 2.6 metres shorter braking distance (9% better performance) on wet roads than the average of three main competitors. The braking distance on dry roads was 1.3 metres shorter (4% better performance) and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 demonstrated 4% better wet handling than the average of the competitors. The results also show 10.9% better rolling resistance than the competitors’ average, with the tyre recording the second best rolling resistance performance. The tests were carried out in October 2015 using new UHP Bridgestone Potzena S001, Michelin Pilot Sport 3 and Continental SportContact 5 tyres. These were carried out at Mireval in France as well as at Papenburg and Garching in Germany.

“The TÜV tests confirm that the new Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 has significant driver benefits particularly on wet roads” said Emmett Sheridan, Sales Director, Goodyear Dunlop Ireland. “Research by TNS carried out in 11 countries shows that braking is the number one consumer need, and is particularly critical for high performance car drivers.”

The new Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 will be produced in 41 sizes for 17 to 20 inch rims with the majority of sizes available by March 2016.