Grippy, grippy
We go to Brisbane, Australia to sample Goodyear's latest flagship tyre - and we're impressed with its performance, both on the track and on the road...
The benefit of an asymmetric tread design over a directional design doesn't just stop there. We were then let loose on the track, with two BMW 525i and a Holden VE Commodore V8 fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric, and one BMW 525i fitted with the same competitor tyre.
What was obvious after several laps were the fact that the Goodyears feel more pliant and surefooted down the straights and at fast bends. However, in its quest to give a fine balance between comfort and outright cornering grip, the Goodyear feels less firm around corners, hence giving the competitor's tyre a slightly better edge. BUT that's the one and only time the competitor's tyre has an advantage over the Eagle F1 Asymmetric.
Out on the highway, the first noticeable characteristic of the Eagle F1 Asymmetric is the noise level. My test car for this stage of the test is an Audi A4 1.8 Turbo wrapped in 225/45 R-17 Eagle F1 Asymmetrics. Considering that these are premium performance rubbers, the tyre roar is kept at the barest minimal and also significantly comfortable at cruising speed.
On twisty b-roads, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric continues to show its versatility, keeping itself stuck on to the road almost velcro-like. It also corresponds to sudden steering movements very well, and at the same time you can just feel the tyre being hardy, with its strengthened inner and outer sidewall prevented from unnecessary flexing for a more confident driving experience.
, what Goodyear has come up with here is a premium performance product that in a short time after its formal introduction in Singapore (slated before the end of the year), will surely garner much interest. It has, in its trump card, a tyre that's comfortable, grippy in both the wet and dry, and at the same time very much performance oriented. So even if you were to drive, say, an Evo or WRX, you can't go wrong having them as daily tyres.
32 Eagle F1 Asymmetric tyre sizes will be made available - from 17-inch right up to 20-inch, and from 50-series to 25-series.
Watch this space for a local review of the tyre.
Credits: Story & pictures by Azfar Hashim, reporting from Brisbane, Australia
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