Goodyear releases Eagle F1 Supersport tyre range

Goodyear has taken its high-performance tyre technology to the next level with the introduction of the Eagle F1 Supersport tyre range, which will take on the likes of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and Pirelli P Zero Cup 2 in the Ultra Ultra High Performance (UUHP) tyre market.

Set to touch down in Australia in May, the Eagle F1 range kicks off with the Asymmetric 5, while the track-focused Supersport, Supersport R and Supersport RS top out the range.

Goodyear Europe vice-president and chief marketing officer Mike Rytokoski said the Supersport range would showcase the greatest tyre technologies the brand has to offer.

“Goodyear is about technology, we’ve always stood for technology and if you position the brand on technology, and you really want to win in the marketplace, you’ve really got to have the tyres in that (UUHP) segment,” he said.

“We have technologies that we want to display, and whilst this is a fairly small segment, it is an important segment in terms of like, hey, it can demonstrate what you can do.

“Goodyear is … a brand that we position for driving technology, and we believe that in today’s world, the tyre technologies are even more important, so that’s how we will win in the marketplace, by making sure we have the best technologies, and now we have tyres in the segment most demanding for technology and we’re showcasing that.”

The base Supersport grade now features a new compound mixture that has resulted in improved grip in all conditions, while a wider contact patch when cornering is achieved through a strengthened outside shoulder.

Targeted at vehicles such as the Ford Focus RS and Mercedes-AMG C63 which might engage in infrequent track work, Goodyear claims the Supersport is 0.54 seconds quicker around its 3.3km test track than the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber.

The top-spec Supersport RS is designed for cars such as the Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

Next up is the Supersport R, which introduces greater rigidity when cornering through extra bridging elements between the shoulder and ridges, as well as a stickier rubber compound.

The Supersport R is aimed at vehicles where owners will want to split on-road and track driving roughly 50/50, with the BMW M4 CS and Mercedes-AMG GT R given as examples.

Meanwhile, the top-spec Supersport RS uses motorsport-derived technology such as its super-sticky compound, and is designed for racing thoroughbreds such as the Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

The Supersport range will be available in 37 different sizes – 31 for the Supersport, four for the R and two for the RS, which is expected to cover 90 per cent of the targeted vehicle segment in the Asia-Pacific region.

Australian pricing for the Supersport range is still yet to be confirmed.

Do you consider tyre manufacturer when buying a new car? Tell us what you think in the comments below.