Happenings

Goodyear Launches 2nd generation Eagle F1 Asymmetric

BY Joel Tam

Goodyear launches the successor to the award-winning Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric, a tyre still highly rated by media and consumers, with the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 with ActiveBraking Technology.

Taking on a best-in-class performance tyre to the next level, the new Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 enhances the braking performance on wet and dry roads, helping drivers’ sense of confidence and control. It is the first Goodyear tire to use ActiveBraking Technology which helps deliver up to 3 meters shorter stopping distance on wet roads and up to 2 meters on dry roads when tested against three leading competitors.

“Built to meet the needs of customers with Ultra High Performance vehicles, the technology behind the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 allows drivers to take on the open road with confidence and control,” said Pierre Cohade, President of Goodyear Asia Pacific. “With shorter braking distance in wet and dry, this tire paves the way for sheer driving pleasure and top performance.”

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 was extensively tested by independent testing organization TÃœV SÃœD Automotive at test tracks in France and Germany in December 2010. It performed exceptionally well, delivering a three meter shorter braking distance on wet roads compared to the average performance of three leading competitors it was tested against.

A key feature of ActiveBraking Technology is the 3 dimensional block design which increases the road contact patch of the tyre during braking. While conventional tyre blocks show little or no transformation during braking, the blocks in the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 due to their specially designed shape, generate more surface under braking load and therefore increase the tyre-to-surface contact area. The larger contact patch offers increased grip, which helps lead to shorter stopping distances on dry roads.

The new Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 features a 86 degree crossed plies carcass structure, which contributes to increased torsion stiffness for enhanced steering precision, handling and braking on dry road surfaces. The new tread compound, containing very high levels of a new Silica grade delivers superior grip levels, helping to lead to further gains in dry handling and dry braking performances. The lower tyre weight also contributes to better dry handling, as it reduces the vehicle's unsprung mass, enabling the tyre to follow the surface contours more closely.

The new Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 also features Goodyear's renowned FuelSaving Technology, which aids reduced fuel consumption. The TÃœV SÃœD Automotive test also confirmed that the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 delivers top-class rolling resistance in its category, with a 7 percent better rolling resistance compared to the average performance of three leading competitors. Also, the tyre's optimized block design and optimized 4 Pitches Sequence with 64 blocks on the outside and 72 blocks on the inside help reduce noise output levels. Goodyear internal performance tests also showed that the Asymmetric 2 outperforms its predecessor with more than 10% improvement in mileage.