This is the most exciting tyre news of 2018. Goodyear have just announced an entire new range of maximum performance summer road and track day tyres!
Goodyear have named the new range the (ahem) SuperSport range, and comprises of the more road bias Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport, the track focused Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport R, and the extreme track Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport RS.
All three tyres sit above the recently announced Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 in the performance range. If you're still confused by how this all works, think of the Asymmetric 5 as the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rival, the SuperSport as the Pilot Sport 4 S, the SuperSport R as the Cup 2, and the SuperSport RS as the tyre going up against the recently announced Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R.
Tyre Reviews has already been in talks with Goodyear about testing the new products, so as soon as we have the weather to do so we'll be out on road and track! Watch this space for lots of exciting news and tests of the new tyres in early 2019!
For now, here's the press release for the new rubber, which explains a little more about the intended vehicles, and size ranges of the new tyres.
2019 is going to be a good year (pardon the pun.)
Goodyear pushes the limit with new race-inspired Eagle F1 SuperSport range for road and track
- Three-tier range comprising SuperSport, SuperSport R and SuperSport RS
- Innovative technologies enable significant improvements to braking distances and lap times
- Caters to growing Ultra Ultra High Performance (UUHP) segment, with 39 SKUs arriving between February and November 2019 with possible fitments from Volkswagen Golf GTI to Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Goodyear has announced a new range of three Ultra Ultra High Performance (UUHP) tyres, branded Eagle F1 SuperSport, SuperSport R and SuperSport RS. Goodyear’s flagship performance tyres, the SuperSport range, deploy innovative technologies and compounds that enable significant improvements to braking distances and lap times without neglecting more intangible elements of the driving experience, such as feedback during turn-in, under braking and approaching breakaway.
The Eagle F1 SuperSport draws on Goodyear’s racing experience to provide superior grip and handling. Responsive directional changes are ensured through the stiff tread ribs while a massive closed outside pattern, used on the tyre’s shoulder, provides control during load transfers in corners. A super-stiff sidewall design further improves handling without unduly compromising ride comfort. Although primarily developed for dry conditions, Goodyear has innovatively addressed wet performance through the deployment of a multi-compound combination that sees dry-optimized outer sections paired with three wet-optimized central segments. This enables drivers to safely push harder through corners on dry roads while still enjoying an exceptional wet braking and wet handling performance.
25 Eagle F1 SuperSport SKUs will be introduced between February and May 2019, with possible fitments ranging from 18” to 21” diameters, 205 to 305 mm widths and an aspect ratio ranging from 45 to 30 Eagle F1 SuperSport is intended for hot hatches like the Volkswagen Golf GTI, high-performance saloons including the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63, and everyday supercars such as the Porsche 911 Turbo.
The Eagle F1 SuperSport R further increases grip levels and steering precision on and off track. Grip levels are enhanced through use of a high-friction compound that provides exceptional dry grip levels, while excellent cornering stability is ensured by bridges in the tread pattern’s inner groove reducing deformation of tread blocks under extreme cornering forces. Steering precision and feedback have also been further enhanced by optimizing the tyre’s footprint for more consistent pressure distribution.
10 Eagle F1 SuperSport R SKUs are slated between February and November 2019, ranging from 18” to 21” diameters, 205 to 305 mm widths and an aspect ratio ranging from 25 to 40. Eagle F1 SuperSport R has been developed for performance-focused vehicles, such as the Volkswagen Golf Club sport, BMW M4 CS and Porsche 911 GT3.
The Eagle F1 SuperSport RS is Goodyear’s most race-focused tyre, designed to push the limit on track while remaining road legal. A highly specialized racing-originated compound provides ultimate grip and performance levels in dry conditions. Two SKUs will be introduced in March 2019, sized 265/35 ZR20 and 325/30 ZR21.
Great news, looking forward to see if they can better my PSS 225/40R18 with the same sporty feedback and perhaps some more wet grip...
Looks like I'll find out myself, couldn't resist trying them out myself before the test comes so ordered a set. Knowing they could be the very best road tyre for my fast daily with limited traction, no big harm in trying myself, except the cost of being a tyre addict ;)
Any upsates on these if you have fitted them?
Still early, first impressions are good though. As expected, hard to see GY messing this one up... Will write a first review in a few weeks when the novelty wears off a bit and I've used them in more diverse circumstances on the 'reference' roads.
Do you think that the Eagle Super Sport will be better in the wet than the Sport Cup 2?
The Eagle SuperSport will be as the rival to the Cup 2 is the SuperSport R.
We won't know between those tyres until we see a test.
It's great to see so many manufacturers providing a selection to cater for so many uses, requirements, and tastes, but the sceptic in me doesn't think this is financially sustainable.
Puting aside the issues with limited size options not being cost effective, the real problem will be that people will tend to go for the best tyre to suit their driving habits. i.e. if you are mostly doing fast roads then you will go for the Asym 5 or the F1 SS. If you are mostly doing track days or are at that level of buying tyres for mostly track use, then you will go for track only tyres.
When you get to a certain level it will likely be more cost effective for the customer to bring a second set of tyres that you won't be wasting on the journey to and from the track. That's even assuming that the car they are for is still road legal at that point.
I guess the point i'm circling around is that the longevity of the tyre will matter to even the wealthiest at some point.
Whilst i'm sure the posers will ask for the best of the best and not bat an eye when they don't last the year, but in my experience the track day regulars (which are presumably the target market) all tend to be more frugal. Which is usually how they have become so wealthy.
I guess it depends on the vehicle type. A lot of the "wealthy" will only run their cars like 911s on what's homologated from factory, so that narrows down their choice.
It's only the mid sector of the track day which i find to be price and wear dependant, but the RS won't cater to their sizes.
So Goodyear is copying Michelin PS4/PS4S/PSC2/PSC2R ?
What’s next? The RSR? :)
It's a similar product range, which is great for customers :)
Hope GYEF1SS R available in 225/40 18, they will maybe a good substitute of my old MPSS :)
Fingers crossed :) It should be as it goes down to 18"!
Is there any info if some sizes are available? I've seen some GF1A5 at the dealers but none on Supersport series...
Shortly I need to change my tyres, if nothing is available I will go with Supersport, but from Michelin :)
235/35 R19 should be available in the next few months along with some other key sizes. As soon as I have a list I will publish.
225/40 R18 Asym 5 is available now
It's the regular GYF1SS that is a competitor for the MPSS/MPS4S. And it's available in your size if you didn't notice already.
Yes I've seen, but as I needed to change tyres a month ago and GYF1SS was not available, I've bought another set of MPSS and I'm still very happy with them.
Now waiting for GYF1SS tests and maybe next time...
Ok, the F1 Asymmetric 5 just became irelevant. F1 Supersport I'm looking at you. ?
I have to agree. I am confused as to where the Asymmetric 5 will sit on the food chain (is there a big enough market to sustain it?) and intrigued to find out how it will compare.
The Asym 5 will sit where the PS4 does, the more comfortable sports tyre for the smaller wheel sizes :)
They better release infos and tests before febuary. I wanna fit/buy new ones by the end of febuary
The launch event isn't until April and I won't be doing a full test until May or June :(