Goodyear Eagle F1 - Wheels Performance Tyre Test Winner - April 2007

[KiwiTT]

I have just read the the latest Wheels (Australia) Tyre test and the Goodyear Eagle F1 still wins the overall results for a performance tyre. The winner for each test are as follows compared to the Goodyear Eagle F1.

Slalom - Dunlop SP Sport Max - 25.74s (Goodyear Eagle F1 - 26.34)
Wet Cornering - Bridgestone Potenza RE050A - 0.76g (Goodyear Eagle F1 - 0.74g)
Dry Cornering - Bridgestone Potenza RE050A - 0.84g (Goodyear Eagle F1 - 0.82g)
Wet Braking - Goodyear Eagle F1 - 15.10m
Dry Braking - Pirelli P Zero Rosso - 26.02m (Goodyear Eagle F1 - 26.09m)
Wet Hot Lap - Goodyear Eagle F1 - 23.88s
Dry Hot Lap - Bridgestone Potenza RE050A - 24.37s (Goodyear Eagle F1 - 24.40s)

Overall Results for 245/45 R18 Tyres
Goodyear Eagle F1 - AU$449 - 99.24%
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A - AU$458 - 99.05%
Dunlop SP Sport MAXX - AU$449 - 98.36%
Falken FK452 - AU$315 - 98.33%
Pirelli P Zero Rossa - AU$600 - 97.81
Hankkok Ventus Sport K104 - AU$391 - 95.98%

[bradc]

One thing that I don't quite get is that while it won the 245/45/18 test, it came 5th (out of 6) in 205/55/16, the Dunlop SP Sport maxx did a lot better in the 205/55/16 size than in the 245/45/18 size. The hankook k104 also went from 6th in the 18", up to 3rd in the 16" size. Unfortunately the other 3 tyres weren't tested in the 16" test.

I personally would be quite keen for a test against those two tyres in about 5 sizes to see what/how/why the F1's are better 18" tyres, but worse 16" tyres than the Dunlop's. I would also be interested in seeing a test combining multiple sizes of the same tyre to see how well a car handles when going to bigger wheels, lower profile and wider tyres.

[stuartturbo]

Could the tread pattern/design of the tyre have more influence as they get wider espc water clearance.????FOot print of tyre
I suppose there are so many varibles

[bradc]

Thats my thought too, maybe as the gsd3's gets wider, the big aggressive fin part changes shape, and gets longer, and maybe because of that they get better and better as they get wider?

[bernmc]

Surprised by the RE050's wet performance - have them on the Z and there's NO wet grip. They seem to need a LOT of heat to get grippy. AN dyet they do well in other tyre tests...

Just goes to show - tyre performance is very car specific.

[bradc]

the SS Commodore they tested the tyres on is similar to a 350Z, rear wheel drive, manual etc. Maybe the tyres were a bit hot from their testing?

[thecustomer]

hmmmm...

The Falken 452 gets within 1% on the overall score, but is well-nigh 30% cheaper.

Is it the top value comprimise, where the F1 is a peak performer, at a price?

:thinking:

Will

[KiwiTT]

FYI: In NZ, you can get 225/45 R17s for around NZ$250 each

[bradc]

I got 215/45/17 GSD3's for $199, and 235/45/17's for $219 :) Cheaper than FK452's

[thecustomer]

FYI: In NZ, you can get 225/45 R17s for around NZ$250 each


sure

I was just going from the prices quoted in the article!

Will

[Kieran]

I notice that comfort and noise are not mentioned - Surely that has to factor in as well.

[bradc]

K - no it doesn't. Tyres are meant to hold you on the road, noise is combated by stereo's, and comfort is irrelevant :)

[Kieran]

K - no it doesn't. Tyres are meant to hold you on the road, noise is combated by stereo's, and comfort is irrelevant :)

Bradc, ladies and gentlemen!.........../pan

[Kenneth]

Tyres are like just like any other aspect of motor vehicle ownership.

As such, what you use your car for determines what is best for you.

Tyre comfort and noise would definitely be high on the list for a luxury limo that wasn't planning an going particularly fast.

Many of us (having performance cars) like to drive with a more aggressive approach and as such we often sacrifice comfort for performance.

Personally I like to use tyres with best grip over comfort, noise, wear etc.

This "tyre test" looks to be a statistical affair that does the classical statistical trick of comparing the right information to get the desired results.

I'll buy the best tyres I can afford and thats really it in a nutshell. If I can afford semi-slick tyres that will need replacing on a yearly basis, then ill get them. If not, ill look for a good compromise and then adjust my driving style to suit.

[KiwiTT]

I'll still be getting the Goodyear Eagle F1s again. I think I have about 3 months or so left on my first set after nearly 3 years. These test results confirmed it for me. Especially on the fact that they won the WET tests, which is when I really want the tyres to hold well.

[VR-04-TT]

Did they test 17"? There's a stack of cars that have 17's as standard

[KiwiTT]

They have in the past and they still won.