THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE TYRE

Goodyear says there are three clever technologies engineered into the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 SUV tyre, which are primarily aimed at answering its customers’ biggest concerns: wet grip and highspeed braking.

These technologies fall broadly under three umbrella terms: Grip Booster and Activebraking, which are derived from the passenger car version of the tyre, but it’s the SUV Optimised Construction that’s specific here.

In order to improve high-speed stability, cornering stiffness and improved tread wear, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 SUV features layers of cords, including nylon and strong, heat-resistant aramid fibres. These take on different characteristics: nylon has better elongation, the aramid fibres are stronger. These are in addition to a Cool Cushion Layer, which as you might guess, works to reduce the tyre’s temperature.

Grip Booster is all about the rubber compound. According to Goodyear engineer Laurent Poorters, some 60 raw materials are used in varying quantities, resulting in different compounds of rubber in different parts of the tyre. But it’s the surface that’s most significant here, as it’s able to mould to macro and micro imperfections in the road surface, which increases the contact patch. He described the compound as being formed of tiny teeth, which can engage with the road.

Finally, the tyre’s Activebraking technology allows the tread blocks to flex under load, particularly when the car’s weight transfers when braking. The result sees the outer surface of the blocks flex outwards, increasing the contact patch, and also spreading the pressure more uniformly. This not only improves braking performance, particularly in the wet, but helps to reduce tyre wear over time.