New Rubbers - Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric

Pic 1: My stash of new tyres

I have been using my current set of Yokohama Advan AD07 for the past 18,000km. They are great tyres if you are looking for outright grip. In the wet, well, they could be better though. It's now time for replacements as they have almost ended their life already. Coupled with the torrential rains of late, I think it's time to go for an all round tyres that performs both in the dry and in the wet.

I have a couple of choice in my list, namely the:-

1) Yokohama Advan Neova AD08
2) Bridgestone Potenza RE-11
3) Dunlop Direzza® Sport Z1
4) Goodyear Eagle RS Sport
5) Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric

In the end, I decided on the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric due to the raving reviews it receives (and the great price I got :P). Ironically I was using the predecessor, the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 back in 2007. Looks like I have returned to the Eagle F1 tyres now. Hehehe

I am of the opinion that besides working great, the thread pattern should looked the business too. But unfortunately, the thread pattern on the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric aren't that aggressive at all. Oh well, as long as it performs as it claims to be.

Pic 2: This is how the thread pattern looks like

The below are what Goodyear says about its tyre features .....

Unique Active Cornergrip Technology
- Ensures even distribution of pressure and consequently more efficient tire/ road contact patch where all tread zones are in action
- Reinforces compression of the open tread zone designed for critical wet conditions like aquaplaning
benefit - High performance, Aquaplaning and wet handling

Racing Compound Technology
- Tread stiffness optimised via highly reinforcing filler and a new generation of polymers. This tread compound is more environmentally friendly through low PCA technology
benefit - Better tracking and grip in wet and dry conditions

Pitching Sequence
- Optimising tire noise harmonics
benefit - Ensuring a smoother, quieter ride

The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric have a threadwear rating of 240 which is great. This should last me longer than the Yokohama Advan AD07s which is just rated at 180. Reassuring to note that this tyre is winning awards and praises the world over. Just check out some of the awards it won below.

The replacement size I got is exactly the same as per my current set which is 225/40/18 for the front and 255/35/18 for the rear. I should be fitting them soon BUT first I got to get my Endless brakes into the ER34. :)

Pic 3: F1 Asymmetric!


Pic 4: All round 2010 tyres


Pic 5: Multiple water channels - should be great in the wet


Pic 6: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric

Fitted Advan Neova AD07 onto the ER34

I was thinking to 'torture' the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 before I fit 'em Yokohama Advan Neova AD07. Went to this empty car park located amongst some nice luxurious houses to do some rubber burning but my plans were short lived when some security guards came out of those uber luxurious bungalows and started shouting at me. Just managed a small clip before I was chased off (This reminds me of the time in Genting Highlands where we were escorted downhill by cops - read here). LOL :D

Here's the video. I know. I suck at doing these stuffs. :(

Anyway, I finally got 'em Yokohama Advan Neova AD07 fitted onto the ER34 over the weekend. Like before, the fronts are 225/40/18 88W while the rear are 255/35/18 90W. I got the rubbers fitted at this tyre shop that's kinda old skool. They use the manual alignment, caster and camber machine.

Pic 1: Manual allignment machine

These are getting rarer by the days as most shops use the electronic equivalents. I dunno about your guys but I prefer the manual way. Looking at the old tyres, gosh they are really goners. It's worn down to the thread wear indicators (TWI) all round. The side shoulders of the front tyres are completely gone from perhaps all those hard cornering. They're cracked at some portions too. Surprisingly, the rear wears out pretty even.

Pic 2: Thread down to its thread wear indicators (TWI) - RR

Pic 3: Cracked shoulders - FF

On balancing the wheels after fitment of the new rubbers, the rear wheels are balanced via machine while the front are balanced on-wheel. Balancing the rear wheels (LSD rquipped) on-wheel will invariably kill the viscous coupling, the differentials and probably the gearbox too. So be warned. :O

Oh btw, many people or rather almost everyone will not bother to line-up the marking on the tyres to the air valve stem. This match-mounting procedure is to ensure that the lightest weight of the tyres should be aligned with the air valve stem on the wheel assembly, which represents the heaviest weight point of the wheel assembly. After match-mounting the tyre and wheel assembly can be easily balanced. Perhaps not that important or makes that much of a difference but then again, I'm quite picky. LOL :D

Here's some pictures...

Pic 4: Off-wheel balancing for the rear tyres


Pic 5: On-wheel balancing for front tyres


Pic 6: Front Advan AD07s fitted


Pic 7: Rear Advan AD07s fitted

New rubbers for the ER34 - Yokohama Advan AD07

My previous set of Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 has served me very well but after 18,000km of usage, it has begun to lose its grip. Almost wearing down to it's wear thread wear indicators, the ER34 now twitches its rear when throttling out of corners.

So what shall it be replaced with? I've looked at quite a number of tyres before deciding on the Yokohama Advan AD07. The tyres that I've seriously considered hard are:-

Bridgestone Potenza RE01R
Bridgestone Potenza RE050
Toyo Proxes T1R
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrics
Yokohama Advan Sport V103

I would love the Potenza RE01R but can't seem to find the sizes to fit the rear wheels of the ER34. There were none in Malaysia nor in Singapore. It had to be ordered in from Japan. And I bet the prices are going be astronomical too. Shucks!

The Potenza RE050 are too OE of a tyre choice. Too bad there aren't any RE050A Pole Position available here. :(

I felt that the Toyo Proxes T1-R are overrated for what they are. Sorry my Toyo friends out there. :P

After using the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, I bet its new replacement, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric would be stupendous. And stupendous it is in terms of pricing too. It's a couple of hundred Riggit more dearer than the Advan AD07.

My last choice before the Advan AD07 was the Yokohama Advan Sport V103, this tyre are claimed to be the extreme high performance tyres that are fitted to some high end vehicles like Bentleys, AMG Mercedes Benz and Audi S6 and S8. Amazingly, it can withstand speeds of over 300km/h (not that the ER34 will ever see those speeds).

So why Advan AD07 instead of the Advan Sport V103? Well, sizes are available where I am immediately whereas for the Advan Sport V103, it had to be transported from Yokohama's warehouse cross state. Furthermore, many reviews are raving about the Advan AD07s.

The Advan Neova AD07 is designed to provide high levels of traction (AA rating), responsive handling and driving control in dry and wet road conditions. Well actually a bit skeptical about its ability in the wet. Yikes....and I've something against driving in the rain!

Pic 1: Micro Silica (MS) tread compound: The combination of more, smaller-size silica particles and high-grip carbon creates massive traction in hot, dry conditions as well as cold, wet conditions

"The Advan Neova AD07 molds a "fine particle" Micro Silica (MS) tread compound (to provide greater road surface adhesion) into a directional tread pattern that features massive tread blocks with rounded edges to increase cornering stability and steering response while promoting more even wear. Five large circumferential and multiple directionally aligned lateral grooves resist hydroplaning and enhance wet traction. The tire's structure includes two wide steel belts reinforced by spirally wound nylon to provide strength and uniform ride quality and high-speed capability while the sidewalls are tuned to resist lateral deflection providing handling control and cornering stability."

With a thread wear of a mere 180, I have a feeling that this set of new rubbers won't last too long. I hope I am wrong though. I really hope that I've made the right choice with these quasi semi-slicks. I've just collected the tyres today. It will in no way be able to fit in to the ER34 thus I had to squeeze 'em all into a Hyundai Coupe (GK). Errr....maybe some of you may be wondering what is my unusual pre-occupation with the Hyundai Coupe by now. LOL :D

I've yet to fit them into the ER34 though. It's still stuck inside the Hyundai Coupe as I post this. Maybe I'll find time this weekend to get 'em rubbers onto the ER34.

Stay tuned. :)

Pic 2: Need a trolley to cart 'em into my car

Pic 3: Tough work but still managed to stuff 'em all into the Hyundai Coupe

Pic 4: Single block with groove at the egdes

Pic 5: Optimun groove position

Pic 6: Serrated groove walls

Pic 7: Rounded block design

Pic 8: Dimples

Pic 9: What's insde...

Pic 10: Tyre construction

Installed: 18 inch Work Emotion XD9 and Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3

I finally installed my new wheels and wrapped them up with some good rubbers. I was actually shopping around for tyres as are quite undecided on what tyres should be mounted on the wheels.

I narrow down my choices to the below:-

1) Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
2) Toyo Proxes T1-R
3) Yokohama Advan Sport
4) Falken Azenis ST115

After a week plus of cross examining the pros and cons of each tyre, I decided on the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3. The sizes as below:-

Front : 225/40/18
Rear : 255/35/18

Pic 1: Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3

Pic 2: Mounted on the Work Emotion XD9

Pic 3: Mounted on the Work Emotion XD9

The Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 is a Max Performance tyres developed for driving enthusiasts. It excels in wet conditions by delivering class-leading hydroplaning resistance and traction, as well as offers competitive dry performance.

According to the review in Tirerack,

"The Eagle F1 GS-D3 tires feature Goodyear's AAtrax tread compound molded into a distinctive wet weather racing-derived OneTRED directional tread design and earns the highest "AA" Uniform Tire Quality Grade wet traction rating. The Eagle F1 GS-D3's OneTRED design combines three distinct patterns to enhance dry and wet performance. A solid and continuous center zone maintains constant road contact to enhance straight-line tracking and initial steering response. Next, sweeping intermediate power transfer bridges use "virtual rib" technology that emulates racing slicks by delivering shoulder-to-shoulder tread contact to further enhance steering response and dry road cornering traction. Then, sweeping aqua channel grooves, which are three times longer than the tire's contact patch, angle forward and out to the edges of the tread to avoid trapping water between the tire and the road enhancing wet traction and hydroplaning resistance. And finally, the virtual ribs flow into the shoulder area to form long, stable shoulder blocks that grip the road during cornering and help resist the wear associated with aggressive driving.

The tire's structure includes twin, high-tensile steel belts reinforced with spirally wound nylon that distribute the vehicle's load across the tire's footprint to provide high-speed durability and uniform ride qualities. Slightly angled body ply construction with high-ply turn ups enhance steering precision and high speed stability while exterior sidewall rim flange protectors help guard wheels from curb damage."

It's also interesting to note that the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 was amongst 11 tyres pitted in a test by Car & Driver magazine. The end result?

Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 came out top as the best tyre.

You can download the full report (PDF - 4.4 MB) as printed in the December, 2005 issue of Car and Driver.

Hope I made the right choice!!

Pic 4: Fitting in the new wheels and tyres

Pic 5: Note one side with 255 and the other with 225 width tyres

Pic 6: Before new wheels and tyres

Pic 7: After new wheels and tyres

Pic 8: Side profile

Pic 9: Front wheel

Pic 10: Rear Wheel