Goodyear special tires for the most demanding super cars
Brabham Automotive, which developed the BT62R, the off-track version of the Brabham BT62 that reached dizzying speeds, faced a similar situation. At a price of $ 1 million and 710 horsepower, the BT62 finished its first long-distance race on Goodyear tires.
If you’re designing a supercar that pushes the boundaries and is suitable for off-track use, you need a tire that can handle that challenge.
Brabham Automotive’s confidence in Goodyear is based not only on the victory of these two brands in November 2019, but also on decades of collaboration in Formula 1.Sir Jack Brabham left his mark on the world with his own win of the Formula 1966 World Championship in 1 History made by Brabham-Repco that he used with Goodyear tires.
Sir Jack’s son David Brabham, who brought the BT2019 to victory in the first race he entered 62, is also the Sports Director of Brabham Automotive. BT62 and BT62R drivers and owners uphold this passion and help preserve this legacy.
Helmut Fehl, Goodyear R&D partner, sums up the expectations of a BT62R owner as follows: “The Brabham BT62R driver expects top performance from everything in his vehicle, including tires. The priority is on track performance. The driving performance and the driving feel of the driver tires are of the utmost importance.
Providing a tire that meets the expectations of a racing machine like the BT62R is not an ordinary task, especially when the vehicle is suitable for off-track use. But Goodyear is ready for this mission. The Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport RS, the newest member of the Goodyear UUHP (Ultra Ultra High Performance) product family, has met all expectations.
Goodyear tested these tires on motorways and ring roads as well as on the racetrack, especially on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. This rigorous test of almost two years proved that the tire fully met Brabham Automotive’s expectations.
Vehicles like the Brabham BT62R require special tires, as the combination of mechanical and aerodynamic handling creates enormous lateral G-force. Fehl explains that it is extremely important to balance this with the comfort required for driving on the road: “While 80% of hypercar owners focus on the performance of the track, the Eagle F1 SuperSport RS is the perfect choice for drivers who drive these vehicles on the route.
The BT62R exceeds the performance limits and, due to its aerodynamic properties, has very similar requirements for racing cars. However, the owners of this model need a tire that is suitable for driving on the track or for everyday use.
How does the Eagle F1 SuperSport RS manage to meet these performance requirements? Fehl: “This tire, which uses different materials inside and out, combines race-proven tire materials with advanced technology. Using the same Race Pro materials as our racing tires, it’s hard to imagine a tire that offers more grip. “Developing tires that are suitable for both the racetrack and everyday driving is a challenge. Tires must meet wet grip, noise generation, rolling resistance and other requirements in order to meet the legal requirements for daily use.
Roman Görl, Senior Technical Project Manager for Goodyear OE Consumer Tires, explains how this tire can respond to all of these requirements: “In addition to proven materials on rails, an extremely intelligent tread pattern with Bridge Assist Technology adds bridges to the first channel to ensure this Block stability and flexural strength. Compared to other tires in the UUHP range, the tread pattern also has fewer grooves and smaller tread depths. This prevents tooth blocks from playing under excessive stress, so a softer and sticky material can be used. This provides a more precise driving experience and prevents the tire from generating excessive heat. The Powerline Top Layer technology, which prevents the tire’s teeth from deforming at high speeds, ensures a stable drive even at high speeds.
Görl expresses that the problem is not just about making a tire that is suitable for a single car: “The Eagle F1 SuperSport RS is the most powerful product among Goodyear’s road tires for the European market. This is exactly the tire that owners of extreme vehicles like the Brabham BT62R want. This product is perfect for cars that need to reach very high speeds on the track and aim for top performance. It’s the best supercar tire designed for the performance of manufacturers like Brabham. In addition, the Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport RS is the perfect choice for drivers who expect top performance from tires that meet the legal requirements for passenger car tires.
