Trusted by heroes for 45 years: The story of Goodyear’s iconic Eagle F1

With four and a half decades at the forefront of performance tyre technology and millions of units sold, the Eagle F1 line has mastered the “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” formula. Here’s how it rose to fame in the hands (and on the wheels) of history’s motorsport legends.

When it comes to race-bred tyres, Goodyear’s Eagle F1 range is now a household name. But it’s not always been this way. Spin the clock back to 1980 and the American manufacturer was working busily behind the scenes to devise a product which showcased the firm’s continued success in motorsports ranging from NASCAR to Formula One. 

Stewart, Roseberg, Piquet, Prost, and even Senna: all were guided to victory on Goodyear rubber — which is even more impressive when you consider just how much the cars had evolved since the firm’s entry into the sport in 1965. From the comparatively primitive, go-kart-like F1 racers of the ‘60s, all the way through to the vicious, 1000 bhp+ turbocharged monsters of the ‘80s, Goodyear’s engineers never failed to create a tyre which performed. In fact, Jack Brabham himself once said: “They were always able to come up with something new. They always had several compounds to try and a fantastic effort to make sure we had the best we could possibly have.” 

But how to show customers that racing success translates to greater on-road performance? Well, to strengthen the connection between road and track, the Eagle (which had starred on the sidewall of several motorsport tyres), was adopted. First hitting American streets in 1981, the Eagle road tyre was shortly followed by the European Eagle VR50 — together, spawning a lineage which thrives to this day.

Chevrolet’s venerable Corvette and Pontiac’s fabled Trans Am were two of the first road cars to feature the bold new branding, but it wasn’t until 1992 when things got really interesting. 240 mph — that was the jaw-dropping top speed of McLaren’s then new, eponymously named, F1. And, at over 23 mph faster than the next quickest car (Jaguar’s XJ220) the McLaren needed bespoke rubber to handle the stresses and strains of such ballistic pace.  

Naturally, Goodyear stepped up to the plate with, you guessed it, the all-new Eagle F1 tyre. It wasn’t just dizzying speeds they had to contend with, either. Pumping out over 620 bhp from its BMW-derived 6.1-litre V12, the McLaren F1 was coming into corners far hotter than any other road car. That’s why, from the outset, Goodyear worked with the British brand to design a tyre which acted as an intrinsic element of the car’s suspension. Oh, and it even had to ensure the rubber exceeded McLaren’s expectations for weight, safety, and noise. They really do drive a tough bargain over at Woking… but, of course, Goodyear’s Eagle F1 delivered the goods and helped to immortalise the F1 as one of the all-time greats.

So, where are we at now? Well, decades have passed since the original Eagle line got its big break, but that perpetual process of evolution and improvement has never ceased. Now, with over 368 Grand Prix and 14 Le Man’s wins to Goodyear’s name, the road-going Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 continues to benefit from decades of racing know-how. With its adaptive contact patch and EV-ready design, the latest Asymmetric 6 is still scooping up awards from outlets including Auto Bild and Tyre Reviews for ultra-high performance summer tyres.

It’s no surprise, then, that many of the most celebrated sports cars on sale tout Goodyear’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 from the factory. From Lotus’ lightweight, purist-oriented Emira, to Porsche’s revolutionary electric Macan 4, the Asymmetric 6 is chosen for its exceptional blend of dry and wet performance. Then, for those machines which look to really push the envelope — Ferrari 12Cilindri, Porsche 911 GT2 and GT3 RS, included — more specialised lines such as Eagle F1 Supersport R provide unparalleled dry traction and true record-breaking potential. 

So now you know the story of the Eagle F1 range, but are you ready to follow in the footsteps of motorsport’s great heroes? Afterall, if Goodyear’s tyres are good enough for Ayrton Senna and McLaren’s F1, just think what they could do for your performance car. 

Hero image credit: Goodyear