Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Titan to offer free COVID-19 vaccines at Iowa facility
      Bridgestone hosts vaccination events for plant employees
      Cioffi: Will remote working be the new normal?
      Bridgestone Iowa plant navigates pandemic, demand
    • Conti adding dynamic driving simulator at German R&D center
      Yokohama gains OE fitments on BMW, Mercedes-AMG sport utilities
      SEMA picks site in Michigan for 2nd SEMA Garage
      Online retailer CARiD.com looks to triple size of tire/wheel installer network
    • Goodyear goes retro for 'Throwback' NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway
      Keter to expand NeoTerra SKUs through mid-2022
      Federal approved as 5th Formula Drift tire supplier
      Falken, Ohtsu tire prices rising May 1
    • JK Tyre adds radial truck tires to U.S. portfolio
      Mitchell 1 enhances ADAS info access in TruckSeries software
      Apollo isn't planning U.S. plant — yet
      Tire Business livestream to focus on commercial tire industry
    • New York chipping in $3M+ toward Sumitomo factory expansion
      SBA extends and expands COVID-19 loan program
      Stimulus spending should help tire industry
      U.S. agro-science firm gets $1M grant to research sunflower latex
    • Keter to expand NeoTerra SKUs through mid-2022
      Nexen touting manufacturing quality milestone
      Japanese R&D cooperative claims breakthrough in sustainable butadiene sourcing
      Guizhou Tyre starts production at Vietnam plant
    • Goodyear goes retro for 'Throwback' NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway
      Federal approved as 5th Formula Drift tire supplier
      Maxxis offers discount to ChampCar competitors
      Michelin strikes supply deals with new Canadian racing series
    • Bosch adds 22 aftermarket parts in Q1
      Snap-On introduces TreadReader handheld tire scanner
      Vogue Tyre introduces ‘biggest, boldest' red stripe tire
      Cooper adds Rugged Trek all-terrain to Discoverer LT/SUV tire line
    • Epicor service estimator to offer access to TireConnect by Bridgestone
      JK Tyre adds radial truck tires to U.S. portfolio
      Apollo isn't planning U.S. plant — yet
      Telle Tire expands footprint with JBC Tire acquisition
    • Bosch adds 22 aftermarket parts in Q1
      Marinucci: Detailed instructions will save time
      Bartec introduces TPMS software updates
      Snap-On introduces TreadReader handheld tire scanner
    • SEMA picks site in Michigan for 2nd SEMA Garage
      SEMA touts expanded Las Vegas Convention Center ahead of 2021 expo
      TIA seeking nominations for Tire Industry Hall of Fame
      SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
    • SBA extends and expands COVID-19 loan program
      Stimulus spending should help tire industry
      Giti disputes report blasting tire maker for accepting PPP funds
      SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
    • Last Mile: Delivery surge raises demand for medium truck tires
      Nexen touting manufacturing quality milestone
      Apollo isn't planning U.S. plant — yet
      Apollo lands: Tire maker brings commercial portfolio to N.A.
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
      Sponsored By AppointmentPlus
      Three Important Lessons Learned for the Tire Business During a Pandemic
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      An introduction to wheel balancing
      Wheel weights: Balancing form with function
      Choosing the right balancing equipment
    • Video: Demounting
      An introduction to demounting, mounting and inflation
      Staying safe when demounting and mounting tires
      Demounting Equipment
    • Video: Safety
      Introduction: Creating a culture of safety
      Protecting your people with proper hygiene
      Making friends with OSHA
    • Video: Tire Repair
      An introduction to tire repair
      How to properly patch a puncture
      Tire repair: Shining a light on visual inspections
    • Video: TPMS Service
      An introduction to TPMS service
      The importance of proper relearn procedures
      Decoding sensor data for TPMS diagnosis
    • Video: Training
      Intro: Finding and training technicians
      Shop Floor: Scholarships
      Advantages of apprentice program partnerships
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      An introduction to lifts and lift safety
      Recommendations for using a jack
      Jack stands for commercial tire service
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      Introduction to proper wheel installation
      Torque check and recheck recommendations
      Using torque sticks to speed service times
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Awards
    • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
September 30, 2002 02:00 AM

Clawing at tuner roost

Jeff Yip
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    A new Eagle rules Goodyear's roost, and the tire maker is hoping to claw out a big chunk of the lucrative ultra performance aftermarket with it.

    Following glowing reviews in the European auto press such as EVO, Auto Zeitung, Sport Auto and Auto Bild, Goodyear has formally introduced in North America its Eagle F1 GS-D3, a tire that has been available in Europe since February.

    Development began in 1998 as a request from the Akron-based company's marketing department. At first, conferences between North American and European staffs were weekly but planning and negotiations cascaded.

    Before long, trans-Atlantic meetings became every-other-day affairs. In the end, Goodyear's European team had ``very, very significant input'' into the GS-D3's final design and details. And the results are ``outstanding,'' said Robert Toth, a performance tire engineer and marketing manager referred to, half-kidding, as ``Mr. Eagle,'' by his Goodyear colleagues.

    Fittingly, the new Eagle F1 GS-D3's U.S. launch was Sept. 17 at Goodyear's largest proving grounds, in San Angelo. Not only were the first Eagles wrung out at the West Texas site, the 11-square-mile facility has a performance heritage stretching back to the mid-1960s. The Speedway Blue Streak, Speedway Wide Tread and Polyglas GT-some of the hottest tickets of their day among car and racing enthusiasts-helped ratchet the definition (and marketability) of wider tires.

    The newest Eagle extends that evolution: 27 of its initial 39 sizes will have tread widths greater than 7.5 inches. In fact, a set of 315/35ZR17 GS-D3s would look right at home on another performance icon of the '60s: the 1968 McLaren M8 CanAm car, which also happened to wear Goodyears at each corner.

    Mr. Toth acknowledged the tire-making giant is going after the ``re-styling'' or ``tuner'' market, which has ex-ploded in a renaissance he likened to the muscle car era.

    ``Tuners are passionate,'' he said. ``They spend money-lots of it.''

    That's a wave Goodyear's competitors have been riding for years. Mr. Toth said the ultra-high performance tire market-which he defined as a tire with a 55 or lower aspect ratio and a V, W, Y or Z speed rating-grew 129 percent since 1997. The trend, he added, still has plenty of energy, citing forecasts of 7.5 million ultra performance tires being sold by the end of 2003.

    While 17-inch ultras represent the largest and fastest-growing segment, 18- and 19-inch tires have considerable potential, Mr. Toth noted. And though the main development cars were the Corvette and Mustang GT in North America, and BMW's 3 series in Europe, the new Eagles are intended for the entire spectrum of performance cars. They include the Porsche Boxster and 911s, Mercedes Benz SL500, AMGs and E55s, Acura NSX, CL and Jaguar.

    Goodyear hopes to enjoy some ``halo'' sales, as well, judging from an eight-page color brochure that lists considerably tamer vehicles, such as the Volkswagen Jetta and Oldsmobile Alero, among the more than 150 ``popular fitments'' the company has identified as candidates for the GS-D3.

    Form follows function

    The new Eagle F1 marries racing and street tire technology, explained Bob Nelson, a principal engineer on the Eagle team. Its edgy style may be the look that today's drivers have come to expect, but study the aggressive tread and the logic of the design becomes clear: one doesn't have to be an engineer to imagine how the tire works.

    Naturally, heaps of 3D modeling have been invested in simulations, and multiple checks of flex, moment of inertia, stress concentration, angles and contours have been run in the computer lab and on the road. But the substance of Goodyear's latest high-tech tire probably comes down to these key features, according to the company:

    * A solid centerline gives good steering precision and on-center feel.

    * Extensions of the tread-coined ``power transfer bridges'' by Goodyear-stretch continuously from the above-mentioned center bar to the shoulder.

    * Asymmetric ribbing in the shoulder increases lateral stiffness.

    * Grooves three times longer than the contact patch get rid of water and air better, improving wet-traction and noise.

    The GS-D3's AAtrax multi-polymer tread compound has earned a government recognized ``AA'' wet traction rating. Most of the tires will be built in three European plants while eight sizes will be produced at Goodyear's Lawton, Okla., factory, the company said.

    Seen and barely heard

    After driving the Audis and Corvettes that Goodyear made available for demonstrations and comparisons with the Michelin Pilot Sport and Bridgestone Potenza S-03, tire retailers and wholesalers agreed the new F1 seemed to shine in the wet and is admirably quiet for an ultra performance product.

    ``I was very impressed with it. I like the balance of the tire,'' said Chuck Scott, who heads marketing for Big State Tire Supply, a wholesale distributor based in Lubbock, Texas. ``You didn't have to work with it to get pretty good times. It was comfortable, both wet and dry. I'm somewhat of a cynic but I like the tire a hell of a lot.''

    Larry Deatherage, president of Dee's Tire Stores Inc. in Yukon, Okla., said he ``didn't have to use the brakes in the wet course with the Eagle F1s.'' The second-generation tire man is convinced the tire will sell. ``The pricing is right,'' Mr. Deatherage said. ``It's a very good value for that type of car. It fits everything from Nissans to Mercedes to the Pontiac Grand Am. It's a good broad line of tires. I'm very impressed. I'm sure it'll be OE next year, or, if not, in the real near future.''

    Less-than-perfect weather is also an issue for David Wilson, a performance enthusiast and general manager of Ken Towery's Tire wholesale business. ``I like to drive when it's raining and snowing and this car is excellent in the rain,'' said Mr. Wilson, calling the new F1 ``perfect for Mercedes customers. Eighty percent of the people who buy an S Class do so for the performance.''

    Mr. Wilson also was impressed with the GS-D3's dry handling. ``As hard as the Audi was driven on asphalt, other tires would already have shown some signs of abuse. You can actually see when they're scuffed up or already have gotten some uneven wear. This tire did not appear this way.''

    Ken Towery's, with 18 retail locations and warehouses in Louisville and Lexington, Ky., and in Cincinnati, has specialized in custom wheel and tire packages for new car and light truck dealerships, Mr. Wilson said.

    ``This is a great tire for your V8 BMW, Corvette, Mustang, Lexus or Porsche owner. And there's always a certain batch of people who want quality, no matter what the cost,'' he said.

    However, Mr. Wilson was not alone when he expressed concern that the Eagle F1 GS-D3 prices not be ``out of line.''

    Explained Sal Marquez, president of Dapper Tire Co., a San Diego wholesaler: ``Going up against the competition, a $10 or $15 difference (per tire) can make a big difference. If a retailer can get a Bridgestone product for $60 less a set, he's going to go that way.

    ``These tires are so expensive, the retailer will only order them if they're going to sell the tire that day. The customer's either right there in the shop or he's coming in the next day. You have to have the tire and the price.''

    Mr. Marquez lauded the 10-percent discount Goodyear is offering on orders placed through October. From pricing information disseminated by Goodyear, most dealers will be able to buy an Eagle F1 GS-D3 in 245/45R17, for example, for about $180.

    John Turk, president of Conrad's Total Car Care and Tire Centers in Cleveland, agreed that the GS-D3 has tremendous potential because Goodyear has put together ``a number of different lines under one umbrella, for not only business issues like inventory, but also for marketing, which is more important.''

    But he warned that training is crucial.

    ``I know our organization is looking for a person who can lead that conversation with the consumer, along with custom wheels, and the tuners,'' Mr. Turk said. ``Actually I don't like to call them tuners, I like to call it `youth market' for old guys like me who are looking to be young again.''

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • Awards
      • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award