√I put expensive tyres on my daily driver, but was it worth it?

These Goodyear tyres have been getting rave reviews internationally. I decided to see what the fuss was about.

When it comes to modifying your car, tyres aren’t exactly the sexiest aftermarket change. There’s no tangible benefit in terms of a power increase, and it doesn’t make the car look vastly different.

Realistically, though, a swap in rubber could make the biggest bang-for-buck difference in your driving experience – especially if you’re coming from a set of out-of-date tyres with diminishing tread depth.

I’ve long been tempted to add a set of premium tyres to my daily driver, a BMW 323i (E91) Touring.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s no sports car, but it certainly sits on the dynamic end of the spectrum with M Sport suspension, a lowered ride height and a smooth six-cylinder engine.

What could a set of suitably sporty tyres do to elevate my driver enjoyment?

When Goodyear offered me the opportunity to fit a set of its new Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 high-end performance tyres to my car, I leapt at the chance to take them for a test drive.

It’s been six weeks since I had them fitted, and I have some thoughts on whether or not you should do the same – but first, a bit of background about the tyres themselves…

The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 tyre was released to the Australian market earlier in 2023, and it’s a tyre designed for high-performance driving. Think BMW, Mercedes-Benz and other German car makers… The type of tyres that are meant to be fitted to those sportier options on the market.

It’s intended to rival other ultra-high-performance tyres such as the Pirelli P Zero and Michelin Pilot Sport ranges, all the while balancing dry-surface performance and wet-weather handling.

Over its Asymmetric 5 predecessor, the new version has an increased contact patch that can expand depending on tyre load. The brand also says the Asymmetric 6 uses new resins in the tyre compound for enhanced grip at a material level, while the tyre cavity (where the air goes) has an optimised shape to adapt to load variations.

A quick Google search before my fitting session revealed plenty of positive reviews from international media heralding the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 tyres as a strong bang-for-buck option.

But rather than take their word for it, I set off to Beaurepaires to put the new ultra-high-performance tyres to the test.

Using the Beaurepaires Geelong service centre, I booked in to have the tyres fitted to my car early on a Saturday morning. After a quick turnaround without fuss, I was on my way again with the new boots fitted.

In terms of prices, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 tyres in 225/40 R18 size at the front and 255/35 R18 at the rear cost $296 and $425 fitted respectively. The total up-front cost is $1446 fitted.

Handily, I had recently fitted a set of Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE003 tyres to my car, which served as a great benchmark to test the new Goodyears against. Keep in mind, the Bridgestone tyres were cheaper at $1106 fitted.

Comparison tyre: Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE003

Pulling away from the dealership, it was easy to pick that the Goodyear tyres were quieter across both coarse and smooth bitumen surfaces. Road noise through to the cabin was subdued.

For better or worse, tyre aesthetics are also a minor aspect of their appeal and Goodyear’s tyres also look the part. There were slick graphics and enough chunk to the sidewall to make them look meaty underneath my wagon’s slim wheel guards.

Being Melbourne, it wasn’t long before rain started pouring and the Goodyears’ wet-weather performance was put to the test. While I tried to make the car come unstuck around corners, the rubber simply hung on and faithfully put the car’s power outputs down to the ground.

The turn-in directness wasn’t upset by the slippery road surface, and the specialised rubber wasn’t fazed by quick changes in direction either.

In the dry, there was less of a marked difference between the Goodyear tyres and my Bridgestone control tyre – both feature a stronghold of grip around corners and there are no instances of traction loss when applying heavy throttle.

There’s a determined confidence in leaning on the Goodyear tyres through back-to-back corners, and it’s a confidence boost each time you thread the car through a corner and it shoots out the other side unfazed.

So, is it worth buying premium tyres?

The level of performance on offer from ultra-high-performance tyres like the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 tyres I tried far eclipses the needs of everyday driving, and even stands up to the dynamic task demanded by dedicated sports cars.

Previously, I had the chance to try the same tyres on the track when fitted to a Mercedes-AMG CLA 45S and they held up well to the rigours of high-performance driving.

If your drive consists only of trips between home, work and the supermarket, it’s unlikely you’ll need the extra performance offered by ultra-high-performance tyres.

However, if you’ve got a performance car and enjoy the odd Sunday morning blast or even partake in the occasional track day, Goodyear’s new option stands up against established rivals from Michelin and Pirelli.

They’re not the most affordable option in the market, but the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 tyres are well worth a look when it comes time to change your set of performance tyres.

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