Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 Tire Review: Arrives and Immediately Impresses

• Designed for EVs and performance vehicles, and my Golf, the tire supports 100+ sizes from 17″ to 23″.

• Adaptive tread, asymmetric design, and cornering stability deliver confident wet and dry road performance.

Goodyear’s latest ultra-high-performance summer tire, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6, was recently launched, and frankly, when the opportunity arose to test a set, I was excited. It reminded me of the 1984 Chevrolet Corvette C4 and its original tires, the Goodyear Eagle ZR “Gatorbacks.” They were mentioned in the all-new Corvette’s story in the 1983 edition of the Guide de l’auto (which I still have), and I remember thinking how cool the name was.

The crazy thing is that those tires have little to do with today’s UHP Eagle F1 rubber, other than the name. The first difference is that this new tire is engineered to meet the performance needs of luxury vehicles, sports sedans, high-performance SUVs, and electric vehicles. Um, and my mildly modified 2018 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen…

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 is available in more than 100 sizes, ranging from 17 to 23 inches in diameter—approximately 90 % of which are 18 inches or larger. That worked out perfectly for me as the Golf rolls on 225/40-18s in the summer.

As a matter of readership interest, I have a tire and wheel obsession. The chance to test a set of Eagle F1s motivated me to look for new wheels for the Golf. As I’ve done many times since 2007, I contacted my friends at Fastco and chose some Braelin BR14s, which I immediately dropped off at my favourite body shop to be painted in Porsche Neodyme gold. Hi, my name is Matt…

Typically, tire review introductions are published in mid-spring. This year, however, the process started later, but that won’t be a problem. In fact, days after installing the wheels and tires on the Golf, I covered nearly 400 km (hence why the VW is dirty). I immediately noticed how stable the car was at highway speeds, thanks to its continuous centre rib. I also quickly felt the tire’s stiff outer shoulders as I aimed for apexes through on- and off-ramps. The best benefit of a solid sidewall is enhanced steering feel and response. Within minutes of driving off, I fell back in love with my Golf. This is the power of a good tire.

An excellent tire won’t punish despite creating this level of engagement. The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 tire presents an adaptive tread compound designed to remain pliable in varying temperatures. In short, this enhances rubber-to-road contact, improving grip, braking, and comfort level. Relatedly, tire noise and harshness were low even on rougher surfaces at speed.

The summer is looking good, as does my Golf Sportagen, and I find myself driving the VW more often than usual, no matter my press loaner of the week. This is a genuinely positive sign.

I will return in early fall with an update and conclusion to my Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 tire review.