Goodyear has revealed the bespoke Eagle F1 SuperSport race tire that will be equipped to all cars in Pure ETCR, the world’s first all-electric multi-brand touring car series. Goodyear will be the exclusive tire supplier and founding partner of the new racing championship.
The unique treaded race tire for Pure ETCR is the latest in Goodyear’s performance Eagle F1 SuperSport range. It shares a great deal of technology with the Eagle F1 SuperSport road tire but is optimized to maximize performance from Pure ETCR’s electric touring cars, which will compete in their first races later this year.
The Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport Pure ETCR tire has a similar appearance to the road tire, shares the same philosophy, and much of the same technology, according to the tire manufacturer. These shared technologies include the Power Shoulder and High Force Construction features, which are key for maximizing performance on both road cars and in the 500kW (670hp) Pure ETCR race cars.
The entire Eagle F1 SuperSport range draws on Goodyear’s extensive and wide-ranging motorsport experience to improve performance on the road, but these benefits work both ways. The innovative technologies in the road tire are now being used as the basis for the race-only Pure ETCR tire.
On the road tire, the Power Shoulder is claimed to improve cornering performance through its closed outside pattern, Goodyear said, while the super stiff sidewall design of the High Force Construction technology results in better driving stability. Both of these technologies are integral to the Pure ETCR version of the Eagle F1 SuperSport but optimized for race use by strengthening the outer shoulder even more. The result is a unique tire that provides stability and impressive cornering performance to the world’s most powerful touring cars.
Goodyear said that the use of treaded tires is unusual at this level of motorsport but it allows Pure ETCR teams to use the same tire for wet and dry conditions, rather than the usual split between slick tires for dry and treaded tires for wet running. Using a single tire specification avoids the need to ship three or four specifications around the world, aiding Goodyear and Pure ETCR’s sustainability plans.
Pure ETCR poses a number of unique technical challenges for tire engineers due to its unique race format and the sheer power of its cars, which are based on manufacturers’ road cars and look very similar to their mid-size four-door hatchbacks and saloons.
Electric vehicles are heavier than their petrol or diesel equivalents but also produce an incredible amount of torque and, with up to 500kW, Pure ETCR cars are some of the most powerful EVs on the racetrack.
These unique characteristics mean that Pure ETCR cars need a tire that can withstand immense forces and instant power delivery, while ensuring high grip and traction.
