While sexy, summer-only R-compound tires get all the attention in the performance market, they really suit only a very small percentage of the population. Those of us in Southern California don't experience rain for six months of the year, so we can use them, as can people who have cars for track-use only.
For everybody else, it's vital to consider a tire's performance in the rain and even light snow when choosing your next set.
With this in mind, the all-season tire sector is very competitive and several manufacturers have high-performance tires for your high-performance Euro.
The latest tire in this sector is the Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season, aimed at giving you maximum grip in any type of conditions. To prove this, they invited us to Daytona Speedway to experience them for ourselves.
The big story was Goodyear's inclusion of carbon fiber-reinforced outer sidewalls. Referred to as ResponsEdge, the strands of carbon stiffen the tire to produce crisp handling. The tires also boast aggressive shoulder blocks to enhance turn-in bite, and wide grooves to disperse water.
Goodyear's TredLock technology is also used. It consists of a series of tiny cups and domes between the tread grooves. As the tire is loaded in a turn, these lock together to create a stiffer, broader tread section, creating more grip.
Other technology squeezed into the new All Season includes: a layer of Kevlar to further reinforce the tires, a silica tread compound for greater flexibility, PermaBlack Compound to keep the sidewall looking new throughout its life, a rim protector and dual-zone directional tread.
In the slalom, high-speed lane change and autocross disciplines, we found the Eagle to be more responsive and consistent. Not that the competitors were poor tires; far from it. But if you're looking for good handling from an all-season tire with high grip in the wet, you could do worse than these Goodyear Eagles.
That seems like plenty of technology for one tire, so we were expecting great things when we put them to the test. Compared to Michelin and Bridgestone competitors, the Eagles performed well. They offered sharper turn-in, as expected, and higher levels of overall grip. The tendency to understeer was removed when running on the Goodyears, despite the presence of a wet track.
What's more, Goodyear offers a 30-day trial, plus roadside assistance, nationwide warranty and online DOT registration with each set of tires, giving you extra peace of mind.