Jun 13 2008
Among exotic, high-powered automobiles, there is a fine line between track and street performance. The ability to transmit the power and torque to the pavement rests with the work completed by the vehicle engineering team and a tire company's engineers.
The Ford Mustang GT500KR
In the case of the Ford Mustang GT500KR, that responsibility fell to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and the design team developed an exclusive tire with a special ultra-performance rubber compound.
With the car equipped with a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Package, this "King of the Road" Mustang generates an estimated 540 horsepower from its 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 engine. The Mustang GT500KR is expected to arrive this spring.
The tires for the Carroll Shelby-designed KR model represent the first production use of this special Goodyear compound in the U.S. The Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tire is the exclusive fitment in sizes P255/45R18 (front) and P285/40R18 (rear) on the Shelby KR Mustang. To differentiate the Goodyear Eagles on the Shelby Mustang GT500KR from those specified for other Mustang models, the tires are emblazoned with a Goodyear Wingfoot symbol on the outboard sidewall. Approximately the size of a nickel, the emblem differentiates the tires in much the same way as the Goodyear tires on the original 1965 Shelby Mustang. Those tires, in size 7.75-15, were marked with a blue dot, and were known as Goodyear Blue Dot HPs.
The ultra-performance tread compound on Goodyear's Eagle F1 Supercar tire helps provide exceptional dry traction and cornering grip.
Goodyear tires are original equipment on many vehicles from Acura, Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. Traditionally, more new vehicles in North America are equipped with Goodyear tires than any other brand.