Goodyear F1 difference between old and new models?

[DUCTTAPE]

I've found a set of Goodyear F1 tires on eBay for a song. In asking the opinions of several who have used them on Coopers, one nicely pointed out (thx Jason!) that these are the old model. The new model is the GS -D3. I must have been asleep at the wheel because this went right by me.

I have riden the GS-D3's on my 02 S and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. However, the price differenceial here is just plain stupid. $350 delvd for the older model vs. about $550 from Tire Rack for the 3rd generation. Obviously, both are new.

Anyone either have experience with both, or with the older tires, or, know the difference? Plus, if these are old, have they been out of production long enough that I might be buying 'dried out' rubber?

TIA
David

[john_o]

I cant comment of F1's on a MINI (still have the runflats ), but I have run them on my old vw golf gti mk2 and a fiat coupe 20VT.

I ran the 'old' GSD2 pattern on the golf and the 'new' GSD3 pattern on the coupe.
Whilst the GSD3 is a newer version they are both still available , its just that they tend to spread the coverage of sizes between GSD2 and 3

Ignoring the differences between car power and weights etc I LOVE these tyres in both sizes. They are truly amazing in the wet. A true high performer for all season driving.
They are good in the dry but ultimate dry grip is slightly below what a yokohama would give.

Im assuming you do get some rain ?
IMHO the GSD3 has a slightly softer tread and wears quicker.
For me I prefer the GSD2 's but you are usually fixed by the size you want which dictates the gsd version you get ...

Buy them , fit them and use them , you can always sell them on or chalk it up to experience if you really dont like them.

HTH
JohnO
p.s. I live in Scotland so its a wet climate with a low average temp (even in summer!), so if your climate is vastly different you may want to reconsider.
When I ditch my runflats I will go to F1's , sadly the F1 runflats are WAAAAYYYY too heavy....

[minigolf]

So long as the tyres are made in Germany you should be fine. I had some German made GS-D2s, or Eagle F1s as they were known then, in about 1998 and they were great. And I also had some German made GS-D3s on my olf Mk4 GTI, and yes, they were great too. However, in Australia at least, a lot of our Goodyear tyres are made in Thailand and by various accounts are provong to be below expectations of their owners, despite claims from Goodyear that the tyres are the equal of their German made counterparts.

[7nut]

I'm running the GSD2's on our car in a 215/40x17" size - the perceived bad ones made in Thailand.

I've given them hell (when she who owns the car isn't in it) and I reckon their great, we've clocked up 10 000km's on them so far.

Quiet when cruising (the MCS is our family car and we travel 4up mostly), excellent in the rain, seem to hang on quite well when engaged in spirited driving and when your getting to the edge of their limits they are very progressive in letting go but will let you know when its time to back off. Don't know what more you can ask of a road tyre.

[minigolf]

That's good to hear 7nut.

[arbee]

i have run sets of both types on a fairly powerful fwd car (200 bhp astra turbo) found both to beamazing, both in wet and dry. have a really nice predictable breakaway on the limit. cant really say there is much difference in performance subjectively. must say tho the earlier gsd2s imo are way sexier looking!!! always an important factor in choosing tyres I know! )

[DUCTTAPE]

I think the set offered is not the 2. Just plain ol' F1's.

I'm thinking if there have been 3 generations, these might be old rubber...

[minigolf]

As far as I know the original Eagle F1s were rebadged as Eagle GS-D2s. The tread pattern is the same, but I'm not sure if the actual tyre construction/rubber compound is???