Goodyear Develops Virtual Tire Fitment For Audi A5 And S5 Models

The tire was created using digital simulations at Goodyear’s Simulation Center in Luxembourg. The process allowed engineers to test and validate the tire model using virtual methods before producing a physical prototype. According to Goodyear, the project took ten months and involved two complete virtual development cycles. The company reports that Audi approved the first physical version after virtual assessments covering handling, mileage and noise.

Goodyear is supplying three different tire models for the Audi A5 and S5, covering both saloon and estate (Avant) variants. These include the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 for general summer use, the Eagle F1 SuperSport for high-performance conditions, and the UltraGrip Performance 3 for winter conditions. Each tire was designed to meet varied requirements such as rolling resistance, braking, and handling under different seasonal conditions.

Luca Davide Andreoni, Head of Brand Goodyear, said, “We are pleased that the new Audi A5 and S5 are available with our summer UHP and UUHP and winter ranges. We are particularly proud of the benefits seen by using our state-of-the-art Simulation Center in the field of virtual tire development. By reducing the development process time, we were able to meet Audi’s demands faster and by using fewer resources, making performance tire development more impactful.”

The use of virtual testing is part of a broader strategy by Goodyear to reduce physical testing. By relying more on simulation, the company aims to limit the number of tire prototypes needed and reduce overall testing distances. This approach supports more efficient use of resources while meeting the performance targets set by Audi.

Goodyear has previously supplied tires for other Audi models, including the Q6 e-tron, e-tron GT quattro and RS e-tron GT. This latest development with the A5 and S5 adds to the companies' ongoing collaboration.

Dr. Peter Knauer, AUDI AG, Development Chassis/Wheels, said, “The development work at Audi goes right down to the last detail. Each model gets its own tires. In the A5, they are geared towards efficiency and comfort, the S5 on performance.”