On Ascari’s quick, often tightening turns, the
488 remains super-stable on its 245/35 ZR
front and 305/30 ZR20 rear tyres, yet you
can feel the edge of grip very progressively
when it does arrive.
It’s a beautifully sunny day in southern
Spain – what a surprise, right? – and the dry
conditions suit the car and tyres perfectly.
Although the SuperSport was developed
primarily for dry conditions, wet performance
is quite feasible, as I discovered when I took
an Alpine A110 around a freshly sprinkled
section of the track; the tyres are certainly
very forgiving when grip is lost.
Next up, Pascal Fabre, a Frenchman who
raced in Formula 1 in the 1980s, takes me on
some hot laps in the Ferrari. I can report that
he’s still got his mojo, demonstrating speed
and smoothness in equal measure. What’s
the single most impressive thing about the
new SuperSport tyre, I ask. “The fact that it’s
an excellent road tyre but it also performs
very well on the track,” replies Pascal. He also
suggests that it’s more forgiving on the limit
than some rivals.
25 different sizes of Eagle F1 SuperSport
tyre are now available, with fitments from
18in to 21in diameter, 205mm to 305mm
width and 30 to 45 profile. The SuperSport RA
chance to drive a Ferrari 488 GTB
on the Ascari circuit in Spain?
That’s not an offer you refuse any
time soon – especially as it’s also
a chance to say goodbye to the
488 GTB in style, with the F8 Tributo now
assuming its mantle.
I’m trying out Goodyear’s new Eagle F
SuperSport range, which is the US tyre
maker’s new entry to what it calls the “Ultra
Ultra High Performance” segment,
populated by cars like the 488 GTB –
basically a competitor to the Michelin Pilot
Sport 4 S and Cup 2/Cup 2R. We’re testing
the Ferrari 488 GTB on the least extreme of
Goodyear’s new three-strong range
(SuperSport, SuperSport R and SuperSport
RS). That may be surprising considering the
SuperSport is intended for hot hatches
(think Golf GTI) and high-performance
saloons (Alfa Giulia), but in fact it’s also ideal
for ‘everyday’ supercars like the Ferrari.
The 488 GTB is built for tracks like Ascari.
I’m tackling the fast, super-technical first
section of the lap, where you can really build
up some speed. It’s rare that you can ever
give the 670hp twin-turbo V8 full beans, but
there’s one straight where you’re on the gas
for a good 20 seconds, and it’s intoxicating.
Arrivederci, 488
We take one last blast in Ferrari’s departing 488 GTB
at the Ascari circuit in Spain
Story by Chris Rees
is targeted at performance-focused vehicles
(think Ferrari 488 Pista) and full range of 10
will come on stream by the end of the year.
As for the SuperSport RS, that’s a road-legal
tyre but has racing-type compounds for track
use in dry conditions only, with just two sizes
available: 265/35 ZR20 and 325/30 ZR21.
Fact is, this is probably my last drive of a
brand new 488 GTB. It’s already been
withdrawn from sale ahead of the launch of
its successor, the F8 Tributo (which we’ll be
testing later this summer). You can still buy a
488 Spider, though, and of course the 488
Pista. I’d love to try the latter on Goodyear’s
more focused SuperSport R, or indeed the
SuperSport RS. Maybe later...III