BFGoodrich Phenom T/A Tire Review: Track & Street Performance

BFGoodrich Phenom T/A: First Impressions

To that end, BFGoodrich says the Phenom outbrakes numerous competitors on wet roads, including the Yokohama Advan Apex V601, Falken Azenis FK510, Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2, and the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500.

Generally, rain on a track day is unsatisfactory. Rather, it came to be the excellent possibility to check out both the wet and completely dry handling attributes of the newest G-Force tire from BFGoodrich, called the Phenom T/A.

I admit to being a bit shy during the very first 20-minute track session. Light-to-moderate rain was falling, the track was saturated, and let’s be truthful– these older solid-axle Mustangs have a credibility for collapsing in the hands of somewhat overzealous motorists.

Phenom T/A: Design & Technology

What else enters into the Professional? It’s a W-rated tire with tight sidewalls that work with the shoulder blocks to aid cornering grip. Nevertheless, the business also sees these tires as an essential component of the suspension, so some versatility for on-road comfort is built right into the design. Talking with BFGoodrich reps prior to the track sessions, I was suggested to pay particular attention to the progressiveness of the grip in edges. Taking Into Consideration Sonoma Raceway was generally a river for the very first half of the day, there was no selection however to be conscious in the twisty bits.

Complete disclosure– I was not able to do any type of straight comparisons with competitive tires. The Skip Barber Racing Institution at Sonoma collaborate with BFGoodrich and runs Phenoms on its fleet of S197 Mustang GT institution autos. The suspensions are updated, and the cars have the requisite safety and security equipment you need for racing. However otherwise these are supply 4.6-liter V-8 pony automobiles with 320 horse power and six-speed manual transmissions.

A touch of rain remained for the 2nd session, but the skies lastly cleared on day two for some dry laps. However, we still had speed cars and trucks that maintained rates well in check, so honestly, it is difficult to say just how good these tires truly are. I was unable to kick the back loose in any edge without purposeful, blatant attempts. Many edges were taken far below the limits of the automobile and the tires, though I was able to boldy tackle turn 7 from time to time, obtaining just a little scrub from the left side while doing so.

Rather, it came to be the ideal chance to check out both the dry and wet handling features of the most recent G-Force tire from BFGoodrich, called the Professional T/A.

Ironically, I got a better understanding of the Phenom’s staminas off the track in the EcoBoost Mustangs. Teachers turned us loose on wet and completely dry skid pads to check out understeer and oversteer. It’s part of Skip Barber’s two-day driving college, but also for our objectives, it gave an opportunity to in fact get some warmth in the tires.

Phenom T/A: Aesthetics and Pricing

Lastly, we reach visual appeals and price. The Phenom is billed as a solid summer efficiency tire, however the step and sidewall are also designed to look trendy. BFGoodrich eyes the receiver scene as its primary market; enthusiasts that wish to delight in a track day as high as a cruise night or cars and truck show. Prices obviously vary by size, however it greatly slots right into the $140 to $230 range per tire. 50 sizes are available now, starting with a 205/55/16 on the little end and topping out at a 245/35/20.

Wet and Dry Performance

When it comes to the tire substance, BFGoodrich formulate a silica-infused recipe integrating virtually 200 ingredients in a proprietary stew. The objective is to develop a sticky street-legal tire, however specific focus was given to braking performance in wet and completely dry problems. To that end, BFGoodrich states the Professional outbrakes countless competitors on damp roads, including the Yokohama Advan Pinnacle V601, Falken Azenis FK510, Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2, and the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500. The fine print, however, recommends us that real on-road results might differ.

And I was excited with the Professional’s damp grip. Just when did I obtain a little squirrely with way too much throttle exiting turn 2. Ninety miles per hour coming close to turn 7 was a breeze, with no hint of hydroplaning. After a workout lap, I really felt comfortable pressing a little bit harder through Sonoma’s notorious chicane. I was no place near the automobile’s restriction, partially since I really did not want to collapse, but generally due to the fact that we were all adhering to an Avoid Barber rate cars and truck that maintained everybody in check. Still, after assessing my telemetry I was amazed to see a couple of 0.8 g edges in extremely wet conditions. The hold was there. I really felt comfortable exploring it.

But I really felt a lot more positive on the Phenom in all circumstances. In this section, where lots of people will certainly be enjoying these tires on the street, I think that matters most. The Phenoms strike a great equilibrium between dry grasp, impressive damp grip, and predictability.

After driving Mustang GTs on a soaked track and not striking anything, I can say the tires are excellent in the wet. The goal is to create a sticky street-legal tire, but specific focus was provided to stopping efficiency in wet and dry problems. The Phenom is billed as a solid summer efficiency tire, yet the step and sidewall are additionally developed to look amazing. For a person not interested in having a dedicated collection of race tires, I can see these being good for a couple of autocrosses and the occasional track day in the middle of daily driving duties.

Final Thoughts on the Phenom T/A

Is the Professional a deserving tire in the UHP section? It has a lot of dry hold, and I was successfully impressed with just how it held in the rainfall. It also seems to manage warmth well, though I would certainly want a bit much more track time to truly suss that out. Compared to the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500, it’s definitely much easier to take care of when you surpass its limitations, however prior to that factor, I believe the Firehawk had a much better bite on dry ground.

This tire ports right into the Ultra-High Performance summer-only segment, replacing the G-Force Sporting activity Comp 2, which BFGoodrich confesses was a bit long in the tooth. Phenom drops the old directional tread for a crooked pattern including 2 distinctive regions. The “dry area” on the outside contains wide shoulder blocks, while the “wet zone” fills the internal tread with narrower blocks and even more lateral grooves.

In addition, there were two new EcoBoost Mustangs to play with off the track– one fitted with Phenoms and the various other putting on Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s. Technically, you can call it a comparison. With these cars and trucks relegated to slow-speed skidpad and autocross duties, it’s a slim comparo at finest.

The Phenons certainly have grasp, dry or wet. By this time the Skip Barber trainers upgraded to Mustang pace automobiles, but rates continued to be under 100 miles per hour and stopping areas were charitable.

To BFGoodrich’s credit rating, the Phenoms were moderately modern at the limit and didn’t simply turn to slippery goo when warm. It was very easy to feel understeer in the Mustang’s wheel, and when the back stepped out, the loss of grasp was progressive. Comparative, the Firestones really felt a bit grippier at first yet went away rather all of a sudden. Regretfully, I gave up an orange autocross cone to discover this truth. All in the name of scientific research, right?

For somebody not thinking about having a committed set of race tires, I can see these being good for a few autocrosses and the periodic track day in the middle of everyday driving tasks. Just remember that this is a summer-only tire that doesn’t perform well listed below 40 levels, never mind snow. And with its efficiency focus, BFGoodrich supplies no treadwear guarantee.

Mentioning grooves, three vast rain grooves circumnavigate the tire with a smaller fourth placed close to the outside. After driving Mustang GTs on a soaked track and not hitting anything, I can say the tires are good in the damp. Extra on that later on.