Avon tyres

[longdog]

I was at a "tyre talk" last night given by a tech type from Avon Tyres. Anyway, the whole thing was very interesting especially the Quality Control procedure. Apparently, Avon have bought a machine costing over £3,000,000 to test EVERY motorcycle tyre that comes off their production lines. The tyre is put onto a rim, inflated, then spun up to speed and every variable of each tyre is electronically/optically measured before being passed or failed. Which brings me to my question; anyone here had any recent experience of Avon Distanzia tyres on their GS? I've read the FAQs on here, but I'm curious now about these tyres.

 

[Tsiklonaut]

Those are not available in Estonia

I've been very curious to them since ages.

TKC80s aren't available here too, must order them from Germany, costs quite too much together with transportation costs

Mo

 

[Noddy]

I got a pair at the tail end BMF. £100.

Fitted on the 1100 in October and have now done about 2000 miles.

Not showing any wear yet and the only movement I have had from the rear has normally been my fault, to much throttle coming out of a bend has spun it up a couple of times. And I have locked it up, again a couple of times, by being a bit heavy handed changing down. Most of this has been on very very slippery and slimey roads. Looks very promising for the warmer weather.

 

[Madmountainman]

Crap tyres that split and the rear only lasted 3k. Don't waste your money!!!

 

[Cheesy Mike]

Avon Tyres did a wonderful presentation at our IAM club night last year. Our club have also been on a trip around the factory. All nice stuff, but then I saw what happened to Ralphy's tyres. Disgraceful. Wouldn't touch them with a bargepole now.

Mike

 

[FatAl]

I fitted Avon Distanzias to my R80 ST/GS hybrid about 350 miles ago. So far I have no complaints, feel good on the road (It has been said by my fellow riding buddies that i don't hang around)and performed better than i expected when doing some greenlaning. I had Conti road tyres fitted previously and the Avons seem at least as good on road.

 

[the celt]

I would not touch Avon tyres, I had a rear tyre blowout with avon gripster and a German girl traveller had the same thing happen to her (we both ride R1100gs) . She has a web page that someone put a thread up in the pub and you can see a picture of my tyre in the gs travel posts.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

I had Avons on my Kawasaki 900 Eliminator, I thought they were brilliant. OK not exactly!!!! the same tyre as for GS.

 

[longdog]

Crap tyres that split and the rear only lasted 3k. Don't waste your money!!!

Hmm! Food for thought. Where did the splits occur? Did you get them sent back to Avon for analysis? If not, why not? The guy from Avon said that "splits can occur if the tyre is over 5 years old" There is a way to determine the week number and year of manufacture on all tyres.
One other point; I seem to recall a recent thread on here about Metzler Touraces with a side wall weakness on front tyres, but no one has called Touraces crap. Personally, I have only ever ridden a GS on Touraces, and I have no problem with them, but no experience with any other brand of "dual sport" tyre, but I have been tempted to check out Anakees or the Conti Escape.

 

[longdog]

Just to throw some more petrol on the flames, this month's Bike magazine said Bridgestone 020s were the best road tyre on their long term GS1200 with Bridgestone Trailwings being the next best.....................!

 

[Madmountainman]

Last i heard, Conti's still weren't available. The splits happened both front and rear, with the rear going straight across the tyre. I wore it out touring round France and binned it, which was why i never bothered sending it back to Avon.
I'm now an officiando of TKC's, though if you fancy road biased rubber, try an Anakee front as they resist cupping and a Tourance rear for longevity.

Hope that helps

 

[jgben]

Avon Distanzia's

I am on my 3rd set of Avon Distanzia's and have no complaints with them. I get about 7k out of a back tyre and gun it through the lanes every morning and evening, summer and winter.

All my riding is on B road and fel roads (sometimes run out of road and have to use the dirt edge), 200 miles per week commuting.

I have read a few of the tyre posts and from them cannot convince myself that any other tyres will offer me significant benefits.

Has anyone done any stats on tyres for 1150gs's, that could help me decide to try another make.