Avon CR6ZZ vs MT SRs

[fastd]

I know this is heresy but...

I replaced my Avons CR6ZZ with MT SRs and the world didn't end!

1. SRs are a better street tire - 99% of my driving is not on the track. I have had SRs on the track (on a '68 Mustang) and I thought they performed fine. I am not a good enough driver to really notice that much of a difference. For those who notice a material difference worth 2x the cost, I admire you.
2. SRs don't need to warm up like AVONs do. My AVONs left me spun gently into a curb one 45 degree morning.
3. I got caught in the heavy rain once with my AVONs and I did a 270 degree spin into the middle of an intersection when I was trying to be as careful as I possibly could.
4. SRs side profile looks really good and the 26.1" height fits the wheel wells better than the 26.7" AVONs; and the 26x10x15s fit better than the front 225/60/15 AVONs do (no 235 option for AVONs if memory serves; I think the 245s should fit ERA cobras though). The flame pattern on the SR are the worst thing about the tire but not horrible as I now look at it.
5. Practically speaking for spirited highway, back road driving I'd say SRs and AVONS are a push performance-wise. On the track are AVONs 2x as good? Maybe, worth 2x the price and half the treadlife? I don't think so (any more).

I write this not to run down the AVONs which I do think are generally terrific because the look of the tire is great and the track performance is fantastic; but as a street tire it's just not worth 2x as much at MT SRs. I write it for others that are thinking about AVON alternatives.

Cheers!

[RET_COP]

Hmmm interesting fastd. They really needed warming up to grip!? I started out years ago with BF Badrich tires and got rid of them fast. Purchased the MT SR's, sold them, now have the Cooper Cobra's [Mickey Thopmson Sportsman ST] and am thinking of purchasing the Avon's. The SR's seemed to have too much flex in the sidewall for me but good linear grip. The Cooper Cobra's wear well and have good grip, performed well on the autocross for a street tire. It let me know when I was on the edge and broke loose slowly, so I'm happy with them. I thought I would step up a notch to the Avon's but the Cooper's are fairly new and I'm not sure the change in performance would be earth shattering, that's why your post caught my interest. If the Avon's performance is like some have said it is, I will pay the extra price, and if I was in need of tires right now they would most likely be on my car as we speak. The curiosity IS KILLING ME!!! My wife thinks I have an issue with tires---I know I do

[Sledge]

The problem I had with the SR's was:

1. they weren't round;
2. they aren't V-rated.

They are, however, lighter than the Avons.

Most of my driving is also on the street but I feel more secure on the Avons. Which may not be totally rational.

[Bernica]

As others have stated before on other threads, the M/T's and AVONs are all made by Cooper along with a few other brands. My AVONs balanced like a dream when I had them mounted at the shop.
My 2 c

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by RET_COP

Hmmm interesting fastd. They really needed warming up to grip!? I started out years ago with BF Badrich tires and got rid of them fast.

My car had BFG's when I bought it and almost got myself killed with them! Then did the Billboard thing, then finally saw the light!

[Fast289]

Lots of factors. Track vs street, how you drive. Blah blah blah. If you are happy with your tire choice, then I'm happy for you.

My only comment is, when people talk about how much power torque $ and fast they drive, and have ****ty tires, makes no sense.

Cheers all.

[ASO544]

Avon CRZ66 are well worth the money. They ride great, have plenty of traction, and the tread look the part for a 60s style Cobra............. Side walls needed a little ......adjusting : )

[lippy]

I like the look and feel of the Avons. They handle the power of my car just fine. Call me shallow, but I won't put a tire with a flame pattern tread on my car. The guy who thought that one up should be locked up with the FE intake engineer.

[Bernica]

BFG's are fun if you like to skate around and do burnouts. But remember that when you trade up to something really sticky, something has to give and that will usually be hard parts through the drive train. Pretty simple math.

[fastd]

I haven't notice sidewall flex yet. I will say that the avons sidewalls are amazingly stiff. And to add the Retired Cop's observations: don't avons break loose without much warning and sharply when they do loose grip?

[fastd]

There really aren't many choices in 15" tires. Avons are probably best under ideal conditions but they wear out after 5k or so. Mine got to be 7 years old and my ride became rough-ish. Flame pattern looks worse in pictures than in "real life" but I hear you.

[fastd]

And yes, the avons really do need warming up to get grip.

[1795]

Most race quality tires need to warm up to improve grip. Watch any race and during the warm up laps prior to a race you will see the cars veering from side to side to increase friction on the tires so that they warm up before the race. With that being said, most of our cars will have difficulty getting good grip in cold weather as the rear ends are so light and unless you have snow tires on, most of the rubber that we use will be a little on the hard side.

[FatBoy]

Originally Posted by fastd

And yes, the avons really do need warming up to get grip.

Any tyre needs warming up to get the best from it. I drive pretty gently until my engine is thoroughly warmed up, by which time, the tyres are also ready to take a bit more punishment.
I really like the Avons and they inspire so much more confidence than the Billboards, which used to tug and pull at every imperfection in the road surface.

Paul

[mdross1]

Life would be pretty simple if we all had the same needs but alas we do not by any means. I too am in need of fresh rubber for me it will be whatever tire I can get locally, tires that look good in the wheel wells and do not have a tendency to follow every ripple on the roads surface.
Thank you all for your input it certainly helps in making this decision.

[Dangerous Doug]

I got intrigued by the "flame pattern" and went to the MT website. Just looking at the treads I didn't quite see it, then saw their textual description and looked again. Yeah, I can kind of see flames in the tread, but it's really a stretch.

See for yourself:
https://www.mickeythompsontires.com/...em=SportsmanSR

I thought it looked like a pretty cool tire structure. Unless it's on a street rod, who can see the threads, anyway?

FASTD: How do they look on your Cobra? Got picks? I'm in the market for a new set of tires (replacing Firestone Firehawk Indy 500's, which have been pretty good). Been looking at Avon, Hoosier...

DD

[fastd]

Dangerous Doug,

I really like the way they look. I actually like them better than the avons! (I mean the profile not the tread. But honestly the tread doesn't bother me up close. Looks worse in photos than when u actually see it). The car sits a little lower and the front size of 26x10x15 in the fronts fit much better than the 225/60/15 avons. PM me and I'll text you pix this weekend. I went for a nice long ride this past weekend on NC back roads and really like the MTs. Nice supple ride. Didn't push too hard but on my spirited drive didn't notice sidewall flex as previously mentioned by someone else and grip was very good. I tried to weakly break them loose but they stuck.

[fastd]

photos

[fastd]

[SPF1061]

Originally Posted by fastd

There really aren't many choices in 15" tires. Avons are probably best under ideal conditions but they wear out after 5k or so. Mine got to be 7 years old and my ride became rough-ish. Flame pattern looks worse in pictures than in "real life" but I hear you.

I'm getting ready to buy my 5th set of Avons. I've gotten 7 to 8K out of each set with a mix of street and track driving. FWIW