My Avon Tire Review
 

Please remember, this is my opinion. You may agree, or disagree.

I was running the Goodyear Bill Boards and loved them. However, I'm planning a 2500+ mile vacation this July, and after going back and forth about it, decided to buy the Avon's just to be safe.

So this comparision will be between the Avon and Goodyear BB's.

Rocks - The BB's pick up and throw more rocks than the Avons. In fact, it seems like the Avons are no different than any other tire.

Traction, straight line - I really do not feel there is that big of a difference based on my seat of the pants gauge.

Traction, cornering - This is one of the big differences in my opinion. Both tires have very high limits. The difference comes when you reach those limits. The BB's were very good at letting you know you were approaching the limit. The Avons take you closer to the limit before letting you know things will get exciting if you push it much further. This is one area that I prefer the BB's. Both are very good tires, and light years ahead of the Goodyear GTII's that were originally on the car. Those things were garbage in my opinion.

Driveability - The Avons do not flat spot, nor do they follow ruts in the highway like the BB's do. They do however wander a little, but it is well within acceptable limits in my opinion.

Weight - What a difference here, but that is to be expected when comparing a race tire to a DOT approved street radial tire.

Front - BB: 17.5 pounds, Avon 29.0 pounds
Rear - BB: 21.0 pounds, Avon 31.0 pounds

That makes a big difference in the unsprung weight at each corner of the car. On the street it probably would not be noticed. On the track, I would venture to say it would affect lap times depending on the roughness of the track.

Looks - I love the looks of the BB's. To me they just look right on the car, from the crappy lettering, to the buldging sidewalls.

Tire pressures - Just so everyone knows what pressures I'm running. BB's, 20 front, 18 rear. Avons, 22 front, 20 rear.

Needless to say, the Avons will stay on the car for the trip. After the trip I will decide what I'm going to do. Right now my plan is to buy a second set of wheels and have a set of the Goodyear G7's mounted up on them for most of my driving. If I take a longer trip again, then the Avons will go back one.

Please let me know if you have any questions that I did not address above.

John,
Thanks for a great no-BS review. Being radials, I think if you air-up the Avons a bit, the 'wander' will go away.

Why G7's over the BB's for a second set?

I would say the same for the BB, wouldn't you? I saw a noticeable improvement on the street when I went from 24F/22R psi to 28/26 psi. I bet they would hunt like crazy at 20/18.

Thanks for the Tire Review. I'll remember this info when setting up the tire sets.

John...pretty much sums up my thoughts on my short time with the Avons (vs. BBs), though I ran higher pressures for both on the street: 24/24 for the BBs, and 26/26 for the Avons. Much less wander for the Avons versus the BBs.

Peace of mind is increased with the Avons...which adds to the pleasure of the drive.

Wished someone had stencils for the Avons...along the lines of their full race tires.

:cool:

There is a stencil for Avon's, contact BMWdb10 for details......
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/albu...pictureid=3220
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/albu...pictureid=3219

Very sweet.

Thanks...learn something new at this place every damn day. ;)

Just got back last week after a 4 week, 2500 mile trip with the Avons, and thought I would pass along my opinion now that I lived with them on the trip.

After traveling up Hwy 1 North of San Francisco, and Hwy 199 between Crescent City and Grants Pass, I can honestly say I'm very happy with the Avons and probably will not go back to the Goodyears.

I need to check the tread depth again, but it appears that the rears are about 40% now, and the fronts 75%. I know, imagine that.

Expensive? Yes. But worth it in my opinion.

JAMO,

I believe www.racelinedigital.com has the stencil's you are looking for. They have 2 (or3) different stencil size's.

Chris

muchas gracias

John, which compound are you running? Assume you are talking about the CR6ZZ tire.

Jim

You are correct Jim.

Do you know which compound you have?

Does the CR6ZZ come in more than one compound? If so, I guess I missed it.

Yes, they offer an A29 compound which they call "hard" and an A30 compound which they call "medium". But as I look at it, you may not have had a choice depending on the size you purchased. The 275 and 295 sizes are only available in the A29 / Hard compound and they probably matched that up with the same for the front if you're running one of those sizes in the rear. I am looking at a 225 front, 245 rear and have a choice.

Glad you like them, wish they were cheaper... :rolleyes:

http://www.sascosports.com/products/...php?type_id=39