Avon cracking again!!!!!!!

[V7Goose]

Tires are one of the most personal choices, and there is often little real fact or experience that leads one to develop a strong opinion for or against a brand.

 

Avons are most definitely still on the very top of my DO BUY list. I have been testing Dunlop E3s, and they are good, but not as good as the Avons. The E3 rear lasts a little longer, but the front only lasts half as long as an Avon. The Avons handle better and are quieter.

 

You say you are riding on Metzelers, and I would most certainly quit riding forever if that was the tire I had to use. Aren't individual choices grand?

Goose

[eusa1]

Tires are one of the most personal choices, and there is often little real fact or experience that leads one to develop a strong opinion for or against a brand.

 

as if this was a statement with any great knowledge of all the members experiences?

looks like another OPINION in itself....hmm? ooops thats yet another opinion showing huh??

[Leadwolf56]

I take it that Metzlers And Avons are on the Poop List now?

 

 

Don't know about Metzler's other than the fact that a lot of their rear tires chunked out on Ventures, no thanks. The Avons were on my bike when I bought it, they handle very well, in fact the front one has given me no problem and is still on the bike, it's maybe half way worn or a little less. Evidently the rear one doesn't like the cold up here but other brand tires don't do this. The Bridgestones on my wife's bike (they were on it when she bought it) didn't do it. My front is fine after two winters. So, I went back to dunlop and put the E3 on to try it. i've heard a lot of good about the Michelin Commanders too.

As Goose said, it's a personal choice and I choose to switch to something else.

Cougar, I followed your writeup taking the rear tire and differential off. No problem.

[Cougar]

Kevin. glad it helped you out ! Don't ya just love write-up's with pictures

wish more folks would do that. LOTS of pictures! yep!

[Christo]

Tires are one of the most personal choices, and there is often little real fact or experience that leads one to develop a strong opinion for or against a brand.

 

Avons are most definitely still on the very top of my DO BUY list. I have been testing Dunlop E3s, and they are good, but not as good as the Avons. The E3 rear lasts a little longer, but the front only lasts half as long as an Avon. The Avons handle better and are quieter.

 

You say you are riding on Metzelers, and I would most certainly quit riding forever if that was the tire I had to use. Aren't individual choices grand?

Goose

 

Grand and confusing.

 

I know riding style affects tire wear, but there has got to be some form of common ground to work from and compare when it comes to a tire purchase. We all want something quiet, gripping, non-cracking and non-chunking, that will give us 10K or more miles on it.

 

I wonder how many people "mix" tire brands - one brand for the front and one for the rear based upon their demands and needs?

[Bummer]

I liked the Avon handling a lot. I had one crack along the sidewalls and accepted the "bad batch" argument. Since then every rear has developed sidewall cracks. How many bad batches can there be?

 

I've never had any other tire do this. I have no idea why it has happened. I just can not afford to change out extremely low mileage tires all the time because of sidewall cracks the likes of which I've never seen anywhere else.

 

I looked at Dunlop Elite 3s and Michelin Commanders. It was a coin toss. The E3s won.

[Cougar]

Steve, Just wondering why the E3's Won over the Commanders?

what made you decide?

[Squidley]

Lets put a bit of logic in this, I will speak from experience here as I have managed a tire store. EVERY mfgr has a run of tires that come out bad, when you are as big as the majority of mfgrs that we buy tires from are, there WILL be quality control that slips through the cracks. When you have several different contractors making items or chemicals or whatnot for your bottom line, there are things that are out of your control.

 

Metzler chooses to blame riders for not keeping their tire inflated, yep, there are some that dont, but you cant blame it all on all the riders. Is Avon having a bad run with some tires, YEP and it's all about how they treat the customer in making sure the customer is taken care of. I have run all the major tires on the Venture, 880 Metzlers on my 1st '99 nice tire in performance aspect, way too many people I know PERSONALLY that had chunks of the tires fly off or start to. Michelin Commanders (which I would buy again) Dunlop 404's (the biggest pos besides the bridgestones) as they track tar snakes horribly and suck in the rain IMHO. Avon Venoms which I WILL still buy and use, haven't had a better tire perform for the way I like to ride. I have heard great things from the E3's but haven't had a chance to try them yet. Now the Shinkos on the '89 which I am pleased with but haven't seen about the longevity.

 

There are a few guys here that are having some issues with the Avons, it is unfortunate. But how many here are running the Venoms that aren't having problems? I will still tell folks to buy the Avon Venoms until we have 30 or 40 people that are coming up with the same issues with them. Buy what you like, but when it comes time for the E3's to have an issue or the Michelin Commanders who's gonna say what then. We dont have any of the information as to why this is happening, so how are we going to make an educated statement without knowing all the facts

[GeorgeS]

I have tried all the Brands for the Venture,

 

Including a set of Avons, Front blew from a Small Rock, ( 2000 miles on it )

Rear, Performed good but wore out in about 11,000 miles.

Rideing performance, was OK, but as far as I am concerned No better then the Dunlop E2 and E3's

 

A Continental on Rear, had No Issues, and lasted about 12,000 miles.

 

Bridgestone OEM, lasted 7,000, Never again ( however I do use them on my Busa, but those are totally different tires )

 

My first set of E2's lasted Over 20,000 miles, on the Venture. Absolutly NO Issues,

 

I'm very satified with the E3's now installed. Wear, is right on schedule to top 20K

 

As far as I am concerned, its E3's on this bike untill it goes to the salvage yard !!

 

I just order them ahead of time, and have a set ready to Install !!!

 

The Cheaper Dunlops, They are OK, but wear out to fast, about 10K is average.

Sorry, no Harley Tires for me.

[jrsc4excel]

Dunlop E'3 Rear

 

 

Bridgestone Front

[MikeWa]

The rubber on tires is self lubricated by the action of the tire during use. Storage, non use, for long periods of time especially in sunlight can dry the rubber out and lead to cracking. Many motor home owners cover their tires to keep the sunlight off them and reduce the cracking. Poorly constituted rubber compounds can also lead to cracking as can the tire being stored unwrapped or near a heater vent for a couple of years before it is sold. High up in a heated building for example. However once dried out the rubber is damaged and probably will not recover even though it may look and feel ok. Meaning future cracks. There is also a big difference between non use storage for a couple of weeks or months and storage for several years.

For automobile tires there are coatings which can be applied which will help lubricate the sidewalls and block harmful radiation from the sun. I don't think I would try this on a motorcycle. Too much chance of making a self lubricating tire to road contact area.

Minor hairline cracks on the surface rubber is cosmetic and should not be confused with large or deep cracks that penetrate to the belts and can be structural. All said and done that is what warranties are for. Oh and I doubt that cold concrete has anything to do with it. Tires are sold, used and stored in cold weather climates all the time.

Mike

[Mariner Fan]

I have the Dunlop Elite 3's on my bike and I'm sold on them.

[Bummer]

Steve, Just wondering why the E3's Won over the Commanders?

what made you decide?

Heads.

 

Really.

 

It was even a randomly chosen quarter.

[Cougar]

gattcha

[Bummer]

Ok guys, what would you do? You going to load mama on there and go riding or are you going to change tires?

 

The first two are from the most recent tire. The second two are from the one before. Tread depth is from the one before. Most recent was about the same.

[Cougar]

Yicks... now that is bad. no way I would ride with them looking like that, sheesh.

 

Heck my 10 year old Wing has some tiny cracking, from age. nothing like that though,

going to change them this summer. as one of my re-build projects going on with that bike.

[Freebird]

I agree...those would be changed immediately. Mine are not nearly that bad and I have no problem riding on them but I'll sure be watching them after seeing those pics.

 

I'm at a loss folks. I really like the way the Avons handle and feel but I just see no excuse for this cracking issue. Therefore, my official stance is that I will not be recommending them any longer unless Avon acknowledges that they have a problem and do something to correct it.

 

That really narrows down my choices. At this time, it's either back to the Michelin Commanders and just tolerate the slight noise in the long sweepers or try the Dunlop Elite 3. I am a bit apprehensive about the Elite 3 as I have already read of two folks here who had them blow at while almost new.

[DragonRider]

I just replaced both rear tires on my bikes, they were Avons, both with about 12,000 miles on them, neither one had any cracking in the sidewalls. The one on the Venture was bought in 2006, and the one on the V Star was bought in 2008. I had been watching them ever since the cracking post started. Loved the Avons, but the prices had gotten so high I decided to replace them with the less expensive Shinko's based on other members use of them especially Squidley, he has never steered me wrong yet. I love the way they handle and are very quiet. The V Star got the 747 radial, and the Venture would have to but they only had it in one size, I rode the V Star yesterday after getting in back from the shop and I love the way it makes the bike feel, very positive handling characteristics. I will be tracking the wear very closely to see how it compares to the Avon Venom X. My front tires are still about 60-70% tread left, Hopefully get 20,000 thousand out of them.

[Sgtglenn]

I'd replace that tire right away - - much cheaper than a hospital stay!!

 

I just replaced set of E3's got 20,000 miles out of the set

Was happy with the miles and handling wet & dry. Only negative is they were a bit noisy.

Based on earlier reviews here I decided to try out a set of Avon Venom's. After a few hundred miles, I'm impressed with how quiet they run and the dry road handling characteristics (no rain,yet).

 

Now I have to keep a real close eye on those sidewalls during my weekly pressure checks.

Just love rolling around the garage floor

[Bummer]

... I am a bit apprehensive about the Elite 3 as I have already read of two folks here who had them blow at while almost new.

I sure didn't remember those. I just hope that was a lucky quarter.

 

Those two tires were made about a year or so apart. Seems like that's a pretty big batch.

 

I really, really like the handling of the Avons. I'll probably give 'em a couple of years and if the problems seem to have gone away (as in nobody coming on and grumbling about cracks) I'll try them again. They're a fun tyre.

 

Lil Sis's V-Star 650 has Venoms. I not only recommended them, I ordered them from Southwest Moto for her. They only show cosmetic cracking. You almost can't see 'em they're so fine. Kind of a random spiderweb of micro-fine lines. Absolutely nothing like the cracks I've had.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

E3's front and rear on my Venture.

 

I will add they seem to be holding up well, but I have noticed that the E3's take longer to warm up and start handling properly than any other tire I have ever used. Maybe its the thicker or harder rubber...I'm just not sure. In the summer its a non-issue mostly, but in the cooler weather its very noticeable, especially as the tires wear.

 

I had used Michelin Commanders on my ElectraGlide years ago, and they began to handle very poorly as they wore out.

 

I have never been inclined to run Avons. Of all my Harley riding buddies that have run Avons, most report poor handling on wet roads...some have even had crashes due to the lack of traction and hydroplaning. And now this?

 

No thanks.

 

[Christo]

Ok guys, what would you do? You going to load mama on there and go riding or are you going to change tires?

 

The first two are from the most recent tire. The second two are from the one before. Tread depth is from the one before. Most recent was about the same.

 

Those cracks look scary!

[Bummer]

I'd replace that tire right away - - much cheaper than a hospital stay!!

 

Oh, they're gone. I scrubbed in a new pair of E3s yesterday. 135 mile break in.

 

Now I have to keep a real close eye on those sidewalls during my weekly pressure checks.

Just love rolling around the garage floor

 

I don't want to come off as anti-Avon, but I am going to give them some time to work some issues out.

[eusa1]

 

I had used Michelin Commanders on my ElectraGlide years ago, and they began to handle very poorly as they wore out.

 

no kidding??:crackup:c'mon now?? reeeeally??

 

if they still performed great even after they wore out.... why would you replace them?:whistling:someone was gunna say it..

[Cougar]

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