Avon Venom Vs Dunlop Elite 3

[Tartan Terror]

Well I got my wheels back and I need to make a decision to put new tires on or put the others back on and finish wearing them out. I Currently have the Avons on but Im curious about the Elites. How do the elites handle vs the Avons. Who has both and compare them.

 

Now important part. I dont want hear about cracking or customer service. I dont care about Michelins or Metzlers. I just want to know how they handle Vs each other. I want to buy them this week if I decide to get them so have at it!

[BOO]

Of course the guys who like the Avons will tell you they are the best and I'm gonna tell the Dunlops are the best BUT the Dunlops are about the only tire I have owned. All I've every had on the 4 Ventures I've owned. Soooo I guest the bottom line is "I don't know and probably never will"

It's kind of one of those things that if it don't give you any problem then why change.

Good Luck with whatever you decide on,

BOO

[Sylvester]

Flip a coin! They are near identical in performance and handling. I don't run them but all posts and factory blogs say this. It is like oil, there will be many on both sides of the issue.

 

[Skid]

I just ordered two Dunlop E3's. I saved $30.00 between the coupon and buying two tires.

Complete order with free shipping was $201.98.

Took only three days to deliver....

Not bad for buying two tires.....

__________________

[Wolf]

I got rid of the stock 404's and bought the Venoms at 2,000 miles. I have over 13000 on the bike now and love them. But, I have never owned the E3's, and as I love the Avons, I see no reason for me to switch. I am sure which ever way you go, you will be happy.

[AlbertaClipper]

I've had the original 404s, two sets of Avons, now the Elite 3's. Of the 3 I much prefer the Elite 3's. They just feel more solid under me. YMMV

[buddy]

I ran both sets Venom & Elite3.

Both handle the dry roads, tire noise about the same. pretty close on tire wear as well. But the Venom can take the curves better than the Elite3 and when it comes to wet roads the elite3 give me some movement on tar snakes to where the Venom stuck like glue. So I have to lean toward the Venom for better grip & wet traction...hope this helps.. just wish the $$ was not so high....

[Tartan Terror]

Thank Buddy. Thats the comparison I want. Someone who has run both. Everyone has a preference but I want input from people who have had both.

 

One for putting my Avons back on.

 

 

Lets here some more on this.

 

Scotty

[Mariner Fan]

Hey Scott, I have wanted to try the Avon's but I'm a bit gun shy about it due to the cracking issue. I do run the E-3's and really like them.

[geresti]

I've had both and found the dunlops got better mileage and traction might have been better too. I'm using the 404's now and traction is good but mileage isn't.

[Sleeperhawk]

I have had both, currently have the E3 still, mainly the cost and about 3000 miles longer on the rear vs Avon and the front E3 went 29000 before I replaced it this year. But I have no issues with either Avon or E3, to me both handled well in rain.

[Tom]

Love em both..The only difference I can tell and I am being very very picky is on SOME road surfaces the E3S make a little noise,that being said 99.9% of people would not even notice it.UIntil AVON gets the cracking issue resolved it will be E3S for me BUT when Avon proves they have the fix I will be back with Avon.

[V7Goose]

As many old timers here know, I have done a lot of tire testing on the RSV, and I have been a long time advocate of the Avon Venom. Last year I decided to try a Dunlop E3 after seeing a number of reports of almost unbelievable rear tire life with them. I have not yet replaced that first E3, but it is about due, so I think I can give a fair assessment.

 

The REAR E3 did last a bit longer for me than all my Avons - I have 17,000 miles on it right now, and I think I could go another thousand safely, compared to a maximum 14,000 on the Avon. In a strange contrast, however, the front E3 is wearing much faster than the Avon front tires do - I normally wear out two Avon rear tires for one front, but this E3 front is barely going to outlast the rear. I do not understand this, since there is no abnormal wear pattern on the front, but there is no doubt it is wearing very fast.

 

The handling of the E3s are good, both wet and dry, but not as good as the Venoms, and the difference is more pronounced at the end of the tire life than when both brands are new. In addition to the slightly worse handling, the rear tire is cupping a bit, something that no Venom has ever done on my bike. But at 80,000 miles, I cannot swear that there might not be some other wear issue on the bike causing the cupping - nothing seems wrong, so I won't know until I get to run another Venom.

 

The E3s do make some road noise in curves - not bad, but certainly more than the Venoms ever did.

 

Bottom line for me is that both tires are good, but if price is no object, I'd run the Venoms.

Goose

[Sleeperhawk]

Bottom line for me is that both tires are good, but if price is no object, I'd run the Venoms.

Goose

 

I agree with V7, except for the front tire issue. I put close to 30000 on the front tire (E3) with not issues and went through two rear tires. When I took off my rear tire last weekend, I showed Mechanic the cupping issue on the E3, but I had close to 16000 on the rear.

 

But something about spending close to 30 to 50 more for a set of Avons kind go goes against the grain, so with equal handling in all conditions I am staying with E3.

[Dave77459]

I upgraded from stock to Avons. I run the narrower MT90HB-16 in front, which I like.

 

My first Avon was flawless. My second, I ran over a screw and it held air for a while. Then, on the way up to V7Goose's, it ran low. I think that damaged it. Not too much longer, I had to swap it out because it quickly went bald. Like I said, I think I damaged it. Other than that, the Avons performed flawlessly. I rode 1500 miles home in the rain on a trip with the Avon, and I always felt assured on it.

 

But, I decided to try the E3 in the rear, because I'd heard good things about them and just wanted to experience something different. I now have 5800 miles on it and it looks barely used.

 

Performance wise, both are great tires. I haven't run the E3 on tar snakes yet, so I don't know how that will go. The E3 feels harder for some reason, especially when cold. I don't seem to have the same confidence in curves with it, but it is miles ahead of the stock Brickstone I started with.

 

So for me, it seems to be a trade between bit better handling (Avon) and maybe better lifetime (Dunlop). Summer is coming up soon enough, which could change how I feel about the Dunlop. For now, I'd go back to the Avon. My overall experience, especially in the rain, just makes me happy with it.

 

Dave

[Tartan Terror]

Thank you to all. For now I think I will finish wearing out the Avons I have now. I enjoyed the Avons but I sell Dunlop car tires. I figured I would try them if they were the same if not better. For now Im convinced that the Avons are the ones I will stick with as I know them and why waste perfectly good tires. Back on they go!!!

 

 

As for the Fire bike Revision II. Keep watching as it is now going back together!!!

[LilBeaver]

...

 

As for the Fire bike Revision II. Keep watching as it is now going back together!!!

 

 

Can't wait to see it!! (and I'm not even a FF)

[Monty]

I will be going with the E3s. I just noticed yesterday, that my Avons are cupping bad, and have lots of cracks in both the sidewall, and the tread. I don't feel so safe right now, glad I looked at them.

 

I will be ordering some E3s from Motorcycle Superstore.

[Monty]

The first two pics are from the rear tire, and the last one is from the front. I know the cracking in the tread is not so much of a concern, but I REALLY don't like that sidewall. I don't know how many miles are on these, so maybe Buddy can shed some light on that.

 

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i274/13thAFMonterey/IMG_3891.jpg

 

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i274/13thAFMonterey/IMG_3890.jpg

 

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i274/13thAFMonterey/IMG_3888.jpg

[OutlawRider]

With everything I have read and people I have talked to I'll buy the Elite-3's when I retire Mine. I like the thread that said the Avon's stick in wet but I have a buddy that rides year round on a RSV and loves his Elite-3's. Say's they do great year round and we get every weather up here. That is enough for me and he ride aggressively at times so he test the tires. Just my oppinion......