Avon Tire, same ol' problem.

[Condor]

OK, I'm starting to wonder if it's just me or this problem is more wide spread than first thought. Some of you may remember me posting a few months ago about sidewall checking on the Avon Venom X AM41 tire I had on the '83VR. To make a long story short, Avon waranteed the tire. Now the replacement tire is starting to check, not as bad as the first tire, and I'm wondering if any other Avon Venom users are having or had the same problem with their Avons?? It's either I'm really screwing up somehow and doing something wrong, or this problem is more wide spread than first thought.

[juggler]

Dang, a tire shouldn't do that unless it's old and the rubber is drying out. There has to be something wrong with the rubber compound. Unless your driving on it with out air.

[frankd]

Jack,

 

After reading your message, I went outside and inspected my 3 year old Avon with about 17,000 miles on it. There are no cracks showing.

[E-Fishin-C]

Did you get the replacement tire from the same dealer? I ve seen RV tires do that because of the sun exposure

[BuddyRich]

Jack, None of mine have done that. Is this front or rear, whats your tire pressure? I'm beginning to wonder if maybe you have an alignment problem and the tire is running at a slight angle. I remember you saying you don't have a garage. Is the tire sitting in water all the time when parked?

[BradT]

Jack. just a question.

 

Your rims look nice and clean would you be spraying them with some sort of rim cleaner.

 

The reason I ask is because on my van I was spraying my aluminum rims and the raised white letters with an aluminum cleaner, and I think they wrecked the rubber in my tires.

 

I had one front blow out at 80 mph, the other front went flat in the driveway after a 400 mile ride (two weeks later), and when I had the other two removed they were not far off of splitting the side walls.

 

BF Goodrich replaced them under a pro rated warranty, but I started thinking about it after and wonder if it was the cleaner I was using. I stopped using it and have not had the problem again.

 

Brad

[Tartan Terror]

Jack. just a question.

 

Your rims look nice and clean would you be spraying them with some sort of rim cleaner.

 

The reason I ask is because on my van I was spraying my aluminum rims and the raised white letters with an aluminum cleaner, and I think they wrecked the rubber in my tires.

 

I had one front blow out at 80 mph, the other front went flat in the driveway after a 400 mile ride (two weeks later), and when I had the other two removed they were not far off of splitting the side walls.

 

BF Goodrich replaced them under a pro rated warranty, but I started thinking about it after and wonder if it was the cleaner I was using. I stopped using it and have not had the problem again.

 

Brad

I am a car tire dealer so maybe I can help here. The cracking doesnt look bad but still I wouldn't want to see that on my tire. I think it is more a rubber thing. First, do the serial numbers on the tire match the one that was replaced already? If so then maybe there is a slight problem with just one batch. Also how do you store your cycle. Is it outside all the time with lots of temp changes. Do you use any cleaners on it. I thinks it really funny that no one else is having this problem. Avon is built by cooper and they are pretty upstanding and Coopers rarely have cracking problems. Michelins, BFG and Uniroyal (All the same company) are terrible for cracking. They use a very synthetic rubber that is less tolerant to flex. In a passenger tire small cracks are normal to a point due to flex. Once again contact the dealer and Im sure they will replace it. Make sure the serial number dosent match the one on there now and the production date is newer.

[Condor]

Lot's of questions.

 

The first tire was mounted about Jan of this year. The born-on date was (2305). The replacementwas mounted in sept with a born-on of (2205), and has been on for aprox. 2.5 months. Even with the close dates they might not be of the same batch??

 

Yes it's stored outside with a full waterproof cover...the garage is full of marine equipment, and this -is- California. We're talking about two tires with less than 6 months on the first and 2 months on the second, so UV rays shouldn't be a factor.

 

The wheels are just clean...only use a micro fiber once in a while. No rim cleaners...OK maybe some dish soap but can't remember if I had...

 

Per Avon warantee I'm running 50#psi and check it regularly due to running tire#1 at 40. Didn't want the checking to happen again....so much for that.

 

Alignment problem?? I can run down the road at 70 without holding on to the bars and it tracks like an arrow. No vibration. No pulling. The Elite II I replaced with the Avon was on for aprox 2 years, and never had checking, and in fact is remounted on the '93.

 

The first tire came from Southwest Moto, the replacement came directly from Avon, although at the time they said they were out of stock and then found this 'buy back' from a dealer somewhere.

 

So like I said I'm at a complete loss, and I'm glad the rest of you aren't running into this problem. I emailed Avon, so we should find out something tomorrow.... I hope...

[sarges46]

Jack

 

I had to replace my front one this spring for the same reason. I got back the cost of the tire....I purchased it in Sturgis last August. I lost a ton of money on the deal..the new tire is holding up fine. I think Avon should have covered the cost of mounting as well as what my new tire cost me here...a hundred bucks more than in Sturgis!! But at least I did get something back.

[Guest panda]

I had one front blow out at 80 mph, the other front went flat in the driveway after a 400 mile ride (two weeks later), and

 

Tell me, how did the bike handle at 80mph just after the blowout?

 

I had a cage pull out in front of me in the high-speed lane on the highway. I was in traffic going 60-65mph. She cut right in and stopped while giving me the finger. I locked 'em up and the bike went sideways at 60mph down the highway. I steered into the skid, and kept the bike from going down, straightened it up and blew by her in the dirt at about 45mph. Never saw her before, and hopefully I'll never see her again. Scared the bejesus outta me, fer sure.

 

[Condor]

Jack

 

I had to replace my front one this spring for the same reason. I got back the cost of the tire....I purchased it in Sturgis last August. I lost a ton of money on the deal..the new tire is holding up fine. I think Avon should have covered the cost of mounting as well as what my new tire cost me here...a hundred bucks more than in Sturgis!! But at least I did get something back.

 

Hey Rick. Just got off the phone with Avon and they are replacing the tire.... and picking up the cost of the R&R. I paid for the first one, but this one's on them. The last replacement date was very close to the original date from SouthWest Moto. The one they're sending me this time has a date of 5005 (dec/05). The last two were 22 and 2305 ('bout June/05), pretty close... And the replacement was a dealer buy back, and no telling where the H it had been stored. Your big problem was you were at the mercy of a Sturgis dealer, and they stuck it to you on the price. I called Avon this morning and they just called back and said the replacement tire will be at the dealers by Wednesday. Pretty fast service. I don't know how warantee works for Canada, but i know that shipping anything up there takes forever......

[sarges46]

Mis informed you I think Jack

 

The Sturgis tire was a great price and the date code was fairly current...about 10 months old. They did get me on installation though...but that couldnt be helped..I was captive and needed tires..

 

Swing into spring and the unveiling of the bike for the new year of riding. I check out the tires...rear is great, but the front has many many cracks all around the whole tire both sides at the rim.

 

Called Avon. As per their instuctions I took the tire to my stealer. New tire and installation was around 230 bucks Can.(you're right...thats nuts!!). The dealer then ended up sending the tire away or whatever, Avon honoured the warranty...but would only give me the cost of the tire that was bad....about 117 Can.

 

All totalled tire cost me about 300 bucks Can. But, I still really like it and the way it handles and rides.

[Condor]

Sorry for the misread Rick. In my case Avon is sending the tire and a pickup for the old one. All the dealer is getting is the fee for changing it out. He only charged $25 bucks on the first replacement, but maybe Avon will allow more for his trouble. The dealer is an local independant. No manufacture affiliation. Me thinks you should have checked around for a friendlier dealer and then waited until Avon sent the replacement instead of buying it yourself and then trying to get Avon to pick up the tab for a padded retail. Did I get it right this time.... :)

[sarges46]

Lol yep and it was me that thought I misled you!

 

I guess I could have waited, but, I really didnt want to ride on that tire. Again thinking of it, I got screwed in the end and didnt even get a kiss!

 

Well, it was a lesson learned.

 

The front here lists for 190 Can. plus my stealer fee of 60 to change it out.

I am glad you are well taken care of though. I will buy that brand again.

[BradT]

Tell me, how did the bike handle at 80mph just after the blowout?

 

 

Sorry I forgot to mention it was in a cage. I was trying to point out I thought it was my own doing with some chemical cleaners.

 

That was scary enough pulled me into the other lane.

 

I saw Swifty's rear tire (86 Venture) go flat at about 70 mph that was scary as well, more for him though, I am sure.

 

Brad

[Guest Swifty]

I saw Swifty's rear tire (86 Venture) go flat at about 70 mph that was scary as well, more for him though, I am sure.

Brad

 

:sign yeah that:

 

...and my Avons are wearing fine, half way done, no cracking yet.

[V7Goose]

The one they're sending me this time has a date of 5006 (dec/06). The last two were 22 and 2306 ('bout June/06), pretty close...

I'd sure like to understand how they are shipping you a tire that won't be born for two more months?!?!?!

[E-Fishin-C]

:sign yeah that:

 

...and my Avons are wearing fine, half way done, no cracking yet.

 

And how many kms is that?

[Condor]

I'd sure like to understand how they are shipping you a tire that won't be born for two more months?!?!?!

 

Time Travel...... Should have been 05. It's been corrected..... :)

[Black Ice]

Didn't check the dates on my Avons. Probably will later, but they have between 9 and 10 K miles on them. Put them on in early May this year they are doing fine. No cracks showing and plenty of tread left.

Gary B

[Condor]

It would be interesting, as in Rick's case, to know the dates of those tires that did show sidewall cracking. Rick, do you still have any info laying around?? Mine were both around June'05. I asked Avon about the inspection results of first tire, but the warantee dept never gets that info, and the tire was shipped to another location.

[Condor]

Just wanted everyone to know what happened with the tire. Avon stepped up and replaced it...again, and picked up the labor charge as well. The one they replaced it with was built 4-5 months later toward the end of '05. Didn't cost me a cent, just my time to R&R the front tire. We'll see how this one holds up......