Avon Tyres

...the garage assured me that Avon were the OEM tyre of choice on cars a lot more expensive than mine. So despite my reservations, I had a pair of Avon ZV-1s fitted to the front of my Peugeot 306 GTi-6.

my lack of familiarity with Avon is probably why I didn't feel too sure-footed as I drove away from the garage. But as the pair cost less than I would have paid for a single Michelin, I figured the worst thing that would happen was that ...
...what's the low-down on the Avon ZV-1 then? According to the 'gumph' , the ZV-1 is an H and V speed-rated directional tyre. It's directional tread pattern is designed to give improved water evacution (as are most directional treads) while the central rib provides improved steering response. The tyre design incorporates elements that help resist aqua-planing and very low-profile (45 and 50) versions incorporate a rim-protector to help prevent 'kerbing' ... more

It had to happen sooner or later. In 6 years of driving, I'd not experienced a single puncture. So, in accordance with Sod's Law, it had to happen at the start of a 150 mile run up to Lincoln. I could have used the spare, but didn't fancy a 300 mile round-trip on a dreaded "space-saver" wheel so I needed to find somewhere that would fit (and balance) a new pair of front tyres.

I ended up in a conveniently located branch of ATS only a few hundred yards from where the screw went through my tyre (a Goodyear Eagle which was getting worryingly close to the tyre-wear-indicator anyway). To cut a long story short, the screw had gone through the tyre close enough to the tyre-wall that it was not considered a suitable candidate for repair. The only tyre they had in my fitting (195/55 R15)) was either a Michelin or an Avon. Having heard some poor reviews of the Michelins in the past, and noting the significant difference in price, I opted for the Avons. If i am being perfectly honest, I was a little wary about buying a brand of tyre I'd never heard of, but the folks in the garage assured me that Avon were the OEM tyre of choice on cars a lot more expensive than mine. So despite my reservations, I had a pair of Avon ZV-1s fitted to the front of my Peugeot 306 GTi-6.

my lack of familiarity with Avon is probably why I didn't feel too sure-footed as I drove away from the garage. But as the pair cost less than I would have paid for a single Michelin, I figured the worst thing that would happen was that I would replace them soon enough with the tyres I had been meaning to buy (Bridgestones).

So what's the low-down on the Avon ZV-1 then? According to the 'gumph' , the ZV-1 is an H and V speed-rated directional tyre. It's directional tread pattern is designed to give improved water evacution (as are most directional treads) while the central rib provides improved steering response. The tyre design incorporates elements that help resist aqua-planing and very low-profile (45 and 50) versions incorporate a rim-protector to help prevent 'kerbing' of alloy wheels. They also use a high-grade rubber to improve the grip in the wet and claim to use a process which improves the uniformity and fit of the tyre. I can vouch for this last point as, when I finally found a place that could balance my wheels, each wheel needed only a single (small) weight to balance the weight of the valve.

An important note at this point. These tyres are 'directional' which means they MUST be fitted on in the correct direction. This ends up meaning that there is a right-hand and a left-hand wheel. If you put them on the wrong way round and go driving in the wet, it's almost as good as having no tread at all, as the tread pattern will not manage to clear anywhere near as much water. The direction of rotation is indicated by a series of arrows on the sidewall of the tyre, just make sure they point the way the wheel will be turning when you are going forwards.

On to my experiences with the ZV-1s then.

They had a baptism of fire, no sooner had they been fitted than I set off for Lincoln. Two hours of driving on what can only be described as a 'greasy' A1 followed by an hour of twisty-turny, occasionally muddy, single-carriageway, country lanes in Lincolnshire. I am pleased to say that they got me there in one piece. For the majority of the A1 stretch I was quite happy driving 'with the flow of traffic' at around 80mph. The tyres felt stable in a straight line but when it came to changing lanes, although they didn't grumble about a change in direction, I didn't feel like they were with me 100%, particularly when changing lanes on heavily rutted sections.

On the one occassion where I did have to brake sharply they were perfectly well behaved. Even though the road surface was damp and greasy they retained their grip and the ABS was left uncalled.

If I had to pick one gripe about the motorway performance of the tyres it would have to be the level of noise that comes through to the cabin, at anything over 50mph there's a constant, dull rumble which is noticeably affected by the road surface. Cross-cut concrete roads are INCREDIBLY noisy through these tyres despite the relatively generous sound-proofing of my 306.

Once I was off the A1, I was in to Lincolnshire proper and it seems to be all country roads, so the driving conditions went from one extreme to the other. If anything, the Avons seemed much more at home on the country lanes than the motorway. At lower speeds the road noise is much less noticeable. The steering response seemed much sharper and braking, even when the road was covered in mud, was a very grippy affair. And that was all in one run!

I ran them until I sold the car (about 2 years), covering approximately 10,000 miles. They showed signs of moderate wear but would have been good for at least another 10,000 miles.

During that time they were driven in just about every condition you could expect the UK to throw at you, including hard frost, ice, light snow, rain and bone-dry. Each time they behaved at least as well as the Goodyears I used to have on the front.

In the frost and snow I felt surprisingly confident, there was much more grip than I had been expecting. On the ice nothing makes much difference and sure enough, on hitting a patch of black ice the width of the road, it was all I could do to keey the car travelling in a straight line.

Handling in the rain is better than when the road is greasy, but the same can be said for most tyres. They cut through standing water and I never so much as felt the first twitches of aquaplaning.

Dry handling is fine, the car goes where you point it, accelerates without jitters and brakes in short order. It's a struggle to get the wheels to break traction, when with the 167 horses that the 306 had so they score well there too.

So what's the verdict? Faced with a similar situation, I'd go for the Avons again (over Michelins). They did an admirable job on a relatively hot hatch and would be more than fine on a "regular" family car.

[Originally posted on DooYoo.co.uk (by me) back in 2002. Updated during the port to Ciao.] 

...less