AVON ZZ3 tyres - best avoided

[advuk]

Hello
Bit of newbie here so firstly hello.

After a puncture in my pirelli's which couldn't be mended I was offered a good price on the Avon ZZ3 255/35/19, I thought ok give them a go!! oh how silly of me.....

Well 1000miles later and both have come off the back of my car and gone back to Pirelli.

They almost put me in the hedge on many occasions, problem being either very weak side wall or too much flex in tread blocks.

Car felt like it was riding on jelly, avoiding potholes was a dangerous task as the tyres felt like they sagged one way then bounced back and promptly sagged the other way, all in all not a good drive and frankly pretty hairy at best, tried upping pressure, no effect. They were Y rated with a 96 load.

Anywho Ive tested them and would not recommend them one bit..

[bn8959]

I had Avons put on an old 2.0l Mondeo I had years ago and found exactly the same thing! One close shave with a hedge and they were straight back to the tyre shop! Thankfully they agreed to swap them for some continentals.

[sonny]

Just goes to show you can not compromise on tyres on these cars....Welcome to the forum mate.

[advuk]

'Buy cheap buy twice' as i was rudely reminded by more than one person after i changed them!! I'll never learn..

Thanks for the welcome SJ

[pad125]

I was involved in racing a few years ago (all be it motorcycle road racing) and we always worked on a rule that 50% of the bikes mechanical efficiency was down to the massive investment the bike manufacturer had done over countless thousands of hours of development and the other 50% was in the tyres!

You could change all the settings in the world on the bike and it not make a sh1te of difference and f*$k it up completely in an instant by being 2 Psi difference in the tyres.

When it comes to tyres put the most expensive set of tyres on you can afford and I’m guessing that as you own an RS4 then £800ish isn’t going break the bank.

I was offered quite a few options when I changed mine and the price did look attractive but gave myself a sharp shake and put Michelin’s back on. Thank the Lord!

[PetrolDave]

When it comes to tyres put the most expensive set of tyres on you can afford and I’m guessing that as you own an RS4 then £800ish isn’t going break the bank.

Can't say I'd agree with "put the most expensive set of tyres on you can afford"...

Michelins are good, but are they really 50% better than Goodyear F1 Asymmetrics? (that was the price difference when I changed last summer). having had both, I'd say no.

Cost isn't an indicator of how good a tyre is - feedback from fellow own=ers is IMHO a much better guide. On here you'll see opinions on Pirelli, Michelin, Goodyear, Vredestein, etc ... but this is the first thread I've seen on Avon - which, even without reading this thread, would say to me that Avon's aren't even worth trying.

Real world experience of owners is the best judge.

[advuk]

Tend to agree a wee bit. I remember Avon tyres, all beit for formula ford all those years ago and they were the controlled tyre we used. I guessed as my only real option at the time when I had the puncture in the heavily worn pirelli's that they would be ok. how wrong was I. it makes me laugh when they throw a tyre out to the market with the necessary load and speed rating and you put it on anything over 1.5 ton and its behaves like jelly. should be some tighter regs on tyre behaviour for these loads, and not assume that we trundle along at 30mph without stressing the tyre.

now got all four shiny new pirelli's back on (£742 total kwik fit offer) and the car is back to being stunning. that and the two new shocks having been replaced the day before and the DRC all pressured up! Love it...

[PetrolDave]

now got all four shiny new pirelli's back on (£742 total kwik fit offer)

Love to know how long the Pirellis last ... my car had Pirellis from the factory and only lasted 9000 miles. PS2's lasted 13000 and I've done 7000 on Goodyears which still have a lot of life left.

[P_G]

I agree with Dave, I have the Goodyears as well and as said on another thread have done 13,000+ miles on them and they still have 3.5-4mm left on them and its not all motorway driving.