Triumphrat

curtis41

I wanted an alternative to the Metzelers for longer mileage and a little better traction on wet pavement. By the response I received (see below), it looks like Avon is working on that set.

"They are looking at making that and actually they are in the process of developing a tire. Just don’t have any updates as of yet when they will be available. So it will be at least 4-6 months out."

Thanks,
Shaun Sparks
Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels
Avon Motorcycle Tires North America
Technical Support
PH: (800)-222-9092
Local: (330)-928-9092

Fax: (330)-928-0503

dazco

did they say anything about which model they are going to make it? Storm? Cobra?

56Renegade

If I remember correctly, you've had several sets of Metzelers. What brings you back to them if not longevity?

56R

curtis41

I think he said it was the really good grip of the tire on the road, and that was more important to him than mileage of the tire, but I suspect he will respond directly. I agree that Metzelers stick to the road just fine. I will wait and see if Avon comes up with a good tire that also has better lifespan.

dazco

two things

1)-i want exact sizes in a matched set, and no one yet makes a set of matched tires in our sizes

2)-metzelers grip great and i am confident on them. With a set of other tires i will have to test their limits to see if they are as good. If they aren't i may find out the hard way. In a word, I know, like, and trust metzelers.

That said i DO want something that lasts longer. I just don't know whether thats likely w/o going to a dual compound which is a tire thats even more unlikely to be made in our sizes. So i'm undecided but am 100% happy with metzelers except for the mileage.

argyle

What sort of mileage have you been getting? I only got about 7,000 out of my first rear Metzler, but I talked to a Rocket III owner who gets no more than about 5500, so I didn't feel so bad about it.

__________________
'07 America, AI removed, Hyde Bellmouth, long TORS, 125 mains
'10 Thunderbird, BB kit, long TORS

Wells

Just a note, I ran a set of Bridgestone's, and the rear lasted all of 5300 miles. I still have the front as a Bridgestone, but I just replaced the rear with a Dunlop dual compound to see how well it lasts.

Unfortunately the Dunlop's do not have a matched set for the front.

__________________
2010 Triumph Thunderbird
2007 Honda CB900 919

dazco

same. About 7k. But there is a wide variance among Tbird owner. Some are using the avons and are already at the 7k point or thereabouts and said they tire looks only 1/2 done. I'm just using metzelers till a complete picture becomes clear as to what works and what doesn't. Last thing i want to do is find out the hard way a particular tire doesn't stick as well as the metz.

the real red

Just bought AVON VP2 Handles 100% better than metzler to me still got metz on front but handling much better even in wet will let you know about ice when it comes

dazco

This is a new mnodel and i see it comes in our exact size. My concerns tho ate mileage and weight rating. They are a SS tire, not a cruiser tire. They may be rated for a substantially lower weight and may also be very short lived as most SS tires are. I can't determine much because they don't show them on the avon site. They have a article on them in the news section but they are not in the model line up so no specs. If they are supported for weight like the Tbird and the mileage is good, they'd be a contender. But the fact is the tires that are available in our size or 55 which is close enough and works fine are probably better choices for several reasons. One is cost. My michelin commander II was $150, and it appears the avon runs well over $200. second, chances are it will be even more expensive because longevity is likely to be as low as anything people have tried on this bike so far due to it being a SS tire. And it's been said many times that most tires today will grip much more than necassary for a bike like ours. I hit the twisties hard as most people will on this bike and the commander feels and grips as well as the metz or better, better then the avon storm, and is supposed to outlive the metz 2-1. Not sure if it will, but one person here said he was at 10k recently and had a few k left. My best metz was 7k and the avon was 5.2k.

So the way i see it the commander so far is easily the best in that it handles flawlessly, will likely outlive most any others, costs less than any others not counting the cost savings of longevity, and as an added bonus it feels smooth as tho you put softer shocks on but w/o affecting handling. If this VP2 can do all that it would be worth a try, but at this point even if everything else were the same, just the price alone is a dealbreaker unless the handling was very noticeably better. But I can't imagine that because the way it is now even with stock suspension I won't take it to it's very limit. people don't live long if they ride the way this bike is capable of with any tire very often ! A SS tire really isn't necassary if you are somewhat sane. And i really don't think the bike is capable of making use of any more tire than is available in the metz or commander. My avon storm too i suppose, tho there were a few times it felt a bit slippery. Coulda been a fluke but i dunno.