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Introduction to Avon Tyres
The tyre as we know it today was invented in 1888 by a Scottish vet in Belfast, by the name of John Boyd Dunlop. His creation was genuinely revolutionary and within a few years had inspired Avon Rubber – a company founded in 1885 in a small Avon valley village – to expand into tyre production. The Avon Tyres brand began in 1904 and by 1911 the company was producing motorcycle tyres.
While Dunlop went bankrupt in 1884 and was partially acquired by the Japanese company Sumitomo, Avon Tyres continued as the leading British-owned tyre manufacturer of car, motorbike and bicycle tyres. Even when it was bought by the American company Cooper Tires in 1997, with its headquarters relocating in the USA, its tyre production remained in the UK.
The history of Avon Tyres is inseparable from the evolution of the automotive industry. As well as the consumer market, Avon has for decades been supplying high-performance sports tyres to motor racing teams. In 1959 Avon kitted out the Aston Martin DBR1/300 which won the iconic Le Mans 24-hour race and then went on to take the World Sportscar Championship title. In 1981 the Swedish driver Slim Borgudd won Avon its first ever point in Formula 1 and from 2006-2015 the company was a regular supplier to the British GT Championship. By 2009 approximately 200 racing champions put their trust in Avon tyres. Today, Avon continues to work with F1 teams as well as Hillclimb competitors, while constantly increasing its OE operation.
Their contribution to motorcycle racing is equally illustrious. Although they are closely associated with cruisers and classic bikes, they’ve also had success in the Manx GP on the Isle of Man TT course and were selected as the control tyre for several Irish road racing events. Their extensive experience and expertise at every level of motorbike performance means they can apply their advanced technology just as effectively to ordinary road use as they are to the world’s most competitive racing models.
How to Choose the Best Avon Tyres for Your Usage
Partly because Avon manufactures in the UK, the development teams are always conscious of the demands of Northern European weather, which can range from blistering, dry heat in summer to heavy rain, snow and ice in winter. The range therefore includes tyres to fit all conditions – some of them designed to be reliable all year round, others made to perform particularly well at certain extremes.
In addition to the varied climate, motorcycle riders have many different requirements. Some ride for the daily commute while others ride for touring, track racing and off-roading. Different priorities apply in different environments.
For years the 3D Storm X-M Sport Touring tyre was widely regarded as having excellent handling and mileage properties. More recently this was replaced by the equally acclaimed Spirit ST.
Avon has always been a market leader in supplying riders of cruiser bikes and the company promises even better capabilities with its new Cobra Chrome. Meanwhile, for those who use their motorbike largely for commuting, the Roadrider MKII offers excellent value for money, which has made it one of the best-selling commuting tyres in the country. The Roadrider is also available for classic bikes.
If you enjoy putting your skills and your motorcycle to the test, then you’ll be pleased to learn that Avon has also developed models to serve the motorsport and hypersport sectors of the market. Its 3D Ultra Xtreme range is more than a match for the challenges of the circuit and benefits from the inclusion of slicks and wets.
For the Adventure dual sports rider solutions include the Trailrider and the TrekRider.
Avon is a true all-rounder. There are very few areas in which they don’t manufacture the perfect tyre to suit. Their name is a guarantee of quality and longevity. You still need to take care of your tyres, however robust and reliable, by ensuring that they are inflated to the optimum pressure and by regularly inspecting them for tread wear and damage. For regular motorbike use we’d recommend the Avon Spirit ST or the Avon Storm 3D XM and if your main pursuit is road riding, we’d advise a front tyre pressure of 36psi and a rear pressure of 42psi.
Avon Tyres Tyre Load Index
The load index of a motorcycle tyre is a numerical code which indicates the maximum weight supportable by that particular tyre. You’ll find the 2-digit load index code on the sidewall of your tyre. It is followed by a letter code which relates to the speed index (see below). Here is a complete list of tyre load index codes.
| Load Index | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 80 |
| 22 | 85 |
| 24 | 85 |
| 26 | 90 |
| 28 | 100 |
| 30 | 106 |
| 31 | 109 |
| 33 | 115 |
| 35 | 121 |
| 37 | 128 |
| 40 | 136 |
| 41 | 145 |
| 42 | 150 |
| 44 | 160 |
| 46 | 170 |
| 47 | 175 |
| 48 | 180 |
| 50 | 190 |
| 51 | 195 |
| 52 | 200 |
| 53 | 206 |
| 54 | 212 |
| Load Index | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|
| 55 | 218 |
| 58 | 236 |
| 59 | 243 |
| 60 | 250 |
| 61 | 257 |
| 62 | 265 |
| 63 | 272 |
| 64 | 280 |
| 65 | 290 |
| 66 | 300 |
| 67 | 307 |
| 68 | 315 |
| 69 | 325 |
| 70 | 335 |
| 71 | 345 |
| 72 | 355 |
| 73 | 365 |
| 74 | 375 |
| 75 | 387 |
| 76 | 400 |
| 77 | 412 |
| 78 | 425 |
| Load Index | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|
| 79 | 437 |
| 80 | 450 |
| 81 | 462 |
| 82 | 475 |
| 83 | 487 |
| 84 | 500 |
| 85 | 515 |
| 86 | 530 |
| 87 | 545 |
| 88 | 560 |
| 89 | 580 |
| 90 | 600 |
| 91 | 615 |
| 92 | 630 |
| 93 | 650 |
| 94 | 670 |
| 95 | 690 |
| 96 | 710 |
| 97 | 730 |
| 98 | 750 |
| 99 | 775 |
| 100 | 800 |
| Load Index | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|
| 101 | 825 |
| 102 | 850 |
| 103 | 875 |
| 104 | 900 |
| 105 | 925 |
| 106 | 950 |
| 107 | 975 |
| 108 | 1000 |
| 109 | 1030 |
| 110 | 1060 |
| 111 | 1090 |
| 112 | 1120 |
| 113 | 1150 |
| 114 | 1180 |
| 115 | 1215 |
| 116 | 1250 |
| 117 | 1285 |
| 118 | 1320 |
| 119 | 1360 |
| 120 | 1400 |
Avon Tyres Tyre Speed Index
The speed index of your motorcycle tyre indicates the maximum speed at which your tyre is legally authorised to operate. The code is a letter (in some cases with a number as well) and you will find it on the sidewall of your tyre immediately after the 2-digit tyre load index code.
| Speed Index | Speed in mph | Speed in km/h |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 3 | 5 |
| A2 | 6 | 10 |
| A3 | 9 | 15 |
| A4 | 12 | 20 |
| A5 | 16 | 25 |
| A6 | 19 | 30 |
| A7 | 22 | 35 |
| A8 | 25 | 40 |
| B | 31 | 50 |
| C | 37 | 60 |
| D | 40 | 65 |
| E | 43 | 70 |
| F | 50 | 80 |
| G | 56 | 90 |
| J | 62 | 100 |
| K | 68 | 110 |
| L | 75 | 120 |
| M | 81 | 130 |
| N | 87 | 140 |
| P | 93 | 150 |
| Q | 100 | 160 |
| R | 106 | 170 |
| S | 112 | 180 |
| T | 118 | 190 |
| U | 124 | 200 |
| H | 130 | 210 |
| V | 149 | 240 |
| W | 168 | 270 |
| Y | 186 | 300 |
| (Y) | 186+ | 300+ |
We are proud stockist of Avon motorcycle tyres. Our team can give you all the advice you need in deciding on the perfect tyres for your motorbike so you can get the most out of your machine. For the optimum motorcycle experience, come to us.
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