The new Avon Storm tyre - an extended evaluation.

[Blackbird]

I've now had my Avon Storm tyres on for a few thousand km and have attached my impressions so far. Tyres, like bikes themselves; are always a compromise or a case of "fitness for purpose" but Avon have a real winner in the Storms

[Hitcher]

I've now had a chance to stretch the Storms on the FJR in both wet and dry conditions. Magnificent.

After having just completed nearly 3,600km on another FJR on 020s on dry roads and then coming straight back to riding mine with the Storms, the difference is apparent at the first corner when the sharpness and bite of the Avons is immediately apparent. Dry road, wet road, these things just bite beautifully. Indeed some other rider has almost eliminated any vestige of chicken strips on the read. He knows who he is. And he's deaf...

The next big tests for the Storms are "distance to square" and "life of rear".

[BigB]

Great write up Geoff, just had the Avon's fitted to my bird so it'll be intresting to see how they go.

Cheers

Brian

[Blackbird]

Great write up Geoff, just had the Avon's fitted to my bird so it'll be intresting to see how they go.

Cheers

Brian

Hope you're enjoying having her back Brian. Probably won't have mine back on the road for a couple of weeks and I'm missing it already!

[vifferman]

The next big tests for the Storms are "distance to square" and "life of rear".

Why should they square off?
The only square tyres I've had on any bike were on the FahrtSturm when I bought it, due to the previous owner running the tyres at very low pressure (and presumable very straight roads?)

[Blackbird]

Why should they square off?
The only square tyres I've had on any bike were on the FahrtSturm when I bought it, due to the previous owner running the tyres at very low pressure (and presumable very straight roads?)

Riding on straight roads too much causes squaring off Trips up to the bach in Coro at weekends causes the reverse problem for me - the sides take a hiding!

[Macktheknife]

Great write up mate, makes me want to go out and get some.

[jtzzr]

Now youv`e got me thinking Geoff , hope you get your baby back soon . Regards JT

[Big Dave]

Why should they square off?
The only square tyres I've had on any bike were on the FahrtSturm when I bought it, due to the previous owner running the tyres at very low pressure (and presumable very straight roads?)

Azzaros fall/fell away badly for the last 25% - don't know if it was wear or the compound or what - but they never felt as good for the last bit of their life. Brilliant for the first 3/4.

Thus the song and dance about life of the tyre.

[vifferman]

Azzaros fall/fell away badly for the last 25% - don't know if it was wear or the compound or what - but they never felt as good for the last bit of their life. Brilliant for the first 3/4.

Thus the song and dance about life of the tyre.

Tell me about it. Plenty of tread left on my rear Azaro (OK - it's down to the wear bars in places) but there was a wee bit of wee (or was it rain?) on the road this morning, and the freakin' thang was spinnin' up like a wild spinning-up thing, all over the place. And it was only VFR power - not like it was awesome HoggleyDoggley or scooterywootery power or nuttin.

It was almost enough to make me turn south young uh... - old(ish) man and get some Storms fitted.

[Blackbird]

Tell me about it. Plenty of tread left on my rear Azaro (OK - it's down to the wear bars in places) but there was a wee bit of wee (or was it rain?) on the road this morning, and the freakin' thang was spinnin' up like a wild spinning-up thing, all over the place. And it was only VFR power - not like it was awesome HoggleyDoggley or scooterywootery power or nuttin.

It was almost enough to make me turn south young uh... - old(ish) man and get some Storms fitted.

Do it Ian - you won't regret it! If you do, and experience front end head shake as I described in the write up, get them rebalanced! This doesn't detract from them being an awesome step up in performance though.

[vifferman]

I let the rear down to ~33 for the ride home (in the rain) at luncheontime. It was certainly better, so instead of spinning up taking off, it didn't spin up till 3/4 throttle. Of course, it may have been due in part to warmer temps and the road having been washed clean a bit, but I think not.
The front AV49-SP was fine, at 38ish PSI. Go figure...
I would've thought that being a more sporty tyre, it would be a harder compound and be worserer in the wet, but the only problems I've had have been it feeling funny if the pressure get down below 37ish.

[Sanx]

I would've thought that being a more sporty tyre, it would be a harder compound and be worserer in the wet, but the only problems I've had have been it feeling funny if the pressure get down below 37ish.

The sportier the tyre, the softer the compound they're usually made from. Soft compound = more grip = more wear = less tyre life.

[tomtyer-drake]

hrm, iv only been hearing good things about the storms, any advice where i can get them in auckland? looking for the 110/70-17 front for my zxr250. and any ideas of a vague price?

any experience of them on the lighter bikes?

[Hitcher]

any experience of them on the lighter bikes?

Umm, no. But I wouldn't get too carried away about putting sports touring tyres like Avon Storms on your 250. There are plenty of other tyres that will suit your needs better, such as the ever-popular Pirelli Sport Demon and the Dunlop Arrowmax.