Avon Unleashes the Viper

“The new tyre range represents a major advance in sports tyre design and is the result of years of testing combined with original and innovative engineering concepts. We are proud to deliver this three-tier offering of 19 sizes to the motorcycle market and have great confidence that it will be enthusiastically received” – Avon’s motorcycle product manager, Pete McNally, can only be that enthusiastic about one thing – the Viper has finally been unleashed.

Viper Sport, Supersport and Xtreme are the latest additions to Avon’s motorcycle tyre portfolio. The new range of motorcycle tyres have been launched to meet the demands of sport and supersport bike riders, and to confirm Avon’s presence in the growing market segments. The manufacturer says it is building upon “the success of previous Avon ranges,” with the introduction of the Viper range. The “previous success” it refers to is that of the Azaro SP Sport, SP Pro Series and in particular SP Pro-Xtreme, winner of a number of magazine tests, all of which the Viper range is set to replace.

The Viper Sport, the first part of the offering, comprises 11 sports bike sizes, including a new 120/65R17 front tyre for bikes such as the Kawasaki ZX636/ZX-6R. A 200/50R17 rear is also available for the ZX 12R. The tyre’s pattern has been designed to reduce localised flex points in the tread, improving high speed stability, explains the manufacturer. It also features an Enhanced Aqua Flow (EAF) pattern, designed to clear away surface water.

An Advanced Tread Arc Combination (ATAC) profile is also one of the tyre’s new selling points. Put simply the technology allows a varying tread profile across the tyre to offer improvements in handling and stability. Avon expands on the new feature: “The ATAC profile results in neutral contours, ensuring smoother transition on lean angle changes and noticeably increased stability, especially under heavy braking.” The tread compound also features a new ‘high dispersibility’ silica formulation (SIO2-HD) to encourage rapid warm-up and aid grip in both the wet and dry.

Viper’s rear tyres use Advanced Variable Belt Density (A-VBD) technology, a joint-less belt of aramid fibres that run round the tyre’s circumference. The fibres are closely packed at the centre of the tread to offer increased stability and wear resistance. The fibres are positioned further apart towards the edge of the tread, broadening the tyre’s footprint under cornering loads. Beneath the Aramid A-VBD is a Spiral Belted Carcass (SBC), positioned to absorb stresses associated with high grip levels.

“All components are fine-tuned by Avon’s Enhanced Stability System (ES-System) to deliver a tyre in which the carcass, sidewalls and tread pattern work together to reduce localised flexing within the contact patch to optimise grip, durability and warm-up capabilities,” explains Avon.

Viper Supersport, the second addition to the trio shares the same pattern and technologies, but utilises a softer compound (Race-C). The Supersport tyre is available in the most popular hypersport sizes. Avon claims that test riders have developed its Race-C compound on numerous roads and circuits around the world.

Completing the three-tier viper range is Viper Xtreme, aimed at the track day specialists and a road race segment that has grew almost nine per cent across Western Europe last year. The tyre’s tread pattern is described as “aggressive and minimal,” and was chosen to deliver “the stickiest possible contact patch and best wear properties of any tyre in its class,” says Avon.

The 190/55R17 75W Viper Xtreme rear has a slightly taller sidewall than the standard 190/50R17, the manufacturer claims that this is so that it can exploit “the full the benefits of the ATAC profile.”

As well as sharing the same technologies all of the Viper tyres feature a snake’s head logo on the tread, and the sidewall of the tyres are protected by Avon’s Road Hazard warranty, which provides a free replacement tyre in the event of a puncture occurring within the early part of the tyre’s life.

Multiple choice

Riders of traditional and commuter machines will see the completion of the new Roadrider range this year, following its showcase at the International Motorcycle Show last November. The all-weather crossply tyres will comprise of 33 sizes and the ability to cater for a wide variety of requirements, whether it be a classic 3.25-19 / 4.00-18 pairing, or tyres for a new sportier model.

Crossply tyres are still an important area of investment for Avon, and according to Clive Jones, director of Inta-Moto, the manufacturer’s crossply to radial product ratio is almost 50:50. “There is still a good level of demand for crossply tyres,” comments Mr Jones. He admits however, that the crossply market is somewhat diminishing, “although, it is at a slower rate than you would expect,” he adds. The manufacturer maintains that the crossply market is buoyed up by the continual use of crossply tyres on Harley bikes, an area that Avon claims to be particularly strong in. “There is demand for H and V rated crossply tyres for traditional and commuter bikes,” explains Mr Jones – hence Avon’s Roadrider range.

Pete McNally explained the idea behind the range: “Many of the bikes for which we have designed Roadrider are today catered for by remnants of old sport touring ranges that have largely been superseded by modern radials. This makes it difficult for dealers to carry a comprehensive stock profile, which in turn leads to difficulties for the consumer when he needs new rubber. Roadrider offers clarity for the trade and we expect our customers to benefit from the improved levels of availability and choice that this clarity will bring.”

The manufacturer believes that the range encapsulates every aspect that is important to riders of commuter motorcycles. For example, a central groove was created in the tread to improve the tyre’s ability to resist whitelining. Along with the all-weather compound the casing is also designed to give low rolling resistance. The V rated tyre also features a multi-arc tread profile, designed to force the biggest possible contact patch onto the road, whatever the lean angle.

Venom-R was the most recent addition to the custom segment, one of Avon’s fortes. The 330/30R17 87V AM42, made its UK debut towards the end of last year and confirmed the manufacturer’s commitment to strengthening its dominance in the niche market. Clive Jones claims that the custom sector is a “profitable niche” in the UK because the bikes are becoming more popular. The Venom will be phased into the UK market this year. Avon exports 80 per cent of its tyres and in keeping with this the tyre will be launched in the US market later this year, to be sold in 2006, explains Mr Jones.

The‘330’ is suitable for fitment to rims between 11.5 and 12.5 inches. Like its predecessors it will be of radial construction with aramid belts for added stability. It will also have special ‘rim protectors’ to help prevent damage to wheels from pot-holes, explains the manufacturer. Graham Matcham, Cooper-Avon’s motorcycle sales manager commented: “The 330/30R17 Venom-R takes us forward in a planned and controlled way. We have worked together with Bourget to develop a custom tyre for which we know the technology exists to allow its safe application.”