3 in 1: Avon launches new sport tyre range
Avon Tyres says 2012 is looking to be an exciting year, not least due to the launch of its new high-performance sports tyre, the 3D Ultra Sport. This tyre makes its debut at this weekend’s Motorcycle Trade EXPO show in Birmingham and will replace the popular VP2 range. Three distinct versions of the 3D Ultra Sport are being introduced, offering owners of sports motorcycles a choice to suit the sort of machine they have and riding they do. The versions are:
3D Ultra Sport: This particular tyre is designed to deliver a good balance of mileage versus grip as well as sharp handling and good stability. Avon describes the 3D Ultra Sport as being perfect for road-riders who want the best tyre for their sportsbike.
3D Ultra Supersport: A soft compound version of the 3D Ultra Sport for road and track, Avon says the Supersport provides excellent grip under hard braking and acceleration. “These tyres offer the perfect compromise between road use and the occasional track outing,” the tyre maker comments.
3D Ultra Xtreme: These are designed for track days. The soft compound is ‘thermally stable’ for huge grip levels, while the profile/footprint is optimised for big lean angles – perfect, comments Avon, for riders who get their kicks riding on tracks.
The entire 3D Ultra range is available from January 2012 and each version uses 3D Sipes as part of the tread in the compound. According to Avon, these sipes help the 3D Ultra offer riders faster tyre warm-up times. Other technology that’s gone into the new tyre includes a new design of wind-on-belt material in the rear tyres. This increases the footprint size at all lean angles, therefore improving grip. Meanwhile, ‘Triple Extrusion’ tread compounds are said to provide durable rubber in the centre of the tyre to aid mileage and softer compounds on the shoulders to give grip when you need it in the corner. A third compound underneath binds both compounds together and helps the tyre stay cooler, which helps the tyre last longer and increases mileage.
Both the Sport and Supersport versions of the new 3D Ultra tyre come with the Avon Road Hazard Warranty. This warranty has been offered for a number of years on Avon’s other tyres, including the VP2 range and Storm 2 Ultra; the Melksham-based tyre maker notes that no other motorcycle tyre manufacturer offers such a scheme.
For the Road Hazard Warranty to be valid the tyre needs to be in the first 1mm of tread and customers will need a certificate of fitment. This will be endorsed by participating dealers upon fitting the tyres and acts as the tyre’s warranty card. The customer simply pays for the new tyre’s fitting and balancing. This is, says Avon, just another example of how it leads the way in motorcycle tyre development and customer care.
Additions to Cobra range
The new 3D Ultra is also joined this year by several new sizes in the Cobra cruiser tyre range. New sizes include 140/75-17, 170/70-16 and 190/60-17. The introduction of these sizes means Cobras can now fit a wider range of large capacity cruising machines, including the Harley-Davidson FLSTF Fat Boy, the Kawasaki Vulcan/Nomad and Yamaha XV1900 Midnight Star/Stratoliner. The older Avon Venom has also been replaced by the newer Cobra tyre in the following front sizes: MH90-21, 100/90-19 and MT90B16 and rear sizes MT90B16, 140/90-B16 and 150/80-B16.
The Expo show is being held from 22 to 24 January at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre. Avon Tyres are present at Stand 902 and throughout the three-day event the tyre maker’s staff will be on hand to discuss its 2012 motorcycle range, hand out Avon’s new 2012 Data Book and Fitment Guide and speak to dealers and the trade about the new 3D Ultra as well as the existing motorcycle range.
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