AVON FRONT TIRE ISSUE -PLEASE READ

Energy One
GKC

GKC

Member
First, I've got to give a big shout out to oldmutt (Mike) who alerted me to this issue a couple of days ago with his Mutt. Was planning on a long ride today and during a pre-flight inspection, I've got the same exact issue. Guys, please check your tires. Thanks Mike :2thumbs:

Front tire is an Avon Cobra MH 90-21 56V, born-on date 0211 ( 2nd week of 2011) 4k miles, and I keep the pressure 40 lbs. as recommended.

The issue is in the bottom of the 5 or 6 large grooves that run from the center of tire, along the center then turn out toward the sides. These grooves have an "arrowhead" on the end of the grooves. In the bottom of the groove, mine has a 2" long thin split. Every damn groove has a split. You can actually see the cords in a couple of them. The rubber between the cords and the bottom of the groove is extremely thin, maybe too thin.

The rear 250 is looking good so far at 4k miles. It won't last 14K like the original Venom. I'll run the back and keep a close eye on it.

Thanks again Mike for the heads-up. Guys, check your tires.
 
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shovelshot

shovelshot

Active Member
GKC said:
First, I've got to give a big shout out to oldmutt (Mike) who alerted me to this issue a couple of days ago with his Mutt. Was planning on a long ride today and during a pre-flight inspection, I've got the same exact issue. Guys, please check your tires. Thanks Mike :2thumbs:

Front tire is an Avon Cobra MH 90-21 56V, born-on date 0211 ( 2nd week of 2011) 4k miles, and I keep the pressure 40 lbs. as recommended.

The issue is in the bottom of the 5 or 6 large grooves that run from the center of tire, along the center then turn out toward the sides. These grooves have an "arrowhead" on the end of the grooves. In the bottom of the groove, mine has a 2" long thin split. Every damn groove has a split. You can actually see the cords in a couple of them. The rubber between the cords and the bottom of the groove is extremely thin, maybe too thin.

The rear 250 is looking good so far at 4k miles. It won't last 14K like the original Venom. I'll run the back and keep a close eye on it, but I'm fuckin' done with Avon. An Avon will NOT go back on the front or rear til they get their shit together.

Thanks again Mike for the heads-up. Guys, check your tires.
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Mine has them too. I've gone over 1k miles since I noticed it. Tire seems fine still. I'll try to post a pic later.
 
GKC

GKC

Member
Jon, I respect your decision to keep running it, but I'll be replacing mine this week. I usually don't do charity rides/poker runs, but yesterday we did 150 miles, with about 150 bikes for a couple that got killed by a drunk driver with no license, fresh out of the joint for, you got it, drunk driving. They left 5 kids parentless. Me and a bud blasted home on the interstate for about 70 miles at 80+ mph. I had forgotten to check the tire yesterday morning before leaving out. Needless to say, when I saw the splits this morning, I got a little faint.

It ain't worth my life or my passenger's life to find out if it'll hold or not. Good luck

BTW, has anyone run a Michelin on the front? The new Commander II is getting some good reviews.
 
erldawg

erldawg

Guru
Thanks :angry::bang::rant:

Just went out to look at mine. I've had the tire on since May F****** thing is splitting. Maybe 2500 miles on the tire.
Thank u Avon JUNK!
 
08mastiff

08mastiff

Active Member
After reading this thread I did like so many others and checked my tires. The front is an Avon Cobra with approximately 9,000-10,000 miles on it. It has some minor cracking but nothing to be alarmed about. It will last until the end of this riding season which I planned on changing anyway.

The rear tire is also an Avon Cobra which has about 1,000- 2,000 miles on it. I bought this tire when Dennis Kirk or JP cycles (can't rmember which one) had them mismarked for approximately $180.00. I know a bunch of guys from the forum jumped on that deal also. I just noticed that there was some minor surface splitting/wear on each side. Below I attached two pictures with a screwdriver held just beneath the marks. These marks are directly opposite of each other as if in a straight horizontal line. I am predicting there is more wear to come. For now I am leaving it but I will keep a close eye on it. Others who jumped on the same deal as me should go and inspect their tires as well. Not trying to bash but I am done with Avon also.


 
shovelshot

shovelshot

Active Member
08mastiff said:
After reading this thread I did like so many others and checked my tires. The front is an Avon Cobra with approximately 9,000-10,000 miles on it. It has some minor cracking but nothing to be alarmed about. It will last until the end of this riding season which I planned on changing anyway.

The rear tire is also an Avon Cobra which has about 1,000- 2,000 miles on it. I bought this tire when Dennis Kirk or JP cycles (can't rmember which one) had them mismarked for approximately $180.00. I know a bunch of guys from the forum jumped on that deal also. I just noticed that there was some minor surface splitting/wear on each side. Below I attached two pictures with a screwdriver held just beneath the marks. These marks are directly opposite of each other as if in a straight horizontal line. I am predicting there is more wear to come. For now I am leaving it but I will keep a close eye on it. Others who jumped on the same deal as me should go and inspect their tires as well. Not trying to bash but I am done with Avon also.


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Those look like you ran over something. Look closer at my front tire pic and you will see the "split". I'm not going to stress it. I don't see cords and tire is true all the way around. My front tire may have 2k on it tops. For what these tires cost they suck. I believe this may have been said at least once on this forum.
 
nine lives

nine lives

Active Member
Welcome to the split club! Mine started splitting shortly after I installed it, 11,000 miles on the tire now.....replacing with a Dunlop.
 
Mickeetwo

Mickeetwo

Guru
John...the horizonal lines you are seeing is the tread splice splitting. It will only get worse. I returned 2 cobras to Avon for the same reason. After the second one started splitting with only 1200 miles (one weekend of riding) returned it Avon and got a refund and put a Metzler on. The first one started splitting at 2000 miles. Several threads on Cobra tires.
 
K

krkostecki

Active Member
Sounds like Avon may have been trying to dump some tires at a discounted price knowing they were inferior tires...that's what really pisses me off...complete disregard for rider safety. Well, thank God for this forum. Avon better improve on their QA/QC.
 
GKC

GKC

Member
If anyone else is having groove split problems with the Cobra MH 90/21 fronts, PLEASE post it up. I've been in contact with Avon on the phone and via email. The warranty rep actually came onto the site while I was on the phone with him and looked at the picture of Shovelshot's front tire. They are now aware that at least 4 of us on the site have the same problem, and the sales/marketing rep is requesting our help to pin-point when this issue surfaced. The information needed is the manufacturing date code, tread depth and a picture if possible. Please check your front MH 90-21's and post it up if you find the splits in the grooves.

My tire is being returned to Avon for analysis by the engineers in the UK.

I will continue to update as this situation unfolds.
 
MyDogPete

MyDogPete

Active Member
I'll be checking mine tonight.
I've lost one rear tire running around 75mph on my old HD Shovel and was damn lucky I kept the bike up. Shit put the fear of God in me when it happen. There is no way I want to have a front tire go down on me while ridding.
 
B RADDD

B RADDD

Active Member
ok , I went out to check and yes my tire is splitting , rear seems to be fine.Only1000 miles if that :angry:manf date 3510 depth is around 3/16
 

Attachments

K

krkostecki

Active Member
Checked the factory tires on my 2007 Pitbull and they look fine. Yeah, I know, I bought the bike from someone who only put 2,600 miles on it in 4-1/2 years...I'm working on adding to that real quick.
 
CHOPTOP45

CHOPTOP45

Well-Known Member
after reading this i checked mine found dry rot on the sides and splits in the groves replaced with a metzler rear was ok.
 
Brew

Brew

Troop Supporter
shovelshot said:
Those look like you ran over something. Look closer at my front tire pic and you will see the "split". I'm not going to stress it. I don't see cords and tire is true all the way around. My front tire may have 2k on it tops. For what these tires cost they suck. I believe this may have been said at least once on this forum.
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Thats the joint splice seperation that many of us have been complaining about. John, you need to have that tire replaced and AVON will replace it. Check out the thread, "NEW 300 AVON COBRA TIRES ARE JUNK." I've had 3 tires do this and if the one thats on my scoot now does it again, I will go with Metzler. Many of us filed reports with the NHTSA stating the seperation issue. Theres also pics of members tires and the seperation looks like yours.

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/dog-pound/22687-new-300-avon-cobra-tires-junk.html

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/dog-pound/29537-avon-cobra-tires.html
 
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