Kirkham owners: What size Avons?

[DMXF]

Originally Posted by Jamo

OK, they are, without a doubt, the bestest damn tire for a Cobra. No groove hunting on the freeway, a firm yet supple ride, grip like velcro.

I went with 245s/295s and they fit perfectly.

Assolutely mucho muy goodo.*


*My highest rating.

Installed pictures please Jamo.

[Excaliber]

I think I'm going Avon as well...

I just recently bought Goodyear GT-II's to replace my worn out BB's, which I loved. The GT's were just readily available at a decent price and I needed tires NOW, so.... Big mistake. Once you get used to decent traction, like the BB's offer, it's hard to go back to slippery slide, which is what the GT-II's are all about. Worthless on the street.

I hate to do it, but I hate the GT's even more. I'm afraid I'll be ponying up the dollars for Avon's soon. Currently running those Goodyear slicks, hand grooved, Krause. I've had them on the track and some on the highway. WOW, the traction is stunning, unreal, like on rails, of course their paper thin and hunt like crazy.

Oh, 245 and 295 please, I want all the rubber I get on the road.

[DMXF]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Currently running those Goodyear slicks, hand grooved, Krause. I've had them on the track and some on the highway. WOW, the traction is stunning, unreal, like on rails, of course their paper thin and hunt like crazy.

Ernie - Except the hunting, how is the general handling feel of the grooved slicks on the street, relative to what you've run before? That bad to where you want to get rid of them?

[Excaliber]

I wouldn't even consider running slicks on the highway at all!! I bought them for racing and had them hand grooved "just in case" I wanted to drive to the track rather than trailer the car. To compare them to the Goodyear Bill Boards would be like the BB's are "boots", the slicks are "racing shoes". The GT-II's would be high platform clod hoppers.

The slicks are SUPER thin, they would wear out in no time on the street and likely get a flat from ANY kind of debris you might encounter. Track only really, but interesting on the street just for a test drive.

I ran the Goodyear Bill Boards for years, I liked them very much. I think, like Jamo, I'd just like to try out these Avon's I've been hearing so much about, something different. I have TWO sets of wheels you see, so I can mount my slicks AND a second set of tires for the street.

[DMXF]

But what if you ran tubes in the slicks? It's my understanding from the Goodyear engineers that the tread area of the BB and slick tires are the same basic construction, just the BB tire has a thicker layer of tread rubber.

[Jamo]

Billboards are simply rain tires...compound stays sticky to slightly colder temps. After numerous heat cycles (like street driving), it really doesn't matter.

As Ernie indicated, the slicks are thinner.

The Avons are DOT and are of radial construction...the sidewalls should last a bit longer than the Billboards, which offsets the cost a bit. The Billboards I just replaced had some good tread left, but cracks were developing along the sides.

Maybe I'll grab a pic or two later when I pull it out for a run in the canyon...not much to see really.

[Excaliber]

That is the downside Jamo, I'm not impressed with the "look" of the Avon's. BB's are about the best out there in that department. Although, I gotta say, those yellow letter slicks are like the coolest looking tires I've EVER run!

[Quik289]

Where are you finding Avons? I'm seeing only one seller on each coast, and one of them doesn't look like he wants to sell street tires. Is that all there is?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Quik289

Where are you finding Avons? I'm seeing only one seller on each coast, and one of them doesn't look like he wants to sell street tires. Is that all there is?

Yes, either Sasco or Roger Krauss.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

That is the downside Jamo, I'm not impressed with the "look" of the Avon's. BB's are about the best out there in that department.

I think the BB's are a little too...too...too...I don't know, how do you say...garish for me.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

That is the downside Jamo, I'm not impressed with the "look" of the Avon's. BB's are about the best out there in that department. Although, I gotta say, those yellow letter slicks are like the coolest looking tires I've EVER run!

Ernie, now I'm not positive on this, but I think with your vintage ERA you may have fit issues up front with the Avon 245s.

[Excaliber]

I do recall the early cars were recommended 235's and the later cars the next size up. Didn't someone mention the 245 Avons are slightly taller than the BB's in front? I have a very slight rub under full lock with the BB's in front. Right where you would cut out the "vent" area to cool the headers. I plan to make that mod anyway and it it may provide "just enough" clearance to get away with an Avon.

Then again, one has to ask himself, under what conditions do you find yourself running "full lock" with the steering? That might well mean the back end is headed to where the front end used to be.

[Jamo]

Ernie...Krause site says either front Avon is about a 1/2" taller than a Billboard.

[PANAVIA]

I wish there were decent tyres available for a Cobra.

[Bobcat]

Ernie .... I`m running the 245 Avons on the front of my ERA ..... chassis # 757 , and there was a rub issue at about 3/4 to full lock on a left turn . Solved by removing about 3/4" of the lower body lip per the sketch Bob P. sent me ... after I had already made my own " modification " . It only happened on a left turn and only as I approached full lock . If I muscled the steering wheel some , I could force the tire past that point ... but felt there was a better way .
Sorry Jamo .... not trying to hijack your thread .

Bob

[Excaliber]

Since Jamo has purchased his Avon's and reports they fit nicely a slight "thread jack" to ERA and Avon seems reasonable at this time.

The Goodyear slicks are, in theory, the same size as the Bill Boards, but in fact they ARE slightly larger front and back. To gain clearance on the rear I had to raise the ride height a 1/2" and cut down the inside fender lip. The fronts, sure enough, defintely rub more than the Bill Boards did, not bad enough for me to worry about. But the Avons, which are even bigger, could be a problem all right!

I'll have to carefully consider my options, those Avons would be nice! Perhaps I can raise the ride height a bit, cut out that header vent hole, put the screen cover for the hole on the header side, cut down the lip and they might just work....

[Jamo]

No problemo, Bobcat...Ernie has approved the hijack.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

...a slight "thread jack" to ERA and Avon seems reasonable at this time.

"slight 'thread jack"?

[Excaliber]

Eh eh, will kinda slight... You know there is a lot of talk about various tyres but not much about clearance issues. Which replica can run what, some are more space challenged than others.

Here's a pic of a Goodyear slicks that left a rub mark in my wheel well. Krause SAYS these are the same size as the Bill Boards but in fact there are slightly bigger. The mark is about 2.5 X 2.5 inches. Game plan is to cut that area out to ventilate the wheel well to the headers.

[Jamo]

You know there is a lot of talk about various tyres but not much about clearance issues. Which replica can run what, some are more space challenged than others.

Which is sorta why...ahem...I started a thread entitled "Kirkham owners: What size Avons?" in the Kirkham Forum.

I know youse ERA folks is a bit envious about Kirkhams, so it's ok.

I'm just sayin...