With an expanded range of sizes for 2014, the British built Avon Storm 3D X-M aims to provide more grip and extended tyre life for the bigger and more powerful bikes on the market. Originally launched in 2013 the expanded and very versatile range now covers 16 sizes for hypersport, sport touring and adventure bikes as well as commuters and sports bikes.
The tyre uses the latest technologies including 3D Sipes, which limit tread flex and give faster warm up times whilst also forcing water away from the contact patch when riding in the wet.
In their 11th June 2014 edition, MCN’s Jonathan Pearson reviewed his test ride on the latest rubber and this is what he thought:
“Avon’s UK tyre launch was held in typically British early summer weather with healthy cloud bursts on an otherwise sunny and warm day. Mixed conditions are ideal for tyre tests and the X-M stood up to it well. They inspired confidence and felt able to cope with tricky transitions from damp roads to very wet and then suddenly dry and grippy again.
One theme that carries across most current sporty road tyres is how quickly they feel good, encouraging you to forget about them and get on with your riding. The 3D X-Ms have those qualities. Cornering confidence is high and the Avons work well on a litre sportsbike if you’re a regular road rider. We’d steer towards something sportier if you’re looking at track days, but if you’re in the market for this type of tyre and own an adventure bike or hypersports bike you’re not likely to be as focused on track days.
The X-M’s sport touring bent makes it feel a little stiffer than sportier tyres, which means you can feel lumps and bumps in the road surface a little more, as they are masked less, but the upside of that is plenty of feedback about the surface.
There’s a stable feeling on the brakes too, especially on the heavier bikes. That takes nothing away from the feeling of grip being fed back up through the bars and the seat of your pants in the corners either.
Although we couldn’t test the claim for 15-20 percent longer life during a single day’s test launch, if true it could be a clincher for bigger bike owners who want great road grip, wet or dry, but need more rear tyre mileage. Tagging it as a ‘hypersports touring’ tyre could mislead you into thinking the 3D X-M is purely for Hayabusas but that’s not the case – it’s a tyre for all-comers.”
As the UK’s largest custom of Avon motorcycle and scooter tyres, Cambrian Tyres offer a wide range of Avon product including the newly expanded Storm 3D X-M range to the UK trade at great prices. For more information on the range please see the Avon section on our website.
