Avon Cobra Trike Tire Regrets?

[wingit]

No Regrets

My Avon trike on GL1800 trike has 26000 miles with little cupping

compared to the Michelin Pilot badly cupped at 20k and taken off.

I slow down on corners some if no one is behind us

Speeding around curves is safer with a plane or boat if we can see ahead.

Love the Dragon & Dragonwagon trike

 

[bikerbillone]

I had the 'slow leak' with the Cobra, I mean it was so slow, I nearly never found it. The problem was around the valve stem.

 

[jredman]

Avon Trike Tire is far Superior in my opinion. I did the MPA first. Lasted a long time but when it got a little worn it was unstable and vibrated. Been using the Avon for the last 60K miles. Super smooth and will last 20K miles Plus if properly inflated.

 

[CrystalPistol]

I had the 'slow leak' with the Cobra, I mean it was so slow, I nearly never found it. The problem was around the valve stem.

So then, the Cobra held up it's end, it was that stem that failed you.

 

[bikerbillone]

So then, the Cobra held up it's end, it was that stem that failed you.

Yes, that is correct, valve stem failure an most difficult to isolate. If others are getting mileage out of this tire, I may certainly reconsider my option of going back to the BT45. I'll know when I get to the end of my Cobra's life.

 

[CrystalPistol]

I've had BT45 and MPA and a Macadam rear tire on front of ours, I still have a near new looking MPA hanging on a wall, and a Cobra on the front of the trike. The Trike is a pleasure ride, and the Cobra Trike tire adds a lot to the enjoyment.

After failures of even some near new stems in my '95 Tbird and my 1200, I swore off rubber pull in stems. , I purchased enough metal valve stems in various lengths to let me equip all my vehicles thusly. The GL1200 bike takes really short ones, the GL1500 trike takes a 90 degree up front and regular #413 length ones in rear alloy 15x7s, they were all done ASAP when UPS delivered, as did my utility trailer. The remainder, get metal at next tire change. All mine use 0.453 " stems, and those I have with TPMSs are FoMoCo and the sensor is opposite stem.

I now have a 2003 Forester and a '92 Thunderbird remaining with rubber pull in stems (must have been good ones), won't be long now. Have spare stems and even some extra gaskets.

Years ago, went to check psi in my police car's tires while fueling at the area office in wee morning hours & two stems crumbled. Tires were near new as were stems, certainly less than a month old. I had to call dispatch, get another unit to come by office and loan me his spare … and the next day during business hours, I was at tire shop swapping all mine to metal on that car.

 

[FRR]

Answer is simple for me. I've got a BT-45 on now. Cost $110. My second one 10k in it now and looks new. Last one got over 20k. Avon would run my $180.00 for maybe a few more miles. Did the math. Answer was obvious.

 

[bikerbillone]

FRR, yes I think about the cost comparison too, so I will have a decision to make.

 

[Meandave]

Have had mine on for 2 years and so far I am happy with the tire. I think the trike rides and handles better than it did before the Avon Trike tire.

 

[Burnerboy]

Just curious, are you using the dedicated trike tire or the regular Avon Cobra front tire.

I'm asking because I have a HD Freewheeler & Avon does not make the trike tire in my size, only for Gold wings & Tri-glides. I have heard good things about their Cobra tires though and they have that size for my FW.

opps! Sorry, I just read this question post this morning 9/8/18

I'm using the dedicated TRIKE TIRE...........So far so good, no problems at all!

Ronnie

 

[1dn5up]

First trip report

On the Maggi trip , totaling 800miles, I noticed even before the ride that the front wandered at 40psi. Even on the nice southern roads. After the ware out, I’ll go back to the Dunlop. A smoother ride with out the wander is more important to me than the ware factor. At least I gave it a try.

 

[RcSuD]

Try 41 and 42psi. You might be surprised.

 

[ol' school]

Try 41 and 42psi. You might be surprised.

+1 on that!

 

[bikerbillone]

Running 38 psi from 41 on my Cobra Trike Tire front on a recommendation, can't tell much difference, if any. Was not having any problems up front, just looking for a smoother ride there.

 

[CrystalPistol]

On the Maggi trip , totaling 800miles, I noticed even before the ride that the front wandered at 40psi. Even on the nice southern roads. After the ware out, I’ll go back to the Dunlop. A smoother ride with out the wander is more important to me than the ware factor. At least I gave it a try.

Odd I thought when I read this … , just the opposite with my '97 GL1500 / Lehman GTL trike as I've said before....

…. but then aren't you referring to the bias Avon 16" tire on a HD whereas mine is a Avon radial Cobra 18" tire? Guess that must be the difference, no doubt a beefier rear type Bias tire with stiffer sidewalls would be a bit more stable than a thinner, lighter weight bias tire at that.

No flame, just was noting difference in experiences.

 

[1dn5up]

It’s the cobra Trike .

 

[CrystalPistol]

It’s the cobra Trike .

But it's not the Radial Cobra Trike. Different tire than the Bias ply one available in 16" size. Different tire used on a different trike than the radial on a GL.

I was just pointing out that the results you found have little bearing on this thread, in case anyone reads this far.

 

[ol' school]

I am running the same tire on my CSC Kruze trike Frank is running on his Tri-Glide, the MT90B16 trike tire which is a bias ply where as the 'Wings use Avon's 130/70R18 trike tire which is a radial. I have none of the "wander" that he and other Tri-Glide owners have mentioned. I am wondering if it may have to do with the rake of the Tri-Glide's front forks and the Avon just makes the "wander" more obvious. I have rode Tri-Glides with factory Dunlops and think the front end is more twitchy than my trike which has more rake than the Tri-Glide has.

 

[1dn5up]

It’s the cobra Trike .

Avon AV71 stock rake, I can bump up the pressure a few.

 

[Tricycleman]

Cobra tire problem

I had love my ride with cobra until two or three sidewall beads broke. Tire had 7000 miles on it. Happen after about 400 miles in the NC and Smoky Mtn. twisties . Waiting to see if Avon going to stand behind their product. This will determine my replacement.

Anyone else had issues like this. BTW also always made sure tire was at 42 PSI could check. Another question will I really notice a difference if I go Bia Ply. In smoothest.

 

[wingit]

I had love my ride with cobra until two or three sidewall beads broke. Tire had 7000 miles on it. Happen after about 400 miles in the NC and Smoky Mtn. twisties . Waiting to see if Avon going to stand behind their product. This will determine my replacement.

Anyone else had issues like this. BTW also always made sure tire was at 42 PSI could check. Another question will I really notice a difference if I go Bia Ply. In smoothest.

Whats that mean ? can you clarify ?

 

[Mick]

I had love my ride with cobra until two or three sidewall beads broke. Tire had 7000 miles on it. Happen after about 400 miles in the NC and Smoky Mtn. twisties . Waiting to see if Avon going to stand behind their product. This will determine my replacement.

Anyone else had issues like this. BTW also always made sure tire was at 42 PSI could check. Another question will I really notice a difference if I go Bia Ply. In smoothest.

Ive had the MPA and BT45 and the Avon trike tire outshines them all. For the halibut I would check your air guage against a friends or two to see how accurate it is. Also i would watch the guy who mounts your tires to see if hes overpressuring the carcass while mounting it. My guy put it on hit the sidewalls with a little lube and they popped right on. With 3 sidewall failures I would be checking the batch numbers to see if theyre different and if so then I would look at how theyre being mounted.

 

[mhgoldwing]

Ive had the MPA and BT45 and the Avon trike tire outshines them all. For the halibut I would check your air guage against a friends or two to see how accurate it is. Also i would watch the guy who mounts your tires to see if hes overpressuring the carcass while mounting it. My guy put it on hit the sidewalls with a little lube and they popped right on. With 3 sidewall failures I would be checking the batch numbers to see if theyre different and if so then I would look at how theyre being mounted.

Excellent advice! Wish I had thought of it.

 

[6X3]

14K and I'm Okay

Good ride, handling, and wear. 14K miles and may replace next year....with another Cobra.

 

[tactechmech]

So I jacked up the front of the trike tonight and set a large tub under the front tire filled with water. No leak around the vale stem but did find tiny bubbles ( wasn't that a song?) coming from the seat around the rim. So might just wait and see if warmer weather and some riding makes it seal back up, if not I might have to take the wheel off, break the bead, clean around the rim and try to get it to seal that way.

"Tiny Bubbles" was a popular marching cadence in the Army.