Avon ZZ3 Reviews - Page 8

Given 94% while driving a Jaguar S type 3.0 (235/50 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 1,000 average miles
I have fitted the ZZ-3 in preference to the original Pirelli P6000 on my Jaguar.Which this size is only fitted to the Jaguar Wheel or Porsche wheel.
I have found them more responsive, quieter and safer. I will have no trouble recommending these tyres to other Jaguar owners.
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on May 19, 2010
Given 76% while driving a Ford Focus ST (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 10,000 spirited miles
Had these on my Focus ST when I picked it up. Needed 2 rears fairly soon after getting it, but knew that when I bought the car. That was 6 months ago and they have hardly worn at all (I drive this car as its meant to be driven!)
Needed two new fronts so ordered them last week and went to have them fitted today. They had ordered ZV5's not ZZ3's... Was a bit jubious to go for them with not having read any reviews on them but the bloke did "Some checks" and said "they may be the replacements as the ZZ3's are back ordered up to 500 sets and it wasn't looking like they still supplied them...." Wasn't best pleased, but as I had a slow (Getting faster) puncture in one and the tread was barely legal I went for the ZZ5's. Now,I just hope to god they are as good as the ZZ3's... Once they're run in, I'll report back!
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on May 6, 2010
Given 87% while driving a Citroën XM V6 24 valve 3 litre series 2 (215/45 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 30,000 spirited miles
Car Citroen XM V6 24 valve 3 liters

Exceptional tyre. I drive hard. ( I am a (motor)bike rider and a pilot after all). The grip is exceptional.

The Citroen is a clever car with its antirole hydraulics. On the limit the only thing the car/tyre seems to do (on the clever Citroen) is to give tiny like little bumps (not skips/hops or anything far out). The handling is always responsive....and infact you dont have to correct anything.

(on *other* tyres the tail gets happy and this is a front drive car)

This is a front drive car-- yet throwing it into corners at excessive speeds (in safe areas) results in the Citroen still going around the corner......but feeling little tiny bumps from *all* wheels---front and back.

For a long time I actually thought it was impossible in the dry to exceed the grip.

Only downside is a bit of "roar" noise. Lasted 14000-15000 miles depending on tyre.

I always buy these now- 4 years of using only zz3's.
I have hit the mother of all potholes (sharp edges on side) and it has gone through the upper sidewall and punctured tyre. I have hit seveal potholes over the years and have never had anything like this before...so I believe it would have happened to any tyre.

Summary....excellent grip wet and dry, reasnoble wear, but a certain amount of noise.
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on March 31, 2010
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Given 84% while driving a Audi A6 (235/40 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 0 spirited miles
Normally I use Pirelli P-zero's and then drifted across to Goodyear when my local guy didnt have any. And I was suitablly impressed with The GSD 2 Tyre. Which both performed and looked good. However, I dont rate the current GSD3 Tyre. Hence I thought Id check out some others. The Avon ZZ3 I got at a good price ?400 fitted for 4 so thought Id give it a go.

Straigth away the car was much more grippy in the wet and normally you have to wear them in a few hundred miles before they become effective.

They look really good and give great feedback.

For ther price and wet grip I would def take these over the Goodyears. However if you got the ???? to spare go the Pirelli route.

Cant comment on wear as havent had them long enough.
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on December 15, 2009
Given 76% while driving a Jaguar XType 2.2d Soverign (225/40 R18 W) on mostly country roads for 30,000 spirited miles
I've used these tyres on last car (jag) and a previous A4 2.5tdi Quattro. If you want grippy, safe tyres at rock bottom price then I don't think you can beat zz3's. I don't consider the wear to be any greater than many other higher priced tyres, on my quattro they lasted 18000 miles on all four corners. I've now got a BMW335d which currently has really crap budget tyres on it that break away anything over 50mph in the wet, so I'm going to put four ZZ3's on the beemer this week. With 290 bhp and 420 lbs/ft torque that should be a good enough test for the ZZ3's. I'll update the review once they have some miles on them.
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on November 15, 2009
Given 89% while driving a SEAT ibiza 1.4 (205/45 R16 W) on a combination of roads for 30,000 spirited miles
Superb tyre for the price. My Ibiza came with Bridgestone Turanza fitted. When it came to replacing them, I wanted something better in wet conditions, as the Turanzas were pretty terrible.
I found the ZZ3s by chance, whilst looking for a good deal online. They are considerably cheaper than Bridgestone (?110-?130 each) at around ?80 to ?90 each, fitted, and outperform them in all ways except wear.
I've seen a fair few negative reviews of the ZZ3s, and all I can think is the owner either had them inflated to the wrong pressure (overinflation causing poor wet performance I suspect!), or they were expecting the wear to be outstanding. This is a pretty soft tyre, as should be clear from the silica content. This is a tyre for the more enthusiastic driver, and if you spend your whole time on the motorway and want as many miles as possible, then it probably isn't for you.
Personally, I wanted a tyre that was good value, with as high a performance as possible. The ZZ3 achieves this, with superb grip in all weather, low noise, and as a bonus, the tread pattern looks awesome too!

Pro: Quiet, grippy, good value
Con: If you use them as they were intended, they might not last as long as some harder tyres ;-)
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on September 28, 2009
Given 91% while driving a Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 JTD mjet (205/55 R16 W) on a combination of roads for 6,000 spirited miles
I really cannot understand the negative reviews of this tyre! I drive my Alfa like it should be driven and the tyres are excellent. They hold the road in both wet and dry, brakeing well and handles the bends with ease. Wear rate is great, afiter 6000 miles they still have plenty of wear left. To top it all. they look the dogs dangles! recommended this tyre 100%
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on August 12, 2009
Given 18% while driving a Ford Focus ST170 (215/45 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 55,000 average miles
Avoid these tyres like the plague, or face an expensive trip back to the fitters to get them replaced shortly after you put them on.
Had to get all 4 tyres replaced on my Focus ST170, and stupidly bought Avon ZZ3's. Big mistake that was under 2 years ago and today I had to get the last of the 4 replaced due to its ridiculously short lifespan.
Todays problem would have been a simple repair after hitting a nail if it wasn't for the fact that the tyre had twisted out of shape and was worn along the inside and had to be condemned.
The tyre that went a few weeks ago had blown a hole in the entire sidewall, I honestly beleive the sidewalls are paper thin.
As for the two that were on the driving wheels, they lasted under 6 months before having to be replaced due to cracked sidewalls.

Now this might have been slightly acceptable if they had tremendous gripping qualities, unfortunately not, even though I got them on a warm, dry day it felt like driving on ice compared to the worn bellow limit Continental sport contacts I had before.

in summary;

STAY WELL CLEAR
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on July 4, 2009
Given 54% while driving a Ford Focus MK1 (215/45 R17 S) on mostly country roads for 5,000 spirited miles
tyres are ok in the dry but poor in the wet compared with the toyo tr1's. if im pushing the car in the corners i can feel the back starting to step out but the toyos hold well with little understeer. I've only managed 5000 miles on these on the back, where the toyos on the front are barely half worn and the tyres were fitted within a week of each other! very poor wear and not as grippy as the toyo tr1's!
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on June 25, 2009
Given 79% while driving a Fiat Grande Punto TJet (205/45 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 5,000 average miles
Had these fitted to the front of my Grande Punto Sporting (Diesel) when I bought it, fairly new by the looks of them. Since then had the engine remapped (Rolling Road tested 184bhp, 246lb-ft torque at the wheels).

I can honestly say I've had NO problems with grip or wear in the 5,000 miles I've covered since, even at full acceleration from a standstill (which is quite rapid) the traction control only briefly flickers through first and second - I feel no loss of traction through the steering wheel and there is no tyre squeal in the dry. In the wet I've noticed no problems, I drive fairly quickly when I'm on the twisty stuff and only had one minor scare on a 90 degree turn at about 60mph (was a diversion so I was not used to the road), grip loss was progressive though and the car made it round. Wear is excellent so far.

I'm not sure why so many people have issues with these tyres as I have a smaller tread width than most but not of the "dangerous" moments. I am aware of the diesel lump at the front of the car so rarely chuck it round like a madman but feel that with the torque my car has if traction can be maintained easily then most petrol cars should have no issues. Feel is minimal though that is likely the electric power steering as much as anything.
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on June 3, 2009
Given 49% while driving a BMW E46 3 Series (225/40 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 500 spirited miles
A not bad tyre, just far too soft. I drove on gravel and the very next day i had a puncture so i took the tire of and there were ripped all over the tred. Not bad for grip and Ian Leworthys dad worked for them for 40 years so they must be amazing! Now have Pirelli Pzero rosso's and they are a better tyre which can be found on this website under super preformance.
Helpful 8 - tyre reviewed on April 15, 2009
Given 99% while driving a Lexus GS300 (245/40 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 72,000 average miles
I found these tyres to be an excellent all rounder. Very grippy in both wet and dry. The road noise - I found them to be the quietest yet. I get good feedback from the steering. Definately recommend this tyre.
Helpful 9 - tyre reviewed on April 7, 2009