I have searched some previous posts and I wanted a more indepth review of the Avon ST 45/46 tires.  I currently have the BT45's and have been very pleased with them.  I will need new tires for this summer and I am interested in the Avon's.  I commute during the week and on occasion hit a few twisties on the weekend.  I know GSJACK has had both.  

One concern is buying a size that is not stock.  What are the pros and cons?

Thanks.

I've been running my set of avon av 45/46 for 2500 miles.  I am running a stock size front (110/70??) and a 140/80 rear.  I too use the bike for commuting and weekend twisties.  After 2500 miles, the back is starting to look alittle flat from commuting.  Front looks fine.  

I can't manage to run the back tire to the edge, I'm leaving about 1/4 inch strips.  However, I'm not a very aggressive rider.  I think this might be due to the non-stock size. (maybe thats just in my head)  The avon seems to be a sticky tire, much better than the stock tires... but the stock tires are all I can compare them to as thats all I've had on the bike.

I also have av46 on the rear... I bought it this way.. but it's a little flattened.. the guy I bought it from did about 60% highway 40% twisties for 2k miles... so I dunno.  there are about 1/4inch strips on each side.. I think it can't be worn away because of the non stock size

Maybe the strips have nothing to do with the tire not being stock.   I too have about a 1/4 inch strip on my stock sized BT45's .... then again I really don't ride too aggresively either.  I have put on about 7,500 miles this past year on my BT45's... I am wondering if the Avon's will last longer or maybe I should try the new Michelin Pilot Activ ... ?

I have 110/70 from and 140/80 rear.  I am not an agressive rider and paid extra for Avons just because of the reputation of being good on wet road.  Compared to the BTs I had on before (BT35 front, BT45 rear), the Avons are much better, but that's probably because my BTs were rock hard from age.

Cosmetically, if I were to do it all over again, I would go with a thicker front, i.e., 110/80 front.  Right now the back tire looks way thicker than the front.  The old BTs were 110/80 front and 130/70 and the bike looked better to me that way.


Cheers.
e.

I like the Avons even better than the Z4/Z2 combo I used a couple years on the 97 GS.  The 130/80 rear Z2 lasted about 14k miles.  The BT45s that I replaced the Excedras with lasted about 9500 miles.  After a couple sets of touring type tires, I put on another BT45 rear that only lasted half as long as the first.  Was riding it harder then.

The first set of replacement tires I put on the 02 GS were the AV45/46 tires that are still on it.  I put them on at about 9800 miles and now have about 21,600 miles on them.  Almost 12k miles and there is still about 1 mm of tread left above the markers.  Expect they will last about 13-14k miles.  They are just starting to flat a bit.  Actually it's usually about this time most tires show the flat spot for me.  I replace tires when they hit the tread wear markers.

The Avon radials handle a little better than the Metz radials did which in turn handled better than the BT45s.  That's in the dry, the difference in the wet is much greater in favor of the radials.  I got the 110/80 AV45 and the 140/80 AV46 sizes on now and expect to replace them soon with same.  Throw in the cost of mounting and balancing and the sport touring radials are a much better bargain than the BT45s for a high milage user.

GSJACK I thank you for the prompt response.  I am going to order the Avons.  If you are ever in southern AZ ... look me up .... I will buy you an excellent authentic Mexican dinner.

Thanks

I have a Metz M1 on the back ME33 on the front.  I'm pretty sure I have gotten as far over as possible and while the ME33 shows wear all the way to the edge, the M1 still has a good 3/4".  Proly because the tread goes all the way to completely vertical and at that point the pistons would be scraping, which might not be too good.   :mrgreen: