“Excellent in the dry and good on a nice dry track. Unfortunately unsettled in the wet (even damp) getting very sideways unless driven slowly. Would use on a more basic vehicle because of how cheap they are! wear is good...”
Avon ZV3
Replaced by the ZV5
The Avon ZV3 is a High Performance Summer tyre designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.
The quick answer
Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tyre - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated July 2015.
- 28owner reviews
- 465,030miles driven
All Tests
Sorry, we don't currently have any magazine tyre tests for the Avon ZV3
Dimensions & Label Scores
View AllFrequently Asked Questions
How comfortable and quiet are the Avon ZV3?
How well do the Avon ZV3 wear, according to owners?
Would owners buy the Avon ZV3 again?
What do owners say about the Avon ZV3's tread life?
What do owners say about the Avon ZV3's wet grip?
More questions about the Avon ZV3 (2)
What do owners say about the Avon ZV3's dry grip?
Has the Avon ZV3 been replaced?
Owner Questions
Ask a questionQuestions and Answers for the Avon ZV3
Avon ZV3 Owner Reviews
Review this tyreWhat owners say
Across 28 owner ratings the Avon ZV3 averages 63%. Owners rate Dry Grip highest at 7.2 out of 10 and Wear lowest at 5.8. 15 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles. 33% of owners score it 70% or better.
Owner ratings averaged from 28 ratings
- Owner score 63%
- Dry Grip 72%
- Comfort 66%
- Handling 66%
- Road Feedback 65%
- Wet Grip 63%
- Wear 58%
Featured reviews
“These tyres are hopeless. For a so called performance tyre they are very dissapointing. I had one scary moment in the dry when my front wheels lost traction, causing me to under steer into oncoming traffic. Luckily I...”
“Tyres lasted 17000 miles on a mixture of country and motorway roads for a daily commute, I have had 3 sets of these tyres fitted as they were recommended however I have decided to experiment with other tyres to see if I...”
All 24 Avon ZV3 reviews
- Mazda MX5
- 225/45 R17
- 9,000 miles
- Mostly Country Roads
- Spirited
- Volkswagen Polo 1.4 TDI
- 185/55 R14 H
- 10 miles
- Mostly Motorways
- Spirited
Good points: Good wet grip and compare well to premium tyres in that respect. I generally don't hang about and I find that cornering grip in wet conditions is among the best, a real surprise. They provide decent feedback and dry grip also is very good. I have no problems with the drive of these tyres, even when pushed.
Bad points: Tyre noise seems higher than other brands but not excessive. They appear to be quite a tyre with a firm sidewall which doesn't help the ride quality. Wear is average but my front ones are just about bald on the outside shoulders, despite tracking and pressure being ok.
A good tyre and I would try another tyre from the Avon range again after experiencing these.
I need to replace the front pair now as they are just about on the wear markers. I had considered replacing with some more ZV3s but for the same prices more modern tyres can be had, the Avons score poorly on the new classification for rolling resistance (G) so I'm looking for something a bit more 'eco', Hankook Kinergy Eco perhaps.
- Vauxhall Signum 1.9 CDTI
- 215/50 R17 W
- 15,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
Which tyres do you drive?
Researching the Avon ZV3? Rate the tyres you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
- Rover
- 225/45 R17
- 25,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
- Citroën C1
- 195/45 R15
- 10,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Spirited
Wee bit road noise at high speed but its not too bad.
Avon tyres are not sa bad as people make them out to be.
But remember they are budget tires so they will never be perfect.
- Ford Mondeo
- 195/60 R15
- 20 miles
- Mostly Country Roads
- Average
- Vauxhall Vectra SRI 1.9 (150)
- 215/50 R17 W
- 10,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Spirited
Would I buy them again? well,,,, NO, I went back to the same budget brand I had prior. I shall review them in their appropriate page.
- Ford Focus MK1
- 195/55 R15 V
- 5,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Spirited
Wear rate was high,fell off a cliff when cornering with a hint of speed and were really noisey at any speed. Would not reccomend.
- Fiat Stilo
- 225/45 R17
- 18,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
Good points: Quiet controlled road noise at even motorway speeds.
Bad Points: Performance on country roads and grip in dry and wet conditions not as good as it should be. Car feels as if it's floating/wandering and doesn't inspire confidence near limits. Tyre life has only been half that of the previous front tyres on this car (Dunlop SP Sport tyres - 36K) and the Eagle NCT5s (41K) fitted on our other Stilo.
- Skoda Octavia
- 205/55 R16 V
- 18,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
At motorway speeds in heavy rain I have always felt confident, and almost never experienced aquaplaning. The octavia is pretty quick of the mark and the front wheels can be made to slip when accelerating up on damp roads. Simple solution ease off on the go pedal. Its not a dangerous feature. Braking has always been a reliable experience.
I have just replaced the fronts after 17,600 miles, the tread wear indicators have just gone level with the top of the tread. I live at the bottom of a crescent that goes up to a T junction and up again to the main road. In the recent cold spell (dec 10) I have managed to get up and onto the main road on fresh snow. Neighbours have asked if I have 4wd!... They obviously have lead boots!!
I have just purchases 2 new ZV5's for £117 inc VAT (from setyres) (205/55/16/V's) The ZV3's cost me £255 for 4 - so I would say that they represent good value for money.
I have had Continental Raintyres in the past, grip in wet probably better but wear appalling..
- Volkswagen Golf GTI
- 205/50 R15 V
- 5,000 miles
- Mostly Town
- Average
- Ford Sierra Azura
- 185/65 R14 H
- 10,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
No reviews match those filters.
Find your next tyre
All tyre testsThe latest Tyre Reviews tests
- Oct 2026The BEST All Weather Tyres for 2026/27 →
- Oct 2026All Season vs All Terrain Tyres Tested: Do You Actually Need an All Terrain? →
- Oct 2026The BEST Winter Tyres for 2026/27 →
Summer Tyres
All Season Tyres
Winter Tyres
SUV and All Terrain Tyres
Track Tyres
Which tyres do you drive?
You're reading real-world reviews from other drivers - add yours and help the next buyer choose the right tyres.








