Dry and wet grip are the clearest strengths of the Avon ZZ5, with sixty and forty-four favourable mentions respectively, against two and seven criticisms. Noise is generally liked too, with thirty-one positive accounts against eleven complaints, while handling, steering feel and comfort receive mostly favourable feedback. Tread life is almost evenly divided, with fifteen positive comments and fourteen criticisms. Mid-life and end-of-life accounts range from long service with retained grip to rapid wear, so longevity is not a settled advantage. The two owners who wrote later reviews do not establish a shared ageing pattern. Across ninety-one reviews, the 76.9% average reflects sixty-nine positive scores, fourteen neutral and eight below 40%.
What owners mention most counted across 91 reviews
Just changed from Dunlop Maxx MO to Avon ZZ5's. Far less road noise, dry grip is better than the Dunlop and wet grip is considerably bettre than the Dunlop, they provide a much more gentler ride where the Dunlop gave a much harsher response over uneven road surfaces. The avon is very forgiving under hard accelleration and maintais good grip without the electrical intervention of stability controls, this is very noticable in wet conditions. I also consider that the ZZ5 stop far shorter than the Dunlop. I was down to 2mm of tread when I changed and had travelled 13,300 miles, I have only travelled 550 miles on the Avon's so can't give a wear estimate, however, as the Avons were almost £50 pet tyre cheaper I'm not particularly concerned if the wear rate is a little less. All in all a really good tyre at a really good price.
C Class Coupe 220 CDI with 225/40/18 on the front and 255/35/18 on the rear. After 76,000 miles on several sets of the Continentals fitted as standard I fancied a change. Eventually decided to try the ZZ5s and had them fitted front and back at the same time.
Initial impressions on driving with the ZZ5s were that there was a lot more feel and feedback through the front wheels in comparison to the Continentals. Cornering is improved. Whereas the Continentals seemed to cause the car to flop into the apex of a bend, on the ZZ5s the car seems to hold a better line through a corner. My perception is that I could drive the car faster through a given corner in comparison the Continentals.
In comparison to my recollection of the Continentals, the ZZ5s seem very prone to 'tram lining', particularly on the concrete sections of the M25 motorway. The ZZ5s are also noisy on these same concrete sections but quiet on the Tarmac sections. The biggest downside to the ZZ5s is a jitteriness or sense of instability in a straight line at speed of the rear tyres. I don't know if the side walls of the ZZ5s are stiffer or softer than the Continentals, but it is quite unnerving when the back end of the car seems to want to point the front end in a different direction at 70 or 80mph. It certainly keeps me alert on the motorway. Interestingly, I don't get the same jitteriness at 50mph on an A or B road with a worse surface.
Fuel economy with the ZZ5s is about the same as the Continentals. They have the same rating so no surprises there.
In terms of purchase cost, the four ZZ5s were fitted for £330, which was quite a saving over prices quoted for the big brands at the time. However, I'm not sure that I would buy them them again for the C Class Coupe - that rear end jitteriness is a significant issue that detracts from the overall experience of driving on these tyres.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tyres perform against premium summer and winter tyres!
PERFECTLY SUITED TO MY CAR.VERY SECURE WET WEATHER PERFORMANCE.DRY GRIP AND STEERING FEEL VERY PLEASING>STILL TRYING TO FIND A DOWNSIDE TO THE BEST TYRE I HAVE EVER PUT ON MY CAR>
Which tyres do you drive?
Researching the Avon ZZ5? Rate the tyres you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
I have driven on all types of budget and premium tyres and without doubt these are the second worst I have ever driven on (Vredestein Sessanta were the worst) On dry roads they are fine but on a wet road they are dangerous as the understeer is horrendous. If you drive like miss daisy - and have a rear wheel drive - they will probably be ok but on a heavy fronted diesel they are ditch finders. I will never buy them again or recommend them.
Having driven 500 miles over the last 5 days in a range of autumnal conditions (sun/rain/mildly moist), I've found these to be a very competent mid-range tyre.
Whilst the sidewalls are reinforced, they allow sufficient roll and progressiveness that I never received on cheaper or Bridgestone Potenza etc. For this reason the tyres are an excellent all-rounder for a car such as the Civic Type-R and its firm standard suspension.
I really value the confidence I get in the wet (again, unlike the Potenzas), as well as an excellent amount of grip when on the limit.
p.s. I found it interesting that the tread pattern on this tyre is fairly traditional, only with rather thick centre lines of rubber and wide gaps in between - whatever it is they have done at Avon, it works!
Replaced 2 front pilot sports with zz5 s after reading reviews.
Done 7k very spirited miles including 3 open pit lane track days where I would repeatedly slam brakes on astonishingly hard from triple figures before tipping into bend and they do very very well. Dry and wet grip on roads is excellent. I always know when the gonna give.
The 2 mild downsides are 185 bhp n 350 lb tq in a 950kg car = short shift 1st or forget it! and for lower (airfield) track day tyre pressures my poor rims felt the pain of quite soft tyre walls on a particular off-camber bend but when up to temp they were fine. For the price I would buy again
Having had Pirelli PZero Rossa's and then some appalling 'Triangle' budget tyres these are by far the best,
General grip is good, not quite a sharp on turn in as the Pirelli's, but a different world to the budget tyres. Wet grip is great, feels secure and not sliding or understeering at all.
The best part is the noise, or complete lack of it. These are serious quite tyres. I can hear hardly any road noise even at motorway levels. the Pirelli's were good, the Triangle budgets gave me a head ache, but so far its a pleasure to drive with these Avons.
Price was also a good a influence, £105 each fitted was a great deal and £20 cheaper we wheel than the the Pirelli's.
Overall very very happy and will stick with these for the next set.
Fitted on a vectra vxr pushing 300bhp & 400 foot pound torque.very impressed with these ZZ5 tyres every bit as good as the perreli p zero k1 tyres that They replaced,small spin up on full throttle 1st,2nd gear both wet or dry, but that's to be expected with 400 pounds of torque wet grip is great as well gives you plenty of confidence. cost me £110 a corner so I think they are great value for money
Very impressed. Done a mixture of fast road and track with them, trip to nurburgring etc and have lasted much longer than expected and give amazing grip. About to buy another set I'm so impressed.
An excellent Tyre. Good grip in all conditions and has great feedback through the fronts and rears. Had them for 5,000 miles and are still very progressive and easy to take up to the limit without unwanted surprises.
They are pretty quiet- certainly quieter than the p zero's i had and are also far far better in the wet. The Avon's were recommended by my local Tyre fitter (despite being cheaper) as being a superior Tyre. Hes right!!
Would I buy again - YES.
To review the tyre is based on 40k/yr motorway miles mainly. I have these on my Passat CC 170GT DSG. Because of the low profile trying to find a quiet tyre that grips is difficult. The grip in the dry is outstanding, the wet grip has never shaken my confidence, taking into account the stopping distance is greater. The tyres have lasted about 20k miles, they are excellent but repeated visits to the garage for vibration in braking turned out to be uneven tyre wear that Avon are aware of..... For what you pay for them in relation to premium tyres its not to be sniffed at. But I, would not use them again because of the wear on the pattern (the tyre is no longer perfectly round).
