Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

[Duke W.]

...heard from a buddy who heard from Roger Krause that last year Goodyear bought Cooper Tire, which has owned the Avon tire business since 1997.

Late last year Cooper announced that the UK plant where the CR6ZZ and other specialty tires are manufactured will close by the end of this year. It's not clear if the manufacture of these tires wili be moved to another plant, but we all know what happened to the vintage engine parts that used to be offered by Federal Mogul before it was bought by Carl Icon and then sold off after a major "housecleaning".

Roger is lobbying hard, but when a big corporation or private equity outfit buys a company they usually gut it of low volume/profit product lines.

One effect of the change already is a significant price increase. The 2023 205/70R-15 CR6ZZ price is now $505 each. The last price sheet I have from 2019 they were $368.

The following two links contain additional information.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Tire_%26_Rubber_Company

https://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/23045959.cooper-tires-close-melksham-factory-350-job-losses/

Duke

[Steven B.]

Re: Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

...heard from a buddy who heard from Roger Krause that last year Goodyear bought Cooper Tire, which has owned the Avon tire business since 1997.

Late last year Cooper announced that the UK plant where the CR6ZZ and other specialty tires are manufactured will close by the end of this year. It's not clear if the manufacture of these tires wili be moved to another plant, but we all know what happened to the vintage engine parts that used to be offered by Federal Mogul before it was bought by Carl Icon and then sold off after a major "housecleaning".

Roger is lobbying hard, but when a big corporation or private equity outfit buys a company they usually gut it of low volume/profit product lines.

One effect of the change already is a significant price increase. The 2023 205/70R-15 CR6ZZ price is now $505 each. The last price sheet I have from 2019 they were $368.

The following two links contain additional information.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Tire_%26_Rubber_Company

https://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/23045959.cooper-tires-close-melksham-factory-350-job-losses/

Duke

and the 255-60X15 Cobra maybe??

[Michael J.]

Re: Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

This is very concerning, Avon makes the best tires period, I guess I need to buy some more soon for future applications before they are gone.

[Steven B.]

Re: Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

Yes, bad news. So many buy-outs and "mergers" are disadvantages to customers and the public and do not deliver the Financials expected. Buy now while they are available and before a price increase.😒

[Duke W.]

Re: Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

Here's the link to current prices/specs for the CR6ZZ from Roger Kraus Racing.

http://rogerkrausracing.com/pdfpricing/Avon%20CR6ZZ%20%201%202023.pdf

I usually recommend the 205/70R-15 on 6" x +0.03" offset wheels, which would be the '67 rally wheels (buy a set of repros for prior years or use KOs) that prior year wheel covers will accept in most cases. The reason is the dimensions. Note that the 205 size is only 0.1" less OD that the 215, but the 215 has wider tread that might cause interference. with the fender lips.

Based on my experience, high quality (which means H or above speed rating) new tires that are stored in a cool, dark place free of electrical equipment that might generate ozone will "age" at a very low rate. They might loose a little grip due to hardening of tread compounds, but I don't consider them "unsafe" for normal road driving including sporty driving when conditions allow.

I'd rather have a set of decade or more old H or above speed rated tires that have a spiral wound nylon cap belt than the typical S and T rated junk of today that lack that critical safety feature.

Duke

[Michael J.]

Re: Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

Thanks Duke, I would like to eventually get a '65 GT350 S or R model, and I can't imagine any other tire on those Shelby Cragars than Avon.

[Hector G.]

Re: Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

Duke, here are the pictures you asked for. My set of CR6ZZ Avon's are 205/70R-15s. My recollection is that besides Duke recommending this size. Roger Krause did as well for mid years.

I absolutely love these tires on my 66. They really do make a big difference in the car's performance. After driving the car, I can't wait to take it out again.

Hector

DSC00387.jpgDSC00388.jpgDSC00390.jpgDSC00391.jpg

[Duke W.]

Re: Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

The difference in clearance between sides may be, at least partially if not wholly, due to different camber.

A one degree change in camber will change clearance nearly on-half inch.

Duke

[Mark E.]

Re: Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

$505 each? No wonder they're not selling many.

Why not get a set of Goodyear All Season tires that would probably score better in judging because of the brand. Then for driving ALSO get a set of aluminum 17" wheels with W or Y speed rated performance tires. Two sets of tires plus a set of wheels for a couple hundred $ more than a set of Avons.

[Michael J.]

Re: Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

IMG_1906b-22.jpgAvons on a 15" wheel are just classic for a '60s car.......

[Duke W.]

Re: Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

$505 each? No wonder they're not selling many.

Why not get a set of Goodyear All Season tires that would probably score better in judging because of the brand. Then for driving ALSO get a set of aluminum 17" wheels with W or Y speed rated performance tires. Two sets of tires plus a set of wheels for a couple hundred $ more than a set of Avons.

Some want a REAL performance tire on OE type wheels.

Duke

[Jim L.]

Re: Avon CR6ZZ may go extinct!

$505 each? No wonder they're not selling many.

Why not get a set of Goodyear All Season tires that would probably score better in judging because of the brand. Then for driving ALSO get a set of aluminum 17" wheels with W or Y speed rated performance tires. Two sets of tires plus a set of wheels for a couple hundred $ more than a set of Avons.

This is approximately what we did with my bride's Grand Sport track car (see avatar). We had two sets of repop Halibrand KO wheels. One set had Goodrich T/A street tires and one set had sticky Hoosier racing tires. It was a simple matter for her crew chief (me) to swap back and forth depending on where she planned to drive the car.