FJRiders.com

Pants - How can you beat this deal?

I've tried all the brands, best mileage for me has been with the Avon Storm 3 XM in the Heavy Duty configuration. That said I was pleased to get 8,000 miles and the check from Avon for the 7,000 miles of unused guarantee.

John,
How does Avon's refund program work? 7000 of 15000 unused miles means you received around a 45% refund?

HotRodZilla wrote:

wheatonFJR wrote:PR3s are notoriously low on warning from looking worn to seeing steel. I know of at least a couple guys who had emergency tire situations with the PR3.

Yeah, TomInPA and I had that come up at the first Rueben Run. Both of us left our houses thinking we had plenty of tread, and both of us needed replacements.

I'm on my 2nd set of the T30 Evos. 190/55GT, and I really like them. Set #3 is waiting in the garage. I've gotten a $50 rebate card with every set, on top of lower prices.

AJ, I have been real happy with the T30 GT tires at 190/55. I haven't tried the EVO. I'm curious if you change your own tires. The T30 in that size is some kind of stiff mother. Very hard to keep in the center of the wheel, and it wants to set in the bead almost immediately.

On the HF tire changer, I have Mojo blocks and have scratch-proofed the tire bead breaker area and swapped the HF bead breaker with a No-Mar Cycle Hill bead breaker. I use the No-Mar bar and have a Third Hand to hold the bead while mounting the tire. My tire changer is bolted to the concrete floor.

Tom, I use a NoMar connected to my truck hitch. I've only done the tires in the heat, when I can warm them up really well. They're stiff as Hell. I think I ended up using spoons on my last one.

Most Bridgestones have very stiff sidewalls.......

raYzerman wrote:Most Bridgestones have very stiff sidewalls.......

Especially changing them on the Tundra, and I am not talking about the truck

Friend of mine that has a Nomar changer flat out refuses to do Bridgestones. Says they're far too stiff of a sidewall. We unmounted a pair recently and installed some Michelins and broke the tip of his unmount tool just getting the rear off.

On the T-30 dismount I use a polyethylene guard and lift the bead with a metal spoon 2-1/2 feet long for leverage. That lets me get the Nomar tip in there, and as long as the bead is lubed, it comes off okay. They are hard to mount as the last bead goes on because the tire wants to move out to the bead, and it has to stay in the center of the wheel.

Have you considered the Nomar Xtra hand type tool (Chinese knockoffs available, not quite as refined) https://www.nomartirechanger.com/XtraHa ... -clamp.htm or a coupla hunksa wood or/and a heavy duty (Irwin, don't get anything else) quick release woodworking clamp or two? http://www.irwin.com/tools/clamps/quick ... bar-clamps
Helps squish that bead down into the middle of the wheel.... and heat them tars up good before messing with them.

raYzerman wrote:Have you considered the Nomar Xtra hand type tool (Chinese knockoffs available, not quite as refined) https://www.nomartirechanger.com/XtraHa ... -clamp.htm or a coupla hunksa wood or/and a heavy duty (Irwin, don't get anything else) quick release woodworking clamp or two? http://www.irwin.com/tools/clamps/quick ... bar-clamps
Helps squish that bead down into the middle of the wheel.... and heat them tars up good before messing with them.

+1 on those clamps.

They are cheap, and they work.

NTXFJR wrote:John,
How does Avon's refund program work? 7000 of 15000 unused miles means you received around a 45% refund?

Yes, in general that is correct.

You have a process to step through:

You must register the tires when you first purchase them
you must replace them with Avons when they wear out
you submit the replacement info and a photo of the worn tires and your replacement receipts to Avon
Avon emails you an RMA # and you send them the old tires for their inspection
Avon either approves or disapproves (I haven't heard of a disapproval yet) and sends you a check including reimbursement for the shipping of your old tire(s).

John - thanks for this info. I suppose I could come out ahead on this is I jump through the hoops. Doesn't sound too appealing.

The EVO T-30 GTs are currently only about 15% cheaper than the PR2s.

So I chickened out and ordered another set of PR2s. I suppose the devil I know is the most comforting.....

Will re-visit in the future.

Hppants wrote:John - thanks for this info. I suppose I could come out ahead on this is I jump through the hoops. Doesn't sound too appealing.

The EVO T-30 GTs are currently only about 15% cheaper than the PR2s.

So I chickened out and ordered another set of PR2s. I suppose the devil I know is the most comforting.....

Will re-visit in the future.

I've always been happy with the Michelin on the front. PR2/PR3, I simply buy whichever is cheapest at the time I need one.

I have a manual Coates 200 out in the shed, but just did the front Bridgestone BT023 with spoons on the floor. (typical for me in the winter) I set rim and tire in front of the wood stove for an hour or two, prolly 110F, coat both liberally with Ru-glyde. Actually didn't need any tools for the first side on. tire popped on before I could reach for a spoon. second side about the last 15" was spooned on. sealed, filled and seated with the valve core still in at about 25 lbs. Remounted the rotors and balanced it. This tire is about half life. Some scalloping showing. Build date is 2011, and matches the rear so will run up another K or 2 if it doesn't cause any shaking and change before leaving on a long trip.