Avon Tyres reveals details of the development for the new Cobra rubber, designed specifically for the Triumph Bonneville Bobber motorcycle.
Development with Triumph on the Bonneville Bobber started in early 2014 with a number of the company’s current tires at that time, including the Roadrider and Cobra, which were tested on various mule bikes. Original tires tested were of x-ply and bias construction (100/90-19 and 150/80 B16, for example).
Ashley Vowles, Avon Tyres’ motorcycle tire design engineer, noted, “It became apparent that a radial rear construction was required to further improve the bike’s handling and stability. At the time we only had a 150/80 R16 available in our Storm 3D X-M range.
“Avon attended a joint test with Triumph in Spain in April 2015 and we tested a 100/90-19 Cobra at the front and 150/80 R16 Storm 3D X-M at the rear. The radial rear transformed the bike and immediately passed all handling and stability tests,” he continued.
The next step was to match up the patterns and introduce a 150/80 R16 in a Cobra pattern. This tire also has a dual compound tread.
“We then focused on the front and modified the construction slightly from our current 100/90-19 Cobra to suit the handling and stability of the Bonneville Bobber. These changes included altering the stiffness characteristics and profile of the tire,” Vowles added.
The Cobra 150/80 R16 71V is a new size and has been added to Avon’s existing range of tires. The Avon Cobras are the only recommended fitment for the Bonneville Bobber in all markets.
