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Avon Tires History
Avon Tyres is a British Tire company with a history that dates back 100 years. The company, founded in 1904, originally made bicycle tires. But Avon Tyres quickly expanded into producing motorcycle tires.
In the early part of the 20th century, Avon Tyres established itself as a leader in the motorcycle market. They provided high quality, reliable tires for a variety of different types of motorcycles.
In the 1960’s, Avon Tires started to expand its business, moving into the automotive tire market.
During the 1970’s and 1980’s, Avon Tires started to become well known for its involvement in motor sports. The company supplied products for a number of racing events such as the World Superbike Championship and the British Touring Car Championship.
During this time, Avon built a strong reputation for manufacturing products for both on road and off road vehicles.
In the 1990’s, Avon continued to expand its product line by producing a brand of products meant specifically for industrial and agricultural vehicles. The company also produced a technology called the “3D sipe” technology, which improved a tire’s grip on wet roads.
Today, Avon is a well respected tire manufacturer throughout the tire industry. The company’s products are available in more than 100 countries.
Avon continues to innovate and develop new tire technologies, and its products are trusted by a wide range of customers, from motorsports enthusiasts to everyday drivers.
Cooper Buys Avon
In the tire business, acquisitions happen often. On March 4, 2021, Cooper Tires, an American tire manufacturer, purchased Avon Tires from MTA. MTA is a European automotive products distributor.
The purchase was announced in January of 2021. Cooper bought Avon Tires to expand its product line and distribution network throughout Europe.
Cooper paid $170 million in cash for Avon Tires. The purchase included the rights to the name of Avon tires as well as ownership of its manufacturing plants and distribution facilities in Melksham, England.
Avon tires’ Melksham site now belongs to Cooper tires. Cooper Avon Tyres can now be thought of as the same entity.
During the time of the acquisition, Cooper Tire president and CEO Brad Hughes noted that the purchase of Avon Tires represented a great opportunity for the company to expand its presence in the high-performance tire market in Europe.
He also pledged to build on the strength and reputation of Avon rubber.
Shortly after Avon tires was purchased by Cooper Tires, Cooper Tires was acquired by Goodyear Tire, another major tire manufacturer, in June of 2021.
Goodyear says it plans on allowing Cooper Tire to continue operating as its own entity. Goodyear purchased Cooper Tire to help expand its offerings and increase its presence in North America and Asia.
The purchase of Avon Tires by Cooper Tire and the subsequent purchase of Cooper tire by Goodyear shows a trend in the tire industry. That trend is consolidation within the tire industry.
As competition within the tire industry increases and profit margins become tighter, many tire manufacturers are seeking to expand their product lines through strategic acquisitions and mergers.
Goodyear Purchases Cooper
In February of 2021, Goodyear Tire Rubber Company, one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers, announced it had reached an agreement to purchase Cooper Tires.
Cooper Tire was an independent American Tire company. The purchase was completed in June of 2021.
Under terms of the agreement, Goodyear paid $2.8 billion dollars to purchase Cooper Tires.
With this purchase, came $800 million dollars worth of debt.
The purchase gave Goodyear rights to Cooper Tire’s manufacturing facilities and distribution networks, as well as its product line, including tires for passenger cars, light trucks, and SUVs.
At the time of the acquisition, Goodyear president and CEO, Richard J Kramer, said the purchase was a compelling strategic fit. He also thought the purchase would increase its presence in high-margin, light truck and SUV tire segments.
The purchase of Cooper tires would also improve competitiveness in key markets around the globe for Goodyear.
The acquisition of Cooper Tires by Goodyear is part of a broader trend to consolidate within the tire industry.
The purchase of Cooper tires, and Avon Rubber plc, helps Goodyear Tires accelerate its plans to develop and commercialize new tire technologies, such as self inflating tires, which has the potential to improve fuel efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of vehicles.
Avon Tires During WWII
During WWII, like many companies during the war, shifted its focus from consumer products to the war effort. The company produced different military items such as tires for tanks, trucks, and planes.
Avon tires made significant contributions to the war effort by providing the British military with durable and reliable tires.
The company’s tire production facilities were fully dedicated to the British war effort, and employees worked around the clock to meet high demands for military tires.
After the war, Avon Tyres returned its focus to producing tires for consumer vehicles, and the company’s experience during WWII helped develop innovative tire technologies that were later used in commercial products.
Overall, Avon Tyres played a crucial role in the British war effort during World War II and its contributions helped to ensure the success of many military operations.
Popular Avon Tires
Avon tires is a well known brand that offers a wide range of tires for different types of vehicles. Some of the popular, well known Avon tires include:
- Avon ZZ5 - High-performance summer tire designed for sports cars and high-powered vehicles.
- Avon Storm 3D X-M - Adventure motorcycle tire designed for touring and off-road riding.
- Avon TrailRider - Dual-sport tire designed for both street and off-road use.
- Avon Cobalt Ace - Cruiser tire designed for comfort and style.
- Avon Turbo Speed - High-performance tire designed for sports cars and high-powered vehicles.
These are just a couple examples of Avon’s popular tire offerings. It’s always a good idea to consult with a specialist to see which tire would suit your driving needs the best.
About The Author
Christopher Sparks
Christopher Sparks has been servicing vehicles since 2012. After completing the automotive studies program at Camden County College, he was awarded an Associates's Degree in Applied Science. His first job was a lube-tech at Jiffy Lube, and is currently an independent B-Technician servicing vehicles for the United States Postal Service. Christopher is ASE certified and loves rebuilding engines.
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