- 77 front and rear tire sizes, including 14 with whitewall sidewalls
- Production at the Goodyear motorcycle plant in Montluçon, France
- Gradual availability throughout 2026
After several years of limited availability, Avon’s Cobra Chrome range has now been completely revamped. The cruiser and custom tire is one of the brand’s best-known products and has undergone a fundamental technical and industrial overhaul as part of its integration into the Goodyear Group. With the return of the whitewall variants, Avon is deliberately revisiting a central element of its own history.
New development under Goodyear’s responsibility
The current Cobra Chrome generation is the first completely new development since Avon was integrated into Goodyear’s motorcycle brand portfolio four years ago. Although the tire remained available during this time, a complete redesign of all dimensions has only just taken place. The aim was to fully align production and quality standards with Goodyear’s global processes.
A key step was the relocation of production to the Montluçon site in France. The plant is regarded as an established center of excellence within the motorcycle industry and is known, among other things, for the production of Dunlop road tires and racing tires. Many Cobra Chrome sizes had never been manufactured there before, which required extensive adjustments and a complete redesign of the production processes.
Optimized production and more consistent quality
According to Goodyear, the redesign has resulted in improved tire consistency, higher production yields, and overall more stable manufacturing quality. Ergonomics for factory employees have also been improved. Cobra Chrome tires are now manufactured entirely to the same quality and consistency standards as other premium motorcycle tires from the Goodyear Group.
Dmitri Talboom, Motorcycle Product Manager at Goodyear, describes the process as follows:
“To bring Avon production in line with Goodyear’s standards for quality and performance, the Cobra Chrome range has been extensively re-engineered. Montluçon’s role in this revival has been crucial.”
Return of the whitewall variants
Special attention was paid to the whitewall versions, which are closely associated with Avon’s brand image. The white rubber compound has been reformulated and is now said to be more resistant to discoloration. At the same time, the previously predominantly manual construction of the sidewall has been replaced by more automated processes. In addition, computer-assisted quality controls are used to ensure a uniform appearance.
Talboom emphasizes the importance of this design element:
“Whitewall tires are a defining element of Avon’s heritage and remain a distinctive choice for riders of custom and cruiser-style motorcycles. We are proud to see this iconic design resume in full production.”
Positioning in the current Avon portfolio
The revised Cobra Chrome series is part of a deliberately streamlined Avon motorcycle range. In addition to cruiser tires, the range includes the 3D Supersport, Spirit ST, and Roadrider MKII for sporty touring riders, Trailrider and Trekrider for the adventure sector, and the classic Safety Mileage MKII and Speedmaster MKII models.
Avon is thus positioning itself within the Goodyear Group as a complementary brand to Dunlop, covering specific selected segments rather than serving the entire market spectrum.
Availability and size range
The Avon Cobra Chrome tires will be available in a total of 77 front and rear sizes in the 2026 model year. They cover rim diameters from 15 to 23 inches. Fourteen of these sizes are offered with classic whitewall sidewalls. Most of the sizes are already available, with more to follow in the course of 2026.
What does this mean for me as a motorcyclist?
For me, the redesign of the Avon Cobra Chrome means above all greater reliability for a well-known product. The return of the whitewall variants ensures that the classic look is still available, now combined with manufacturing according to uniform Goodyear standards. The relocation of production to Montluçon should result in more consistent quality and constant availability, which makes it easier to plan tire changes. At the same time, the range remains clearly focused on cruiser and custom motorcycles, without Avon attempting to cover other areas of application that are less relevant to this tire segment anyway.
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