Avon Spirit ST Score
The Avon Spirit ST is perhaps the most underrated "hidden gem" in the sport-touring segment. While it doesn't always get the marketing spotlight of a Michelin or Pirelli, it delivers high-end performance at a significantly lower price point.
The Good
- Good value for money
- Good wet grip
- Stable and comfortable
The Bad
- Narrow limit range
- Not very agile
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Grip Dry
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Grip Wet
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Warm-Up
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Handling
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Mileage
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Value for Money
The Avon Spirit ST is a sport‑touring tire that brings a lot of potential to the table. It is a combination of supersport and touring tire characteristics, which on paper makes it a very capable option. We took a closer look at the model and reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the Avon Spirit ST in our test report.
Table of Contents
Avon Spirit ST Review
In the Avon Spirit ST review, we examined the tire in all important areas: mileage, wet grip, dry grip, and general riding characteristics. For whom the tire is suitable and what experiences our community has had with it is explained here in the Avon Spirit ST test.
Grip on Dry Roads
Dry grip on the Avon Spirit ST is very good. It does not offer the same grip as a hypersport tire, but you can still ride very aggressively with the Spirit ST. Even with a passenger, it delivers plenty of grip. Even at high temperatures, the tire does not smear and consistently maintains its grip level.
However, caution is needed at the limit. The margin is relatively narrow, and once you feel the tire beginning to slide, it doesn’t take much more for it to actually happen. Still, for a sport‑touring tire, performance is very good.
Grip on Wet Roads
The Avon Spirit ST also offers excellent grip in wet conditions. Its high silica content combined with modern polymer technology provides outstanding traction on both wet and dry roads. In other test reports, the tire even received top marks in this category.
You should still avoid pushing the tire to its limit in the rain. The magazine Alpentourer tested the tire in wet conditions and reported that even during a full emergency stop, the Spirit ST provided plenty of grip and did not slide — even without ABS.
Braking Performance
Braking performance is strong across the board. The braking‑induced uprighting tendency is very low.
You can brake deep into corners, which is fun and still feels safe at all times. Braking grip is excellent in both dry and wet conditions.
Riding Comfort
The Avon Spirit ST rides very well and comfortably – whether on long tours or spirited rides on twisty roads. As expected from a good touring tire, it performs well in all situations and offers excellent damping characteristics.
Tire Wear
The wear pattern of the Avon Spirit ST is surprisingly good even under heavy load. The tire does not break down excessively, and even with increasing mileage, its positive riding characteristics only diminish slightly.
Mileage
Mileage on the Avon Spirit ST is very good. Of course, riding style plays a major role. Even the test rider from Kurvenradius TV managed 4,300 km while riding aggressively on a Super Duke – and the tire still wasn’t worn out. If you ride more moderately, 7,000 km or more is easily possible.
In terms of mileage, the tire fully convinced us, and many of our readers and customers confirm this as well.
Riding Stability / Cornering Stability
Cornering stability on the Avon Spirit ST is good. As mentioned earlier, the limit range is somewhat narrow, so you need to be a bit more cautious at deep lean angles. You need to develop a feel for when the limit is reached. The high level of stability inspires confidence – but that confidence can also bring you quickly to the narrow limit zone.
Agility / Steering Behavior
From our perspective, the Avon Spirit ST leans more toward the stable side. It can be guided well through corners, but the tighter the radius becomes, the more “unwieldy” the Spirit ST feels. It does not perform poorly in tight hairpins, but it clearly prefers longer, faster sweepers.
Uprighting Moment
The Avon Spirit ST shows a slight uprighting tendency when accelerating at lean. A slight uprighting effect can also be felt when braking, but it can easily be countered with a bit of pressure on the handlebars.
Tire Pressure
We only rode the Avon Spirit ST for a relatively short time, so we could not determine an ideal tire pressure. We would appreciate tire pressure recommendations for the Avon Spirit ST in the comments section.
Avon Spirit ST Experiences
The Avon Spirit ST unfortunately does not receive the attention it deserves. Experienced riders appreciate the Spirit ST in all situations and often prefer it over more expensive premium brands. Riders in our community, as well as members of other forums, have had very good experiences with the Avon Spirit ST.
This is also confirmed by test reports from other magazines. We can highly recommend the Avon Spirit ST to any sporty touring rider — it offers a lot of tire for very little money.
Alternatives to the Avon Spirit ST
- Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE
- Continental RoadAttack 4
- Pirelli Angel GT II
- Dunlop Roadsmart IV
- Michelin Road 6
