Top-class cruiser tyres

Avon Cobra Chrome

Used for: four months Price: £321 (150/80 ZR17, 240/50 ZR16)

» Cruiser tyres have a difficult job because the bikes are usually massive, so the tyre carcass has to hold up 300kg or so, and cruiser geometry is long and slow, so the rubber has to work extra hard to help the bike steer. Given all that, the Cobra Chromes work miracles on Triumph’s latest Rocket 3. Despite the vast wheelbase and tyre width (150 on the front!), the Rocket turns in sweetly and feels accurate – not something you can accuse most cruisers of. Grip in the dry easily copes with the limited lean angles possible and is tolerable in the wet. The Chromes don’t warm up like a sports touring tyre though, so cold days can be sketchy. Overall verdict: impressive.