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Avon ZZ3

The Avon ZZ3 is a Ultra High Performance Summer tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

5.5
Tire Reviews Score Based on User Reviews
Limited Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
84%
Wet Grip
75%
Road Feedback
78%
Handling
75%
Wear
70%
Comfort
74%
Buy again
74%
115 Reviews
76% Average
1,643,400 miles driven
Avon ZZ3

Avon ZZ3

Summer Mid-Range
BETA
5.5 / 10
Based on User Reviews · Limited Confidence · Updated 23 Feb 2026

The Tire Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tire scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 0
Publications: 0
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 115
Avg Rating: 75.6%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 0.09
History Points: 10
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tire tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.9 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 12 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.75 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
combined_penalty_floor 0.2
All Tests

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Top 3 Avon ZZ3 Reviews

Given 80% while driving a Citroën DS3 THP 150 (205/45 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 5,000 spirited miles
Done over 500 miles and for the price they are a good tire. Good amount of grip in the dry and they are fine in the wet (So far) I do lots of mixed driving and the wear rate is excellent
July 29, 2018
Given 64% while driving a BMW 520i (225/60 R15 W) on a combination of roads for 20,000 average miles
These were initially very good and provided good grip on wet/dry. After around 5000miles the noise started to increase but the performance remained. I have driven on different road conditions and the tire kept up very well. I have used Michelins, Bridgestone & Pirellis prior. They are still better as I bought this due to unavailability of those at the time of purchase.
November 22, 2017
Given 64% while driving a Mercedes Benz C220 Cdi Avantgarde Estate (225/45 R17 V) on mostly country roads for 0 easy going miles
I recently bought a Mercedes C220 estate with Avon ZZ3 on the rear. When I got on the motorway after collecting the car I thought I'd bought a lemon with a worn diff or wheel bearings. The road noise from these tires is awful.
March 16, 2015

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Latest Avon ZZ3 Reviews

Given 74% while driving a (225/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 12,000 average miles
I have these on a 600 kg kit car no problems on the road but no use on track days saying that they are not designed for that
August 10, 2016
Given 84% while driving a Audi A4 1.9 TDI (235/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 28,000 spirited miles
Wow. These were great tires . Lasted 28k miles. Were as good as the Pirelli's I have right now. I know that they have replaced the ZZ3 with the ZZ5 and I've already got a pair in the rear.
May 15, 2016
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
Given 76% while driving a SEAT Leon 140PD (225/45 R17) on mostly motorways for 18,000 average miles
Had these on the front of my Mk2 Leon, lasted for two years before they were at the legal tread limit, the sidewalls had started to crack by this point so they last well in that perspevtive and are grippy in the dry, bit loose in the wet for my liking. I never thrashed my car around but I did have plenty of spirited driving, and they seemed to cope well. Awful in the snow but they weren't designed for winter driving so can't moan about that.
Only negative was the sidewalls felt very soft, this may be because my Leon had a heavy TDI lump in it but when pushing the tires to the linit round corners the sidewalls did feel like they flexed a lot, they did so progressively so nothing dangerous, just a bit too soft. Wet grip isn't great, would definitely recommend for summer tires.
March 14, 2016
Given 96% while driving a Renault Megane Sports Tourer (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 60 average miles
Fantatastic tires, you certainly get what you paide for. On my Megane Estate im currently on 60k miles with plenty of tread left. Previous tires on it were factory fitted and were changed at 12K.
October 2, 2014
Given 89% while driving a BMW 330 Ci Sport (225/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 8,000 spirited miles
Being a bit of a petrol head and having spent 3 yrs at Kwik fit in a previous life, at 43 I consider myself to have reasonable knowledge and passion about tire performance. I put a pair of these on the front of my 330E46 convertible last year and they've done around 8K miles. They have been more than adequate in terms of level of grip that im prepared to push it to both In the dry and on the wet.I reckon they still have a good 5mm so have lasted really well considering my work journey is 9 miles of country lanes. Problem I have is that ive just hit a bloody great big pot hole and although the tire didn't burst (another good point) it has put a massive egg on the side wall. Problem is they don't sell them anymore so it looks like i'll have to have odd tires on the front.
September 3, 2014
Given 87% while driving a MINI Cooper S (225/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 14,000 spirited miles
Put these on my wife's cooper s and have been delighted with their performance both in wet and dry conditions. Used them during the winter of 2012 and they performed well in the snow
Heard they were no longer available but will look to replace them probably after 20,000 miles or earlier depending on this winters conditions . Fantastic value for money and much superior to the previous run flats
August 4, 2014
Given 91% while driving a Vauxhall (225/45 R18) on a combination of roads for 100,000 spirited miles
I've had these on my Vectra c 3.2 GSI since almost day one. I couldn't wait for the OE Uniroyal's to wear out - road noise was unbelievably high - and changed to the Avon ZZ3. I've used them almost 100% for the last 100000 miles. I did put a set of Kenda's on when money was tight - dire, especially in the rain. Just changed to ZZ5 Avons, so good so far.
March 18, 2014
Given 54% while driving a Audi A3 2.0 TDI 140 (225/40 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 12,000 average miles
I do not rally my car around and drive on combination roads, despite this my 2 front tires are needing changed after only 6000 miles. Shocked doesn't cover it.
January 2, 2014
Given 80% while driving a Honda Civic Type R (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 1,000 average miles
Total shock! Avon zz3 saves day!
Got 4 new hancook tires fitted as I read reviews and weighed up cost.

I've never experienced anything like it! The way the car handled was ruined! I checked pressures ok tracking ok had them put back on balancing machine else where ok.
It felt like the back end of the car was wobbling about when cornering and felt like the back was sort of steering too and felt really light and flighty.

Got the tires off and had Avon zz3 fitted. It was obvious how much the hancooks tire wall was weak compared with the Avon (same profile) the Avon was stiff and you couldn't move it much with your hand where as the hancook you could grab the wall and move it a lot easily.

Was totally relieved to get the handling back to norm as I like to push the car (where safe) and enjoy the type r as a 2nd car for fun really. Have not done many miles in the car since zz3 but just wanted to say they feel good and a million times better than the hancook disaster.

Could it have been a faulty batch? Are all hancooks walls weak? I don't know but I won't be buying them for this style car again that's for sure.
August 24, 2013
Given 81% while driving a Mazda RX8 (225/45 R18) on a combination of roads for 5,000 spirited miles
An excellent mid-range tire. Far better grip in dry and wet over the Bridgestones fitted as standard. Allows quicker cornering, encouraging a more spirited and confident drive. No problems in the snow - as long as you drive to the conditions. Also appear to be wearing extremely well. Cannot fault the Avon ZZ3. Overall - really happy, great grip, great looks, great price. Will purchase again.
July 25, 2013
Given 46% while driving a Volvo 850 T5 Estate (215/40 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 3,000 spirited miles
Not a tire I would buy again. Not very progressive and no real feedback. Totally overwhelmed in most conditions by the 350+bhp shoved through the front wheels. Understeer and tram lining galore. Also very noisy and thump over road joints. 3000 miles has taken approx 4mm and they are wearing quicker as they get older.
July 5, 2013
Given 46% while driving a Mercedes Benz E280 (235/45 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 10,000 average miles
Within 10000 miles tires started getting noisy. Now, I had the wheels bearings replaced becuase of the noise. I could not believe tires could make this kind of noise, but now I do. I am a very calm driver, tires seem not worn or damaged but the noise and vibration are unbearable.
July 5, 2013
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