Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated January 2025.
How comfortable and quiet are the Avon Ice Touring ST?
Owners rate the Avon Ice Touring ST 8.1 out of 10 for comfort and noise across 39 reviews.
How well do the Avon Ice Touring ST wear, according to owners?
Owners rate the Avon Ice Touring ST 8.2 out of 10 for wear across 39 reviews. 12 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles, and the typical review covers 5,000 miles.
Would owners buy the Avon Ice Touring ST again?
90% of owners say they would buy the Avon Ice Touring ST again, based on the 40 owner reviews that answered the question. 63% of them gave it the highest possible answer.
What do owners say about the Avon Ice Touring ST's snow traction?
Of the 39 owner reviews analyzed for the Avon Ice Touring ST, 32 mention snow traction: 31 praise it (strong snow traction) and 1 criticise it (weak snow traction). One owner wrote: "Cope extremely well in all conditions from heavy snow/rain/damp cold and dry". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Avon Ice Touring ST's wet grip?
Of the 39 owner reviews analyzed for the Avon Ice Touring ST, 14 mention wet grip: 11 praise it (confident wet grip) and 3 criticise it (weak wet grip). One owner wrote: "excellent and reliable grip on wet surfaces". Read those reviews
More questions about the Avon Ice Touring ST(1)
What do owners say about the Avon Ice Touring ST's snow handling?
Of the 39 owner reviews analyzed for the Avon Ice Touring ST, 11 mention snow handling: 10 praise it (secure snow handling) and 1 criticise it (nervous snow handling). One owner wrote: "Second time was on steep hill and got up backwards (fwd) after doing 3 point turn. Very impressive". Read those reviews
What is the best pressure to run at on 205 50 R17?
December 29, 2016
Always go by the vehicle manufacturers pressure recommendation depending on loading. Sometimes winter tires can feel better with a little extra pressure in them, but it's important to monitor wear if you over inflate by more than 2psi.
Across 40 owner ratings the Avon Ice Touring ST averages 81%. Owners rate Wet Grip highest at 8.6 out of 10 and Handling lowest at 7.2. 12 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles. 85% of owners score it 70% or better.
Owner ratings averaged from 40 ratings
Owner score81%
Wet Grip86%
Wear82%
Dry Grip81%
Comfort81%
Road Feedback74%
Handling72%
Featured reviews
Most helpful 37%
“Had these for a second time, and were hugely disappointing. They are poor in snow (compared to Michelin Alpins), very poor in the wet, noisy (constant whine) and only OK in the dry. Worst of all, they vibrated, due to...”
“I drive a 2003 (w211) E-class 3.2 Estate. First set of winter tires driven for 3 winters, but never seen snow! Compared with Michelin and Continental tires I felt very unsafe driving on the Avons. The car would skid in...”
“I had these tires for 4 winters and then left them on the car last summer to 'use them up'. I found them absolutely fine in the dry but by the time they were below the winter tire depth limit they were poor in the wet...”
Had these for a second time, and were hugely disappointing. They are poor in snow (compared to Michelin Alpins), very poor in the wet, noisy (constant whine) and only OK in the dry. Worst of all, they vibrated, due to being not round. Had them checked over with a full road force balance - sure enough not round, but just within accepted tolerance. So 20,000 miles of vibration.
Replaced with Michelins, which are 1000 times better.
I drive a 2003 (w211) E-class 3.2 Estate. First set of winter tires driven for 3 winters, but never seen snow! Compared with Michelin and Continental tires I felt very unsafe driving on the Avons. The car would skid in the dry and the wet, and I drive carefully so never really put them under stress. Just taken them off the car in March 17, having done 20k miles on them, and happily they are worn down. So won't re-purchase and can't recommend them. Fingers crossed will try Michelin Cross Climates next.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
I had these tires for 4 winters and then left them on the car last summer to 'use them up'. I found them absolutely fine in the dry but by the time they were below the winter tire depth limit they were poor in the wet. lasted at least 30,000 miles but only good for winter use for 4 winters and ~15,000 miles. I have replaced the with the new Avon winter tire WV7
Which tires do you drive?
Researching the Avon Ice Touring ST? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
Put them on once max temp drops to around 8 (Oct/Nov) and take them off in spring when it gets to about the same (Mar/Apr). Only had to use them twice in snow, first time did a 3 point turn on top of Snake Pass - no drama, unlike Range Rover in front of me. Second time was on steep hill and got up backwards (fwd) after doing 3 point turn. Very impressive. Brilliant on roads with deep puddles - no steering twitch at all.
These tires really start to work when the temperature drops below about 8c the wet weather grip improves over normal tires.
On ice and snow the traction is much superior to normal tires but the wheels need to spinning a little for the tires to really work.
In dry warm conditions they feel a little "wobbly" compared to normal tires of the same size, so best kept for winter use only.
Fantastic winter tires that are easily on par with much more expensive brands. Not as soft as most winter tires had the. On the rollers and didn't overheat so surprising.
Cope extremely well in all conditions from heavy snow/rain/damp cold and dry. Tend to get a bit hairy above 12c though so not to be used year round on a performance car.
80%
Member
Mazda
225/45 R17
6,000 miles
Mostly Country Roads
Average
I've had these tires on for 12 months and have found them to be a very good all year round tire. In summer I have found that they grip surprisingly well when thrown into corners, I often forget that they aren't summer tires they are that good.
I found a lane near Buxton in the Peak district yesterday (Dale Head) with 3-4 inches of snow on it and the tires performed admirably despite going up and over a big hill. I expected some loss of grip going down the other side but it was as sure footed as a mountain goat.
I would Highly recommend them for all year round winter tires, I would score them higher but for the fact that I've never had any other brand of winter tire to compare them with.
Fitted these tires to our VW Passat 1.9TDi auto saloon two years ago, have covered 10,000 miles in all weather without problem mostly on country lanes. They are my second experience of winter tires and they are a vast improvement over the Pirelli Cinturatos previously fitted. The wet grip is superb and inspires confidence. Performance in the snow or on ice is excellent and there is plenty of traction, there is very little of the sliding around you get with summer tires. I would say that there is not much "feel" from them however the car can be cornered fast on summer roads and you can only induce squeal at silly speeds but they cling on and do not break away. An excellent all round choice and so suited to our wet and cool roads.
NORTH WEST England. miles done 4000, from October 2013 to April 2014
cheap to buy 205/55/16
crap around corners above 12 degrees to be expected
crap on very wet grass no traction at all
Good dry and wet braking
No experience in snow or ice(mild winter), going in to storage for the summer.
So far I would still recommend them because there cheap but not terrible.
will report back next year if we do experience a proper winter, better safe than sorry to fit winter tires.
the best tire I've ever purchased! superb value for money. excellent and reliable grip on wet surfaces. safe in the snow and low temperatures. very quiet and comfortable.
I've had these on for three winters now and though I should review my findings. These tires never seem to score well in group tests against the premium brands, probably because they're made in England.
I have found these to be excellent winter tires for the UK, they never aquaplane in deep water due to the wide block spacing and deep tread pattern. This year I went skiing in the Alps and tested these tires in proper Alpine conditions, even on steep roads covered in snow, ice and slush they gripped and braked well. With a gentle foot there was no traction control or ABS required. Hill starts in the same were no problem.
They can slip on normal roads under hard acceleration, but they are a winter tire so that is to be expected. They have also worn very slowly, at this rate they should last 30,000 miles before reaching 3 or 4mm at which point there is little point in using them despite still being legal.
I bought a set of 4 alloy wheels for my diesel Rover 75 Tourer on the web 5 years ago and shod them with Avon Ice Touring winter tires. I put them on from December until the end of March, thus saving wear on my "Summer" Tires.
They really came into their own last January when I was returning from Spain into France over the Pyrenees mountains via the 6000' Puymorens Pass near Andorra. I hit a heavy snow storm. The Rover's traction control and ABS worked overtime on the hairpin bends. Many car owners were struggling to fit chains and I passed a 4x4 Audi A7 which had spun off the road (low profile summer tires?). But I kept going.
Lesson? If you want to keep on the road in winter, invest in a set of Avon Ice Touring winter tires. Apart from the security and peace of mind they bring, they pay for themselves in the long term.
