Caterham
In the late 1980's Avon Tyres and Caterham began a collaboration that has spanned over 25 years and is still going strong. The infectious enthusiasm of the Caterham design team and the synergies and similar ethos of two highly specialised, small outfits, gelled almost immediately. Avon had highly sophisticated plant and personnel and were prepared to use technology straight from the race programmes and apply it to bespoke products for Caterham.
The first products developed were full race slicks for the Vauxhall 2ltr race cars. These were based directly on the Formula 3 control tyres still used in the late 1980's. It was only a matter of time before Caterham wanted to try something really extreme for the first prototype of the “Superlight” road car. Avon had just finished an extensive test programme with the Formula Ford Zetec tyres which secured the UK, European and Australian contracts with the ACB10. Soon after, Avon put the ACB10 through all the relevant testing procedures and registered the tyre as a road legal tyre. Although there had been road tyres with softer compounds available at this point, this was the first time any manufacturer has successfully registered a proper race tyre for road use.
In 2001, at Caterham's request, Avon developed a road legal race tyre that would reflect the ability to 'arrive and drive' their road cars in race championships with minimum setup changes needed. This therefore created the CR500 that became the OE tyre for the shatteringly fast R500 and after time, the official championship race tyre for several Caterham race series. Due to changes in EU tyre legislation, in 2013 Avon developed new tyre to replace the now aging CR500 range. After a development program that lasted over 12 months and saw the technical team visit 12 European race circuits the Avon ZZS was born.
The Avon ZZS range is now used as the control tyre for the Roadsport, Seven 270R, Supersport, Seven 310R and Seven 420R race championships. It is also used as original equipment across the Caterham range and by those discerning Caterham customers who follow the “less is more” philosophy. They remain the most perfectly matched product for the Caterhams they were designed for.
Avon Tyres Motorsport will be at each and every Caterham Roadsport, Seven 270R, Supersport, Seven 310R and Seven 420R race event where we will be providing a free fitting and balancing service to any customers who purchase tyres at the circuit.
Common Caterham tyre sizes:
Caterham Academy
185/70R13 - CR322
Caterham Roadsport / Supersport / Tracksport / Seven 270 / Seven 310 (Road legal options)
185/55R13 - ZZS (List 1B, Official championship race tyre)
185/55R13 - ZZR (List 1B, alternative tyre)
195/45R15 - CR500 15" (Road spec) – Limited availability. CR500 range to be discontinued in 2018.
195/50R15 – ZZS (List 1B)
195/50R15 – ZZR (List 1B, alternative tyre)
Caterham Superlight R300 / R400 / R500 / Seven 420 / Seven 620 (Trackspec)
185/55R13 - ZZS (Offical championship race tyre Seven 420R)
215/55R13 - ZZS (Offical championship race tyre Seven 420R)
185/55R13 - ZZR (Offical championship race tyre Seven 420R)
215/55R13 - ZZR (Offical championship race tyre Seven 420R)
Caterham Superlight
7.0/21.0-13 - Crossply slick
8.2/22.0-13 - Crossply slick
165/530R13 - Radial Wet
180/565R13 - Radial wet
7.0/21.0-13 - ACB10-sport historic road legal crossply option
8.0/22.0-13 - ACB10-sport historic road legal crossply option
Caterham CSR (Race spec)
195/530R13 - Radial slick
250/570R13 - Radial slick
195/530R13 - Radial wet
250/570R13 - Radial wet
Caterham CSR (Road spec)
195/45R15 - CR500 - Limited availability. CR500 range to be discontinued in 2018.
245/40R15 - CR500 - Limited availability. CR500 range to be discontinued in 2018.
195/50R15 – ZZS (List 1B)
245/40R15 – ZZS (List 1B)
For more information on tyres specific to your Caterham please contact your local dealer
For more information on Caterham cars, please visit www.caterham.co.uk
