They built their first pnuematic tyre production facility in 1901 and ten years later, started manufacturing motor cycle tyres. During World War I, Avon Tyres products were used for almost every type of military vehicle and in World War II, the company had 2,500 employees supporting the war effort.
At the forefront of innovations in the tyre manufacturing industry, Avon became involved in motor cycle racing and every champion rider was using Avon Tyres from 1958 to 1963.
By 1961, Avon was producing 1.5 million tyres annually, and had developed a cling rubber tread compound that was especially effective in wet road conditions. A decade later saw Avon developing radial tyres, which superseded crossply tyres, and in 1981 they started race tyre production. This resulted in a contract to supply Formula 3 Racing, which is still held today.
After establishing its own international racing tyre division in 1983, Avon gained the International Formula 3000 contract and, later, the Formula Ford contract for UK and Europe. In 2000, Avon was contracted to supply racing tyres to the US F2000 National Championship.
From the humble start in a former cloth mill in Bath, Avon's progress has been remarkable. Worldwide expansion increased steadily, and in 1997 the company was acquired by Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. in USA, to create Cooper-Avon Tyres Limited.
Avon Tyres' tradition of supplying tyres for comfort and high performance is reflected in them being original equipment for Rolls Royce and Bentley and the tyres of choice for owners of luxury and prestige cars throughout the world.
(source : http://www.avontyres.com.au/history/index.htm)
