Britbike forum Forums Thread Like Summary - Cooper tires of Melksham

Many of our bikes had Avon tyres as original fitment. These were manufactured in their factory in Melksham, Wiltshire (a couple of miles down the road from me). This is referenced, for example, in the Replacement Parts book.

Subsequently, Avon were taken over by Cooper Tires, a division of Goodyear. However, they still made tyres, including those for motorcycles, under the Avon brand.

They've just announced after 132 years manufacture at the plant that they're closing the factory with the loss of 350 jobs. It's the major local employer in a small town.

I'm guessing manufacture of Avon tyres in future will be offshore.

Another link with the past going.

And 10 minutes after Melksham has fully closed, expect to see 'logistics problems' with the future supply of product, in the UK at least.
I wonder if all/any of the competition products will survive the migration.
When they too moved, Dunlop dropped several 'historic' related competition items after they changed geography, even to the point of 'loosing' tyre moulds.
All entirely predictable these days.

According to the tire vendor that attends our races, Avon stopped suppling race tires in the US last year and most vendors sent their remaining supply back to the distributor(s).
I have to wonder if Avon has made race rubber for some time now. Every new tire I've gotten in the past few years has cracked it's sidewalls almost immediately. Avon has never done traditional date codes on race tires so who knows?
Tried Bridgestone this year- they seem to work ok so far.

NO SANE BUSINESSMAN wants to stay in California these days. Taxes are too high, workforce too small, and government regulations too crazy.

yes cazy ... if "these days" means 22 years ago
Levi's closed Manufacturing in California in 2001
and stopped Manufacturing in Texas a 2003 ... moving all production offshore .
they used to have Manufacturing in Scotland too . ... so UK jeans
We're probably UK made ... Manufacturing in Scotland also closed by 2003

Capitalisms job is to make money , not make and save jobs locally .
The Levi's production force in California was largely , at the time of closure , immigrant Latina and immigrant Italian .
doing piece work ( at minimum wage )
... if you move the factory offshore ... you take the jobs to the potential immigrants , where wages are even cheaper .