I have read a crazy amount of reviews on what tyres are best and was set on Avon VZ7's.
All negative Avon reviews seem to be from long ago and more recent reviews look positive. Do companies keep the tyre name but change the compound over time?

While picking up new wheels today I was recommended Nankang NS2-R and again any negative reviews are not recent.
And while trying to use a comparison tool Toyo Proxes TR1 on par with Avon compared to ticks but I hear people say they are rubbish in the wet.

So thats confused this more.

 

I've had Toyos T1-R, they are fine on the wet but they are such a soft tyre that you loose steering feel. On the dry they squeak like pigs on the slightest push.
They are more suited to lightweight cars.

 

The TR-1 is a completely different and much newer design than the old T1-R.

OP - I am not aware of any tyre which has changed compound without changing name. But beware of minor differences in the name such as the above. Another example is the Yokohoma AD08, AD08R and AD08RS, all of which are different compounds. The Nankang NS-2R is sometimes confused with the NS-2, a far inferior tyre. And just to make things especially interesting, the NS-2R is available in a softer 120 treadwear and a harder-wearing 180 version.

 

Thanks @plenty yeah I noticed when searching it would bring up tyres without the last letter and be half the price.

 

I did the same last year spent a long time reading different reviews on tyres, my demands are probably different to yours I wanted a road/ occasionally track tyre a decided on the good year super sport. But from having a quick search of reviews the Avon doesn’t seem to do that great.

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Avon/ZV7.htm

 

I don't track or really race around.
I have Eagle f1 on the rear and they have cracks down the centre from lack of use.
reluctant to spend 0000's for them to crack.

And that's my headache. Some reviews say rubbish others say fantastic.

 

I completely get that, there is so much information on tyres, what works for one doesn’t for another. I guess any premium tyre brand will handle well, compared to a old tyre.
ive got eagle f1s on old wheels I rate them highly to, way to soft for track but amazing in the wet. Only changed as I went to 18”

 

All tyres harden and have the potential to crack with age.

Tbh if you don’t push the car hard then even a mid-range tyre from Hankook, Falken, Vredestein, Toyo will be more than adequate. Just avoid the very cheapest end of the market and you’ll be fine. I’ve never tried Avons but modern tyre tech is so good now that it’s hard to make a bad purchase if you stick with known brands.