170/60ZR17 72W Metzeler Roadtec 02

 Metzeler’s Roadtec 02 is brand new for 2024. It replaces the Roadtec 01 SE, which was one of 2023’s best-selling tyres. The Roadtec 02 is arguably a sportier version of the 01 SE and aims to also improve the decent mileage and cracking all-weather performance of the 01 SE. We’ve fitted a set to our Tracer 900 and we’ll report back once we’ve been able to give them some abuse in all conditions.

Metzeler ROADTEC 02 press release

The new Metzeler ROADTEC 02 tyre introduces a new technology that allows you to benefit from the behaviour of two different tyres in a single tyre. The Adaptive Tread Design adapts the geometry of the grooves based on the motorcyclist’s riding style, thus varying the surface in contact with the asphalt and consequently the behaviour of the tyre, from Sport-Touring to Supersport. Almost a new category of tyre, the “Super-Sport Touring”, allows a much wider range of performance depending on the riding style.

When the motorcyclist has a touring riding style, or in wet conditions, the long grooves of the tread pattern favour the evacuation of water and the correct mobility of the tread compound, helping to offer quick warm-up, comfort and grip. In other words, the qualities and behaviour typical of a Sport-Touring tyre.

However, when a sportier riding style is preferred – in dry conditions, greater load transfers and lateral thrusts cause part of the grooves to close, thus increasing the compactness and stability of the tread band. This allows you to make the most of the grip qualities of the compound, improving riding precision and modifying its behaviour, to become close to that of a supersport tyre.

The front and rear tyres have been designed with the same tread pattern to ensure the same adaptive behaviour on both axles.

The tread pattern of the new ROADTEC 02 tyre, compared to its predecessor ROADTEC 01 SE, increases the full/empty land/sea ratio, thus increasing the footprint and making it more uniform as the lean angle varies, so as to guarantee a smoother and more precise ride. Furthermore, a smaller presence of grooves leads to fewer interruptions on the tread band, to the benefit of acoustic comfort (less road noise).

The rear tyres are dual-compound to combine stability at high speeds with grip when leaning also on wet surfaces, the latter also achieved thanks to the new generation of 100% silica-based compounds, both for the front and rear, which optimise the chemical grip on wet roads.