Metzeler Roadtec 02: adapting to your driving style

After a long testing phase, Metzeler launched its new sport touring tyre Roadtec 02 on the market. During the Mbe Motor Bike Expo event, held in Verona last January, the company showcased the new features and characteristics of their latest product to visitors and enthusiasts alike. Compared to its predecessor, the Roadtec 02 improves dynamic performance, first and foremost handling and grip on wet roads, and does so by using, in part, materials of natural origin (materials wholly or partially derived from biomass: plants and vegetables) or recycled. For this tyre, Metzeler has employed a new technology "that makes it possible to have two different behaviours in a single tyre," the company explains. The adaptive tread pattern, in fact, adapts the geometry of the grooves according to the riding style of the rider, thus varying the footprint and the behaviour of the tyre from sport-touring to super-sport. Effectively creating a “cross-over” product that boasts characteristics ranging from a touring to a super-sport tyre. In a nutshell, when the rider prefers a touring style of riding, or in wet conditions, the long tread grooves eliminate a higher quantity of water providing the correct amount of friction and movement in the tread compound, providing quick warm-up, comfort and grip. In other words, the qualities and behaviour typical of a sport-touring tyre. When a sportier driving style is favoured, in dry conditions, load transfers and increased lateral thrust cause part of the grooves to close, providing for more “rubber” in the footprint and greater stability. This allows the grip qualities of the compound to be exploited to the full, improving driving precision and changing the tyre's behaviour to that of a super-sport tyre. Analysing it in detail, the Roadtec 02 features a tread pattern that, compared to its predecessor the Roadtec 01 SE, increases the solid/void ratio, increasing the footprint and making it more uniform as the lean angle changes, thus ensuring a smoother and more precise ride. In addition, fewer grooves result in fewer gaps in the tread, which means less rolling noise. The dual-compound rear tyres combine high-speed stability with grip when negotiating corners even on wet roads, thanks to the new generation of 100% silica-based compounds for both the front and rear, which optimise chemical grip on wet roads. The Roadtec 02 tyre is intended for owners of large road bikes such as naked bikes, crossovers, sport tourers and tourers, the most commonly used over longer distances, whether for a short trip out of town or on longer and more demanding journeys.