Racetec rubber grips harder for longer

MCN’s Trevor Franklin has tested the new Metzeler Racetec race and track day tyre at Valencia in Spain and reckons they are a step up in class compared to the tyre they replace.

He tried the rubber – intended as a replacement for Rennsport track tyres – on a GSX-R600 (K4), CBR600RR, ZX-6R and an Aprilia RSV-R Factory on the track. There are no current plans to create a road-going version to replace the Rennsport Street.

He’s writing a full review for publication in a future issue of MCN, but here are his first impressions:

” These are designed to last a full race distance in the white heat of supersport. They’ll certainly cope with the worst you can throw at them on a track day.

” Grip is phenomenal. The compound we tried was the K1, the middle one in terms of stickiness. They suited each of the bikes equally well. They are superb; they give you so much more feel for what’s going on than the outgoing Rennsport equivalent. They’ll transform you bike’s handling. If you are going to use them be prepared to change your suspension settings. They give you both more stability and more grip, especially when hard over in the turn. They also turn-in fast. They have a taller front profile than the old Rennsports. ”

Franklin said he was able to get 80km from a set – at hard race pace and the grip was as good at the end as at the beginning.

They’ll be arriving in the UK in June-July and cost roughly the same as the outgoing Rennsport Race compound I or II. Shop around and you should find them for around £220 a pair.

They will be available at first in 120/70 x 17 (front) 180/55 x 17 (rear). 190/55 x 17 (rear) will follow later in the year.