Metzeler's latest Roadtec 02 motorbike tyre gives you more grip the harder you ride thanks to adaptive tread

When Metzeler announced late last year that a new Roadtec 02 sports touring tyre was on the way for 2024 to replace the existing Roadtec 01, expectations were high.

Since its arrival in 2016, the 01 has been a standout tyre in its class and won MCN’s 2017 Tyre of the Year Award. It continues to impress to this day, with Metzeler having launched a slightly sportier SE version to sit alongside it for 2020.

Tested at the time, Chief Road Tester Michael Neeves said: “A good sports or trackday tyre will always be more agile than all-weather rubber like this, but the new Metzelers have a lightness about them that let you flow easily from side to side with the lightest of steering inputs, similar to the German/Italian firm’s own Pirelli Angel GT 2 released last year.”

Cleaner future

The new Roadtec 02 looks to continue that trend, however, now mixes a planet conscious blend of impressive road holding and sustainable materials – featuring over 43% bio based and recycled properties in each heavily treaded hoop.  

This mix of ingredients has been certified by French group Bureau Veritas – a company founded back in 1828 that specialises in product testing, inspection, and certification. The bio based material consists of natural rubber, textile reinforcements, bio-chemicals, and bio-resins.

Meanwhile recycled materials come in the form of synthetic rubber, silica, and carbon black (A stabilising compound also responsible for making your tyres black).

Split personalities

It’s not just the cleaner combination of materials that’s new for the Roadtec 02 either, with a fresh ‘Dynatread’ adaptive pattern also promising to offer the performance of two tyres in one – something Metzeler themselves are now calling a super-sport-touring option.

The patented system, which is inspired by the tread pattern of the Sportec M9 RR, is said to offer the performance needed to suit riders with either a sports touring or sportier road riding disposition, all whilst retaining the longevity you would expect from a tyre in this long distance category.

The performance is achieved using an adaptive tread pattern, which Metzeler say behaves differently depending on how you ride your bike.  

When travelling more gently in either touring or wet weather conditions, the tread pattern is designed to favour maximum water dispersal, with the grooves remaining as open as possible.

However, when you decide to let your hair down and ride a little bit faster, the more aggressive braking and acceleration forces at either end are said to then alter the shape of the tread – squashing up part of the grooves in a bid to increase stability.

Neither end will turn into a slick (or anything near that extreme) with much of each tread line left open as normal. However, parts will squidge closer together at the front under heavy braking, and at the rear with a big handful of throttle.

And the result?

“This results in greater support and more direct feedback for the rider,” a statement read, “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.”

Metzeler further say that the groove style is the same on both the front and rear, meaning the same feeling from both end. It’s also said to help with road noise from the tyres themselves.

Different combinations

Metzeler say that the planet friendly bio sourced and recycled material for the 02s have been chosen with tyre performance in mind, rather than simply to hit some kind of green quota.

Each tyre, depending on its size, will feature a different level of this material, with the firm stating: “Depending on tyre size, bio-based and recycled content ranges between 14-19% and 28-34% respectively.”

Clever compounds

Metzeler say that the wet weather performance of the Roadtec 02 has been improved, thanks to a full silica compound for the front tyre, and shoulders of the rear.

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