Metzeler has announced a new sport touring tire, the Roadtec 01, which replaces the Roadtec Z8 Interact and uses new materials, compounds, profiles and tread patterns. Compared to the Z8 Interact, Metzeler claims "improved grip on wet and low-grip surfaces, an increase in mileage, and a high degree of adaptability to different bikes, riding styles and weather conditions.
The Roadtec 01 features a new tread pattern, with the grooves on the front tire more angles with respect to the rolling direction for improved mechanical grip on slippery surfaces. The contact patch is now wider and shorter, and new compounds include a dual-compound structure for the rear tire. The front tire uses a 100 percent silica compound, while the rear tire has 100 percent silica on the shoulder portions of the tread and a combination of silica and carbon black in the central band.
In addition to a standard version of the Roadtec 01, a "heavy weight motorcycles" version is available; the HWM version offers greater stability by using a two-ply casing on the rear tire (as opposed to a single ply on the standard tire) and a more rigid casing and flank material, along with a different compound, for the front tire.
Metzeler's press information follows:
METZELER ROADTEC™ 01, the new sport touring tyre which transforms travel into a cinematic experience
The latest creation from the METZELER brand ensures excellent grip on both wet and dry roads including imperfect surface conditions, first-rate mileage and great stability at high speeds and at ‘full load’
“TAKE THE ROAD with ROADTEC™ 01” is the campaign that accompanies the creation of this product: the first appointment at the Deus ex Machina store in Milan from 16 to 18 November with “48 Hours on The Road”, a nonstop marathon of the best travel films of the New York Motorcycle Film Festival
Munich (Germany), 5 November 2015 – ROADTEC™ 01, the new Sport Touring radial tyre of the METZELER line is here. Developed to offer motorcyclists a high level of grip in different weather conditions, on both dry and wet roads, as well as changeable and low grip surfaces. ROADTEC™ 01 is also capable of offering a mileage of reference in its segment, thanks to more uniform and regular wear, and great stability both at high speeds and with the bike fully loaded.
As apparent from the name, ROADTEC™ 01 is the latest member of the ROADTEC™ family, the line of METZELER products dedicated to radial Sport Touring tyres. These include ROADTEC™ Z6 and the much-appreciated ROADTEC™ Z8 INTERACT™ of which the ROADTEC™ 01 is the designated successor. Whilst keeping a strong link with the family it belongs to, ROADTEC™ 01 draws a clear dividing line with the past, using completely different development and design criteria compared with the previous products. This is why, to complete the name, ROADTEC™ is not designated higher model number with respect to the Z8 but with the number 01 which identifies this tyre as a completely new project, from the materials used, to the profiles, to the compounds up to the most evident element, the tread pattern.
TAKE THE ROAD with ROADTEC™ 01
With ROADTEC™ 01 not only has a new Sport Touring product been created, but also a real philosophy dedicated to this segment through the campaign “TAKE THE ROAD with ROADTEC™ 01” which will accompany the introduction of this new product onto the market for the coming months. “TAKE THE ROAD with ROADTEC™ 01” is an initiative dedicated to those who will be the main users of this tyre: motorcyclists who in general love travelling, over both short and long distances, and who are not afraid of using their bikes also when weather conditions or temperatures are not the best. With ROADTEC™ 01 the METZELER brand invites motorcyclists to get onto their bikes and start out on their trip, with the certainty that this tyre will manage to transform their journey into a pleasant experience, irrespective of the road that they will take and the weather conditions that they will meet along the way.
Already in the coming weeks and for the next twelve months, the METZELER brand will launch a series of original initiatives linked to the campaign “TAKE THE ROAD with ROADTEC™ 01”. The first appointment is with “48 Hours on The Road”, a non-stop marathon of the best motorbike travel films coming from the three editions of the New York Motorcycle Film Festival carefully selected by the Italian distributor Rodaggio Film. Hosting the event, which is open to the public and free, and which will begin at 7 p.m. on 16 November and end 48 hours later at 7 p.m. on 18 November, will be the Deus Leica Theatre of the Milanese Deus ex Machina flagship store at Via Thaon Di Revel 3 in Milan. During 2016, the brand with the elephant logo will also follow with its video cameras the largest gatherings and most important international motorcycling events and, next September, will take part in the fourth edition of the New York Motorcycle Film Festival with a cinema project of its own, which will feature motorcycle travel recounted by motorcyclists.
Main characteristics and advantages of the new ROADTEC™ 01
ROADTEC™ 01 is the latest evolution of METZELER sport touring tyres which, with respect to its predecessor ROADTEC™ Z8 INTERACT™, has among its strong points an improvement of the grip on wet and low-grip surfaces, an increase in mileage and a high degree of adaptability to the different bikes, riding styles and weather conditions.
ROADTEC™ 01 has a completely new tread pattern. In particular, the front tyre has grooves that are more transversal with respect to the rolling direction of the tyre. This has made it possible to increase the mechanical grip on slippery surfaces and in different riding situations.
The area of contact with the asphalt is now wider and shorter and, working together with the 0-degree steel-belt technology of METZELER-branded products, guarantees higher mileage and lasting performance over time.
The innovative compounds are well adapted to the needs of different categories of motorcyclists. The dual-compound rear solutions, with 100% silica on the shoulders and silica and carbon black in the central band of the tread, ensure mileage and grip in the most varied conditions of use. The 100% silica front tyres ensure great safety while braking, in particular on wet surfaces and on those with low friction.
The 0-degree steel belt together with the INTERACT™ technology improve stability and comfort, and guarantee foreseeable and precise behaviour, the best for enjoying the road.
Bikes and motorcyclists that ROADTEC™ 01 is destined for
ROADTEC™ 01 was developed with the intention of creating a versatile product, capable of satisfying a large number of motorcyclists with different bikes and riding styles. Excelling in terms of performance on wet roads in different conditions, mileage and stability whilst maintaining the good handling typical of METZELER products, ROADTEC™ 01 is perfect for all users who need a tyre for pure road use. Among these we can identify three macro-groups:
Motorcyclists who make short journeys with a sporting riding style: These are people who usually their own sport touring or naked bike models, sometimes in the city but more often to make rapid short or medium-length trips into the country, alone or with a passenger. These motorcyclists need grip, good handling and high mileage Explorer-Travellers: These are the owners of sport-touring, gran turismo or large road enduro bikes, for whom no place is too far and no journey is too long to be tackled. The weather doesn't scare them, and they usually travel with luggage and passengers. For these users travelling is an experience, and tyres are what enables them to have a safe and pleasant grip, predictable behaviour, mileage, stability and comfort, independently of the weight of their bike. City users: These are motorcyclists who own bikes with medium or large engines used mostly for trips in the city, to commute and occasionally in their free time; short or mediumlength journeys. Their ideal tyre must be reliable and offer safety on all roads, also those with worn asphalt that has pot holes and damage. These motorcyclists use the bike also when it rains and for them mileage and regular wear are also important performance factors.
ROADTEC™ 01 compared with SPORTEC™ M7 RR and TOURANCE™ Next
Unlike SPORTEC™ M7 RR, a supersport product designed to ensure performance such as grip and good handling in sporty riding situations on everyday roads which often have an imperfect road surface and may also be wet, ROADTEC™ 01 offers decidedly higher mileage, a level of grip that remains high also in more demanding weather and surface conditions, better stability and comfort.
In the sizes developed for large enduro bikes, compared with a product such as TOURANCE™ Next, ROADTEC™ 01 offers better performance in pure road use, while TOURANCE™ Next remains superior off road.
The version for heavy motorcycles (HWM)
Since ROADTEC™ 01 has been designed for a broad category of users and for motorcycles belonging to different segments, besides the standard version, the HWM, that is "Heavy Weight Motorcycles", version is available, which is dedicated to heavier motorcycles.
On these models, the HWM version offers greater stability reducing the intensity and frequency of vibration caused by an uneven road surface or by handlebar movements. Distinguishable thanks to a specific symbol applied alongside the name of the product on the side of the tyre, the greater stability is achieved using a two-ply casing on the rear tyres while the standard version uses a single ply.
The front version of the HWM is two-ply like the standard version, and the objective in this case is achieved with the use of a more rigid casing and flank material and with the use of a different compound which besides silica uses an additional filler. The up-to-date list of the bikes that use the HWM version of ROADTEC™ 01 will be available on the METZELER website.
The sizes of ROADTEC™ 01
ROADTEC™ 01 will be on sale at all METZELER dealers starting from January 2016. All the sizes that make up the range will be available by the end of the first half of 2016, the front 120/60 ZR 17 sizing will be the last to go on sale at the beginning of 2017. Here is the list of the sizes:
FRONTREAR120/60 ZR 17 M/C (55W) TL150/70 R 17 M/C 69V TL120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL160/60 ZR 17 M/C (69W) TL120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL HWM170/60 ZR 17 M/C 72WTL110/80 R 19 M/C 58V TL180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL120/70 ZR 19 M/C 60WTL180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL HWM190/50 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL190/50 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL HWM190/55 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL190/55 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL HWM
