Metzeler Reveals 4 Motorcycle Tires For 2020

Metzeler has announced big plans for 2020, introducing four new tire models for a range of riding segments. For trackday riders, there’s the Racetec TD Slick. The Sportec M9 RR is aimed at supersport riders, and is an update to Metzeler’s Sportec M7 RR. Naked, sportbike, and sport-touring riders will have the Roadtec 01 SE to consider, an update to the Roadtec 01. And scooter riders get a new Roadtec Scooter tire.

Metzeler crafted the Racetec TD Slick to provide optimal performance without the need for equipment like tire warmers, stands, or finely tuned suspension. A more egalitarian approach to trackday slicks, in other words. The compound is designed for optimal grip on a variety of track surfaces and operating temperatures, with a high level of durability and the ability to swap the rotation direction of the rear tire if wear is heavier on one side. They will come in four sizes to start, all 17 inches. There will be one 120/70 front option along with 180/55, 190/55, and 200/55 rear options.

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The Sportec M9 RR has some big boots to fill, taking the place of the popular Sportec M7 RR. Metzeler states that much of its development focus for the M9 was placed on optimizing tire performance for the variety of electronic rider aids now standard on supersport and higher-performance naked bikes. It’s meant to be an everyday-use tire with performance capabilities to hold steady when riders up the pace in the hills.

To start, the M9 is made from a 100 percent silica compound, helping to ensure fast warm-up and to improve overall lifespan. Front and rear tires have high-grip slick shoulders and a narrow slick stripe in the center for optimal grip, along with a tread pattern designed to provide high levels of water drainage in a straight line or in a lean. Overall performance is promised to be noticeably higher in both wet and dry conditions compared to the M7. The new M9 RR will be available in three front sizes and nine rear sizes.

The Roadtec 01 SE builds off the award-winning Roadtec 01 that came to the market in 2015, and is aimed to give riders better performance in a variety of riding conditions. Both front and rear tires come with a slicker shoulder than the predecessor for better grip at lean. The front tire features 100 percent silica compound construction, while the tread pattern from the original 01 carries over for maximum wet-weather grip and water displacement. The rear SE is made with a dual-compound design and has a slightly changed tread pattern for better handling performance.

Metzeler’s Roadtec Scooter tire is made for a broad range of scooters with wheels ranging from 10 to 16 inches. It enhances wet-weather performance and provides better grip and feel throughout a wider range of temperatures and road conditions. The Roadtec Scooter carries a tread design based on the Roadtec 01 for faster warm-up and better wet-weather grip. It also has a more rigid construction than the Feelfree, Wintec, and ME 7 Teen tires it will eventually replace, offering improved handling. The front tire comes with a higher silica compound than its predecessor, while the rear features a dual-compound design for optimal handling and durability. The full range of Roadtec Scooter tires will include 51 sizes in all and serve as Metzeler’s single scooter offering.