You define the new Roadtec 02 as a super sport touring tyre, are you entering a new category?
“This new concept was born from the desire to propose a new tire in the sport tourer segment, which would meet the demands of today’s motorcyclists. Carrying out an analysis on this topic, it emerged that there is a desire to have greater versatility in driving. Motorcycles, especially sports tourers, have adapted to this request, so the last step concerned the tire manufacturers. We presented this versatile tire concept to our R&D department for the first time, and after a long work and a decidedly important effort, it was possible to translate our requests into the adaptive tread design, which is today a technology patented by Metzeler and called Dynatread. It is an adaptive tread design system which allows, depending on the riding style the motorcyclist wants to adopt, to adapt the behavior of the tire from sport touring to super sport, all in a single product. This is where the sub-segment of super sport touring tires was born.”
Is this the first tire in the world that contains this technology?
“Exact. Previously, the concept of dual compound had been adopted in the sport touring sector, i.e. a stiffer central band of the tyre, to allow greater stability and load support, combined with a softer compound on the shoulders to thus combine the need for sportiness. Then Metzeler developed the Cap&Base concept, extending the rigid central band also to the shoulders of the tyre, in order to have homogeneous stability of the rubber also on the sides, then positioning the softer compound above. With the new Roadtec 02 we have further raised the bar and integrated this technology with that of Dynatread, once again increasing the technological content of the tyre.”
Regarding the operating pressures of this tyre, do you follow what is indicated by the manufacturer of the motorcycle or do you recommend specific values?
“We as Metzeler have always recommended using the pressures indicated by the motorcycle manufacturer.”
Ok, so there isn’t a specific pressure value at which the Dynatread technology works best?
“No, it is not the pressure that determines the functioning of the Dynatread technology, but the forces that the motorcyclist is able to apply to the tyre. These stresses, which act on the tyres, both during acceleration and braking, activate the adaptive function of the tread.”
Is there a certain mileage at which the operation of the Dynatread ceases?
“We have no specific indications of this kind. As the tire progresses with mileage, its entire composition has a natural decay resulting from the use itself, as happens with any tire.”
