Metzeler Roadtec 02 Review & Rider Experiences

Metzeler Roadtec 02 Score

8.2 Perfect!

The Metzeler Roadtec 02 is the successor to the legendary Roadtec 01 SE and introduces a new category: the "Super-Sport-Touring" tire. Its standout feature is the patented Dynatread Technology - an adaptive tread design that allows the tire to behave like a comfortable tourer at cruising speeds and a high-grip sport tire when pushed hard. It effectively bridges the gap between the touring-focused Roadtec lineage and the sportier Sportec M9 RR.

The Good

1. Perfect for the road
2. "Two-in-One" Adaptability
3. Top wet performance
4. Fast warm-up & immediate trust

The Bad

1. High price point
2. Average rear-Tire mileage on heavy bikes

• Grip Dry 8
• Grip Wet 8
• Warm-Up 10
• Handling 8
• Mileage 8
• Value for Money 7
• User Ratings (1 Votes) 9.8

The Metzeler Roadtec 02 presents itself as the ultimate super‑sport‑touring tire that promises double the riding fun. This tire combines riding enjoyment, outstanding performance, and high safety across a wide range of temperatures and asphalt conditions. According to Metzeler, the new Roadtec 02 is supposed to perfectly combine touring and supersport characteristics in one tire for the first time. We rode the new Metzeler Roadtec 02 extensively on the KTM 790 Duke in mixed use and on tour in the Vosges, and in our Metzeler Roadtec 02 review we reveal how the tire performs under all conditions.

Technologies & Positioning of the Metzeler Roadtec 02

Optimal performance for touring and sport: The Metzeler Roadtec 02 offers optimal water drainage and tread flexibility during touring‑style riding thanks to its long tread grooves. This leads to quick warm‑up, good adaptability of the contact patch, and thus the comfort and grip ideal for a sport‑touring tire.

During sporty riding and higher speeds, the walls of the tread grooves in the narrower areas press together, increasing the stability of the tread. This allows the rubber compound to unfold its full grip potential. Especially in lean angle, steering precision is significantly improved, which elevates the tire’s riding feel into the supersport category.

The central slick area and slick shoulder strips provide better straight‑line stability and more grip at full lean.

The tread design adapts to the riding style and changes the behavior of the tire (Dynatread). The walls of the narrow part of the grooves (in dark blue) press together when the tire is ridden at higher speeds, changing the behavior of the tread: from sport‑touring to supersport.

Metzeler Roadtec 02 Review

How the basic idea of this all‑rounder performs in real‑world use is what we found out for you extensively over approx. 3,000 kilometers on a KTM 790 Duke in Germany and the French Vosges. All details on the individual rating criteria can be found in our large Metzeler Roadtec 02 test…

Grip on Dry Roads

After just the first few corners, we trusted the Metzeler Roadtec 02 completely. Rarely have we experienced such impressive performance from a touring tire! The tire warms up quickly and offers outstanding grip in all situations, right up to the tire edge. There were no slips whatsoever, even on French bitumen in the Vosges. Overall, the Roadtec 02 is significantly more performant than a Michelin Road and offers a grip level that is on par with, if not above, the Power series.

During our test, we also had a second bike equipped with the Sportec M9 RR. In direct comparison, both tires allow scraping the footpegs without grip loss. However, the M9RR feels more agile and nimble, while the Roadtec 02 runs like a stable train on rails and takes a lot of work off our hands. The Roadtec 02 was tested under various conditions from 8 to 35 degrees and proved its outstanding performance across the entire temperature range.

Grip on Wet Roads

The Metzeler Roadtec 02 also works excellently in the wet. While the others in our group on their Supermotos (equipped with Attack SM etc.) had to ride cautiously, we were able to keep the throttle open more often with the Metzeler Roadtec 02 on the 790 Duke. We even dared to snap the throttle open abruptly to provoke the tire into breaking loose. Even without traction control, there were no wild slides, unlike other tires in our test group. Only with a lot of water on the road did some slight breakaways occur, but they were less severe than with comparable tires like the Michelin Power 5. In the wet, the Roadtec 02 is clearly superior to these tires and is therefore definitely recommended.

Braking Characteristics

Despite very sporty riding, there were no ABS interventions, even in Road mode, where ABS activates early. Braking performance was excellent, and there were no uprighting tendencies. The Roadtec 02 also feels very confidence‑inspiring on the brakes.

Riding Comfort

The tire compensates for small bumps excellently! Larger bumps, however, led to noticeable oscillation of the motorcycle, which is also due to the very sporty suspension setup of the Duke 790. Overall, the tire offers very good self‑damping, worthy of a touring tire.

Tire Wear

The Metzeler Roadtec 02 shows no visible wear and features extremely deep tread grooves that indicate high service life, although the outer area will likely wear faster. Unlike its competitors, it does not smear and does not begin to crumble. Unlike the M9RR, which quickly loses rubber under hard acceleration, the Roadtec 02 remains stable and unimpressed. Even on hot French asphalt, it showed no slips and left no streaks. Rough asphalt did not impress it either, unlike the Michelin Power 5 or 6 and the ContiAttack SM Evo, where the tread visibly decreased after every ride.

Mileage

With very sporty riding, the tire can handle 4,000 km and more. With normal/relaxed riding, mileages beyond 6,000–8,000 km should be no problem.

The following usage profile was determined on the KTM 790 Duke:

• New tread: 4.5 mm front / 6.5 mm rear
• Remaining tread after 3,000 km (mixed use touring, sport incl. Vosges): 3.1 mm front / 4.5 mm rear

This results in a mileage of 6,300 km on the front axle and 7,350 km on the rear axle.

Riding Stability / Cornering Stability

The Metzeler Roadtec 02 offers excellent straight‑line stability and quick turn‑in, making it feel as if the bike steers itself and rides like on rails. Although the tire is not quite as agile and nimble as the Michelin Power or the Sportec M9RR, it conveys a lot of confidence, especially for beginners. Even beginners can feel comfortable with the tire and improve without having to fear slips or nervous handling.

Agility / Turn‑in Behavior

The Metzeler Roadtec 02 is an extremely predictable tire. You look where you want to go, and the tire does the rest. It shows neutral behavior and goes smoothly and willingly into corners, giving you the feeling of being able to ride safely and quickly.

Uprighting Tendency

During hard braking in lean angle, no uprighting tendencies could be detected.

Tire Pressure

On the KTM 790 Duke, 2.30 bar and 2.60 bar are the specification. In our test, we were very satisfied with a tire pressure of 2.30 bar at the front and 2.40–2.50 bar at the rear. This offered a bit more damping, the tire also warmed up faster, and showed excellent grip behavior on the KTM 790 Duke.

Metzeler Roadtec 02 Experiences

We were initially very skeptical about the new Metzeler Roadtec 02. A tire that is supposed to bring supersport and touring into perfect symbiosis simply sounds too good. Especially the promised touring capability and the new Dynatread technology (tread ribs close together at high speeds and create more tire surface) had to be proven by the Roadtec 02 first. During our extensive tours and sporty outings in the Vosges, however, the Roadtec 02 was able to convince across the board. You can travel wonderfully with the motorcycle before really letting it rip in the twisty sections.

The durability and combination with the high level of sportiness is the key point that makes the Roadtec 02 so good. In principle, the Roadtec 02 is reminiscent of the popular Sportec M9RR with a bit more everyday usability.

From us, the tire therefore receives the rating “Highly Recommended” and we warmly recommend it for extremely sporty touring in the Alps, the Vosges, or other dream roads!

Available Sizes Metzeler Roadtec 02

The Metzeler Roadtec 02 is available in the following sizes as a 17‑ or 19‑inch wheel.

Front axle:

• 120/70‑17
• 110/80‑19
• 120/70‑19

Rear axle:

• 150/70‑17
• 160/60‑17
• 170/60‑17
• 180/55‑17
• 190/50‑17
• 190/55‑17

Alternatives to the Metzeler Roadtec 02

The following alternatives to the Metzeler Roadtec 02 are available:

• Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE (predecessor)
• ContiRoadAttack 4
• Dunlop RoadSmart IV SP