My new Metzeler Roadtec 01 tyres

My new Metzeler Roadtec 01 tyres

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SteelerSE

Original Poster:

1,885 posts

155 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
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Thanks to PistonHeads and Metzeler I am trying out the new Roadtec 01's and will use this thread to update you with initial thoughts and opinion (which was part of the deal).

I got a call from my local tyre place (Merityre in Bagshot - excellent people there) on Wednesday to say that my new tyres had arrived. I was delighted as after a week and a half of commuting on the OE Pirelli Scorpions that came with the Crossrunner I'd had enough of them. They're fine in the dry but far from confidence inspiring in the wet and there's been plenty of wet recently.

As a bit of background my last 20,000 miles have been done on various versions of Michelin Pilot Road tyres. I commute 70 miles a day in most weathers so wet grip, stability and tyre life are the most important things to me. The journey varies from fast A road to motorway to central London filtering so hopefully it will be a good test for the tyres.

If you're not familiar with the Scorpions or the Pilot Road 4 then this is what the look like:



The Scorpions are 1200 miles old and while I'm sure they're ok the compromise that was made to make them look a bit off-roadish has meant that they feel vague (to me anyway) in the wet. So I was going to get shot of them and I had planned to fit Pilot Roads to the bike (which is why I have a new front at the moment). It's useful to show the difference in the treads. It's also worth mentioning that the Michelins are my benchmark tyre. They've been so good that I haven't felt the need to put anything else on my bike.

Here's the Metzeler Roadtec fitted:



I've done all of 5 miles since getting them fitted but initial thoughts are good - very stable and solid feeling. Once I've worn them in a bit I'll update this thread with how I'm getting on with them.

moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
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Snazzy looking front.

sjtscott

4,215 posts

230 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
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Interested in your feedback, I've just got normal PR4 non gt fitted for free as I bought a speed triple from a dealer. My first time on these after years on road smart 1 and 2. Had pr2 abd pr3 mixed in with the dunlops before too.

RemyMartin

6,759 posts

204 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
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I'm based in Bagshot. Merityres are a good bunch, good price too.

SteelerSE

Original Poster:

1,885 posts

155 months

Sunday 7th February 2016
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sjtscott said:
Interested in your feedback, I've just got normal PR4 non gt fitted for free as I bought a speed triple from a dealer. My first time on these after years on road smart 1 and 2. Had pr2 abd pr3 mixed in with the dunlops before too.
Well if there's anything specific then please say.

I won't be doing track days but I will rack up the miles and after a week or two I'll be in a much better position to provide some proper feedback.

obscene

5,174 posts

184 months

Monday 8th February 2016
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sjtscott said:
Interested in your feedback, I've just got normal PR4 non gt fitted for free as I bought a speed triple from a dealer. My first time on these after years on road smart 1 and 2. Had pr2 abd pr3 mixed in with the dunlops before too.
I'll be tearing arse on track days once they arrive, still waiting on them. So if you're wondering about track performance, I'll be the one for that!

Andybow

1,175 posts

117 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
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How's the tyres? Hopefully you've had some dry weather as well as wet to try them out?

SteelerSE

Original Poster:

1,885 posts

155 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
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Andybow said:
How's the tyres? Hopefully you've had some dry weather as well as wet to try them out?
So far they've been very good.

The difference between the Scorpions and the Roadtecs really is night and day. My issue was always that the front was a bit vague and that generally I had no feel. Then in the wet you add that feeling to a general lack of grip (little slips, white lining etc) and I really wanted to get rid of them.

The Roadtec's are a proper modern tyre and I can basically ignore them and ride. They feel solid and planted in corners and they don't have that high profile that means on some tyres that you almost feel a tipping sensation as you drop into corners. Instead they're progressive and inspire confidence.

They warm up pretty quickly and within a mile you can feel the difference.

In the wet they inspire much more confidence. I'll withold judgement yet as to whether they're as good as the PR3/4s as I've only had them on for a few miles but in greasy, damp conditions they've felt good and importantly provide feedback.

As an example, coming off the M25 on to the M3 there is a nice fast corner that is very exposed and in the wet the old Scorpions were awful. I literally had no idea where the limit was or if I was remotely close to it (unlikely by the way!). The new tyres in greasy horrid conditions were 10mph faster through there all the while letting me know how much grip I had.

After a few more weeks I'll have a better handle on whether they're as good or better than the PRs but my gut feel at the moment is that they'd be difficult to separate.

Rubin215

3,985 posts

155 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
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Unfortunately, I didn't get my Roadtecs as there is a shortage of stock in my sizes so I have a set of the previous Z8's to try instead.

Currently on holiday, but should get them fitted in a couple of weeks (just in time for the mot) and get out on them at the start of March.

More to follow.

sjtscott

4,215 posts

230 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
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I'm predominately interested in road feedback but equally I'll listen to how they fare on track guys smile although I've not used metzelers for along time I was really a fan of the sportec m1 when they came out, wiped the floor over mez3 and mez4 i'd used before that. I switched to pirelli diablo after the m1. Naturally I'm fully aware that metzeler and pirelli are the same company and the tyres have different branding and tread patterns.

I've done about 90 miles on my pr4s and really liking them not really had a chance to ride on them as spirited as I'd like just yet but they are very stable and feel great when cornering briskly. They seem to really suit the speed triple.

obscene

5,174 posts

184 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
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Rubin215 said:
Unfortunately, I didn't get my Roadtecs as there is a shortage of stock in my sizes so I have a set of the previous Z8's to try instead.

Currently on holiday, but should get them fitted in a couple of weeks (just in time for the mot) and get out on them at the start of March.

More to follow.
Explains why I haven't received mine yet!

RemyMartin

6,759 posts

204 months

Friday 4th March 2016
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Any update on this, Im in two minds whether or not to fit these to my R1.

SteelerSE

Original Poster:

1,885 posts

155 months

Friday 4th March 2016
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RemyMartin said:
Any update on this, Im in two minds whether or not to fit these to my R1.
The tyres continue to be solid - the highest praise is that I just don't notice them for the most part. I've tried to be picky and remember poor moments and to be honest there's only been one that I remember, and that was in really poor conditions, really cold, slippy and I think any tyre would have struggled.

Outside that as the roads have dried I've been getting more confident with the bike and the tyres and I don't feel any lack of trust or feel.

The only thing that I noticeably prefer about the PR4s is that I think they warm up quicker, but that's not by much.

Not sure how they'd do on an R1. Some of the other guys in the test probably have more powerful bikes which might give you a better idea about how they'd go on your bike. I don't know if they've received them yet or not though.

Hope that helps.

SteelerSE

Original Poster:

1,885 posts

155 months

Friday 15th April 2016
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A quick update.

I'm about 2000 miles into them now and they continue to inspire confidence though I take it very carefully until they are warm (couple of miles) which is my only real criticism.

Most of my mileage is commuting so it's no surprise that the first signs of wear are in the middle of the rear tyre. it's far from squaring off yet but I'll be interested to see if they make the 8000 miles that the Michelin's routinely did.

A couple of pictures from yesterday:

and

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Friday 15th April 2016
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Squaring off quite a bit for a tyre biased to road use I'd have thought.

Is that typical of the way/where you ride?




SteelerSE

Original Poster:

1,885 posts

155 months

Friday 15th April 2016
quotequote all
That is where I'd expect the wear to be (like I say it's mainly upright point and squirt commuting stuff) but I wouldn't be expecting this sort of wear after 2000 miles. Like I say I'd be expecting much better than this from the Michelin's.

RemyMartin

6,759 posts

204 months

Friday 15th April 2016
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Good job they were free then. Might as well get a m7rr or rival equivalent.

SteelerSE

Original Poster:

1,885 posts

155 months

Thursday 19th May 2016
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With some proper dry miles done on them they continue to impress and I think that there are two clear differences between these and the PR4s.

The R01 seems to be a sportier tyre. It really feels great when banked over and is still good in the wet. So if you're a faster sportier rider then these will probably feel better.

Secondly, after 3500 miles they are showing small signs of squaring off. I sincerely doubt that I will get the same mileage out of the Metzeler as the Michelin.

I'll update again when I have to change the rear (probably 2-3 months from now).

George111

6,930 posts

250 months

Friday 20th May 2016
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SteelerSE said:
With some proper dry miles done on them they continue to impress and I think that there are two clear differences between these and the PR4s.

The R01 seems to be a sportier tyre. It really feels great when banked over and is still good in the wet. So if you're a faster sportier rider then these will probably feel better.

Secondly, after 3500 miles they are showing small signs of squaring off. I sincerely doubt that I will get the same mileage out of the Metzeler as the Michelin.

I'll update again when I have to change the rear (probably 2-3 months from now).
My current bike came with Metzeler Roadtec Z8 tyres and I assumed that I'd swap then for Michelins as soon as I started riding it a lot but I'd agree that the Z8 (previous version of your 01) does have a slightly more sporty profile than the Michelins I've used in the past and I like it. I've not tried a PR4 but all my riding is for fun, no commuting, so I'll probably try the 01 when I change them.

3DP

9,912 posts

233 months

Friday 20th May 2016
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Prof Prolapse said:
I guess that it's no coincidence the 01s sound more of an alternative to the PR4s than a replacement.

After all Pirelli own both companies, it's unlikely to produce a product which eclipses another successful one.
When did Pirelli buy Michelin? smile Pirelli own Metzeler. My view generally on tyres, Pirelli for feel and dry work, Michelin for life and wet work.