Tires? They are black and round.
That's it isn't it? Well no it isn't, there's more, much more.
First though, there's some stuff that needs telling. It's about getting up close and personal with some green moss, a busted R6, lashings of Jim Beam, performance testing a Jacuzzi and hanging with some nutty journo's. This was a very surreal experience for me. It was a chance to meet my journalistic peers and a chance to measure my abilities against my favorite riders and writers… Don Canet, Kent Kunitsugu, Sir Peter Jones and Lord John Burns… Hey, what can I say? I'm a fan too.
Metzeler invited 2wf.com to its North American press introduction of a new tire that promised it all, longevity, stickiness, stability and at a price not meant to hurt your wallet. Are they talking about one tire here? Well, my tire-wearing friends, yes they are.
Most motorcycle tires offer a compromise. High-speed stability is usually at the expense of tire damping or the ability to absorb irregular road surfaces. Corner hugging grip makes way for good mileage wear and dry grip compromises wet grip. Not any more though… introducing the new Metzeler Sportec M-1.
It's still black and round, available in all of your favorite sizes, but that is where most similarities end.
Construction
Firstly the Sportec's front and rear tire constructions are different. Metzeler realize that the strain differences from front to rear are indeed, different. They developed a system to fine-tune the tire construction to suit the job in hand. Both front and rear are "tuned" using different carcass materials and further optimized with the use of 0 degree steel belts.
During the Metzeler presentation, which was held in the grounds of the Rose Garden Inn, Ojai, I was trying to be a good student. Hearing the heckling going on behind me was most amusing. Messrs X and Y had my ribs hurting with a funny and sarcastic wit that had to be heard, to be believed. Later that evening, and after consuming copious amounts of Mr. Beams finest, we almost saw a bike or two go into the swimming pool. However, I would have pleaded innocent on all felonious charges and quite rightly so.
Using steel belting is not exactly groundbreaking but Metzeler have taken the technology a step further by distributing that said belting in a way that aids grip and turn-in. Less belting on the top of the tire helps with flexibility, for maximum grip and to keep the tire "pointy". This helps you initiate the turn, and with more of that said belting on the shoulder area, helps promote a larger contact area and good damping, offering you maximum stability whilst on your ear. This thoughtful placement of the belting gives excellent damping characteristics and stops all sorts of wobbles or potential tank slappers from ever starting in the first place. Simple really, but nobody thought of it.
