Metzeler Brings RACETEC™ RR 18-Inch Sizing for Vintage Racing to North America

Bol d’Or Classic – Metzeler Racetec RR

Metzeler will display its latest additions to the RACETEC lineup at the upcoming Barber Vintage Festival on October 4-6 in Birmingham, Alabama, providing attendees the opportunity to see the new tires firsthand. Metzeler’s display will be set up in the Fan Zone alongside BMW and everyone is encouraged to stop by and enjoy a weekend full of activities.

“Expanding Metzeler’s RACETEC RR line with 18-inch sizing for classic and vintage racing is very exciting for the brand,” said Oscar Solis, road race manager, Metzeler. “Throughout the past several years, classic and vintage riding and racing have become quite popular, so this was the perfect time to provide a quality product for enthusiasts in that segment here in North America. The RACETEC RR has already had great success with classic racing in Europe and we look forward to making the same products available to riders here stateside.”

In addition to the popular 17-inch sizing, the RACETEC RR is now available in 110/80 ZR 18 M/C TL (58W) front sizing, while 130/80 ZR 18 M/C TL (66W), 150/65 ZR 18 M/C TL (69W) and 160/60 ZR 18 M/C TL (70W) sizing have been introduced for the rear. The new front and rear sizes will be available in the K1 compound, the softest amongst those of the RACETEC RR.

Metzeler realizes that while classic racers may not be competing on machines with the latest technology, they still require tires with state-of-the-art performance for their powerful, rigid, heavy and valuable motorcycles.

Classic races take place on road circuits – such as the Isle of Man, where each year in August the Manx Grand Prix Senior Classic race is held with old superbikes from the 1990’s – and on race circuits, such as the prestigious Bol d’Or Classic in France. In most countries, a motorcycle must be at least 25 years old to be considered vintage, while the category for classic motorcycles is usually intended for machines produced before 1972 and for post-classic, built between 1973 and 1985.

RACETEC RR tires of all sizes offer riders the following benefits:

• Grip in all conditions, both on road and track, thanks to the versatility of the compounds and the structure of the tread pattern, which guarantees a consistent distribution of temperature from the central band to the shoulder even after long straights.
• Precision, directionality and stability at high speed, useful features both in the initial phase of a lean as well as on the straight due to the ability of the tire to absorb the roughness of the asphalt.
• Performance consistency throughout the life of the tire.

For classic superbikes, the RACETEC RR effectively tames the aggressiveness of these old machines combining the dampening features of the carcass and the tread band configuration.

Metzeler Racetec RR – Front & Rear

Unlike its predecessor, all sizes and compounds of RACETEC RR have the speed index W in brackets, which enables these tires to be used on public roads and not just on closed courses.

RACETEC identifies the Metzeler range of products dedicated to sport riding, while RR, defined as Road Racing, underlines the inspiration behind the line. The RACETEC RR comes directly from the experience of Metzeler in road racing competition in which the brand has been highly successful for many years.

The RACETEC RR has already been tested in several events, such as the Barber Vintage Festival, North West 200, Ulster Grand Prix, Southern 100, Isle of Man TT and several other races in California. The results were further confirmation of the tires’ ability to outperform the competition.

The new RACETEC RR tires are now available through two of Metzeler’s North America distributors, Moto Garage and Fast From The Past.

Visit the Metzeler website to view the complete line of motorcycle tires available for a wide range of applications.