METZELER presents RACETEC RR, the new Racing Supersport tires, in a world premier at EICMA

Available in K1, K2 and K3 compounds, this tire boasts strong grip in all conditions; precision, stability, and consistent performance

Milan (Italy), November 5, 2014 – METZELER today unveiled the new Racing Supersport RACETEC™ RR during an international press conference held on their stand at EICMA, the World’s Motorcycling Fair, which takes place annually in Milan, and this year celebrates its centenary.

RACETEC™ RR, the successor of RACETEC INTERACT™, is the new METZELER tire available in K1, K2 and K3 compounds and is characterized by high grip in all conditions; with precision, excellent stability and consistent performance.

The origins: the Road Racing world

RACETEC™ RR is the evolution of RACETEC INTERACT™, produced in line with the development of new bikes, and comes directly from the experience of METZELER in Road Racing competition. In 2014, riders supported by METZELER stood on the podium 39 times, with 16 wins in the major road races. With substantial efforts in these activities, METZELER was able to completely renew its sporty range of tires and, during 2013, developed and launched SPORTEC™ M7 RR. Now, exactly one year later, METZELER has completed this renovation project with the new Racing Supersport RACETEC™ RR.

In particular, RACETEC™ RR has been designed and tested in major competitions such as the North West 200, Metzeler Ulster Grand Prix, Southern 100 and especially the Isle of Man TT, where it won the Supersport class by equipping Gary Johnson’s Triumph Daytona. As these races do not take place on track, but on roads that are open to the public throughout the year, where you can find all the situations that each rider encounters everyday, they were chosen by METZELER as a test and development ground.

The origins of RACETEC™ RR are clear from its name: RACETEC™ identifies the METZELER range of products dedicated to sport while RR, defined as Road Racing, states the context in which this project was born.

Who is RACETEC™ RR aimed at?

RACETEC™ RR is dedicated to racers of all levels, plus trackday riders who use the circuits for their hobby.

In the K3 compound option specifically, the RACETEC™ RR is designed for all owners of supersport and naked bikes who enjoy a sporty riding style and want ultimate in dry grip on the road, looking for excitement and a high performance level.

The features and the benefits of the new RACETEC™ RR

RACETEC™ RR includes the technologies, materials, advanced processes and know-how achieved by METZELER tires in recent years, bringing a new level of performance.

RACETEC™ RR offers new profiles, structural materials, compounds and tread pattern.

Road Racing is one of the most difficult and challenging competitions due to the combination of factors such as the long race distances, high average speeds, elevation and temperature changes along with the variety of road surfaces. RACETEC™ RR is designed to meet all these different situations which may be encountered in one race, providing unmatched mileage and consistency, combined with a great versatility.

The main benefits of RACETEC™ RR are:

• Grip in all conditions, both on road and on track, thanks to the versatility of the compounds

• Precision and stability, useful features both during ‘lean’ and 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

In particular, the rear tire of RACETEC™ RR is bi-compound and able to offer excellent grip in cornering, together with great stability at high speeds.

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

Road Racing events are usually high mileage, up to 240 km in total, on average more than twice the distance taking place on circuits. For this reason, the duration and the ability to preserve the integrity and performance of the tire proves to be a key factor for victory. RACETEC™ RR is the winner in this area due to the characteristics of the compounds and tread design.

The compounds

All the compound specifications used in the RACETEC™ RR are characterized by a high abrasion resistance due to the uniform dispersion of ingredients, obtained by a patented mixing process.

To face the changing conditions that may be encountered during the same race, METZELER has greatly expanded the versatility of the compounds.

If for example the K2 version of RACETEC INTERACT™ was intended to be used with difficult road conditions and low temperatures, now the new K2 compound of the RACETEC™ RR offers high performance even at increased temperatures and on more smooth asphalt. Similarly, the K1 compound of RACETEC™ RR can now also be used in conditions of lower temperatures and with a more aggressive road surface.

To achieve this goal, the design focused mainly on the formulas of the compounds; balancing polymers, resins and reinforcing fillers to generate different properties.

RACETEC™ RR is available in K1, K2 and K3 compounds. Motorcyclists can easily distinguish one compound from the other thanks to the labels on the side and the colored stripes on the tread.

• K1 – SOFT is a soft compound. It has a label on the side with K1 written in blue and a blue stripe on the tread

• K2 – MEDIUM is a compound of medium hardness. It has a label on the side with K2 written in green and a green stripe on the tread

• K3 – HARD is the harder compound. It is distinguished by a label on the side with K3 written in yellow and a yellow stripe on the tread

With regards to the rear solutions, the criteria for application is based on the severity of the asphalt, on the external temperatures and on the duration of the performance required.

For example, hot asphalt loses some of its natural mechanical grip becoming smoother and more slippery. In these conditions a soft compound (such as K1) is necessary, as it can deform and adhere to the asphalt surface as much as possible.

Cold tarmac, on the other hand, tends to be more aggressive and rougher, offering more mechanical grip which, while on the one hand is an advantage, on the other hand can cause the tire to rip and tear, which therefore needs a compound with more mechanical resistance (such as K2).

For the front solutions, the criteria to use is based not only on outdoor temperature and track layout (many bends or long straights, etc.), but also on the rider’s aggressiveness/riding style, which affects the front tire.

In general, with regards to weather conditions, when the track temperature increases, the compound tends to lose its compactness and rigidity. This behavior can cause movement problems in the ‘leaning’ stage. A more rigid compound such as K2 can reduce this effect.

Conversely, when the track is cold, the compound tends to become more rigid and this can lead to a reduction in grip and stability while braking. In these conditions it is better to use a soft compound such as K1.

The K3 compound is dedicated to non-competitive use and can be used across wide temperature and condition (abrasiveness of the asphalt) ranges- and is able to offer a significantly greater mileage.

Another distinctive feature of Road Racing is the presence of very long straights, where the bikes keep speeds above 300 kph for a long time. This situation typically generates a warming of the central section of the tire that is in contact with the ground and a cooling on the sides. As a result, when entering the curve after a straight, the side may not be in the correct operating temperature and then be able to ensure the necessary grip.

RACETEC™ RR uses a bi-compound rear solution with a “Cap and Base” structure in which the center compound supports the lateral compound positioning in the substrate of the tread. While generating less heat, this center compound is able to distribute the heat into the side compounds through the special substrate.

With this solution, the longer the straight, the more time the central compound will be in contact, consequently warming the side sections, reaching and maintaining the operating temperature and ensuring perfect grip when dropping into the turn.

The tread pattern

The layout of the central longitudinal grooves is designed to have a compact tread in the central section to optimize straight line stability.

The position of the transverse grooves provides cornering grip in all road conditions while minimizing the effects of wear.

The structure and the profiles

Stability is a key factor in road races. High speed straights trigger vibrations through the bike which can affect performance.

The innovative carcass material used in the structure of the RACETEC™ RR elevates its lateral stiffness to minimize these problems.

In the case of a road circuit, its peculiarities such as by manholes, repair patches and jumps, can also create a sudden loss of adhesion.

The profiles of the crown and sides have been designed to absorb roughness and, at the same time, dampen the deformation of the impact without generating vibration.

The sizes

RACETEC™ RRwill be available at all METZELER retailers beginning first quarter 2015 in the following sizes and compounds:

Front:

120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL K1

120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL K2

120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL K3

Rear:

160/60 ZR 17 M/C (69W) TL K2

160/60 ZR 17 M/C (69W) TL K3

180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL K2

180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL K3

180/60 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL K1

180/60 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL K2

190/50 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL K3

190/55 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL K3

200/55 ZR 17 M/C (78W) TL K1

200/55 ZR 17 M/C (78W) TL K2