Eicma 2025 Metzeler: news for 2026, Sportec and Karoo 4 Street

Metzeler bring them to the fair new features of the 2026 motorcycle range. The German company of the Pirelli group presents three new tires to the public: the racing-sport Sportec 01 Rsthe road sportsman Sportec 01 which replaces the Sportec M9 Rr and the adventure-touring Karoo 4 Street. The first two have a lot in common: the name suggests it, a very similar tread design, the desire to raise the bar in performance and technical content. Furthermore, Metzeler makes its debut in the sports segment patented Dynatread technology which was seen for the first time on the Roadtec 02, improved and appropriately scaled on tires – the new Sportec – of a different nature. The 53-year-old British driver was also present at stand i54 in pavilion 5 of Eicma John McGuinnesslegend of Tourist Trophy: the 23-time winner of the crazy race on the Isle of Man, who raced and won (a lot) with Metzeler who is the official partner of the competition, was involved in the development of the compound of the new Sportec 01.

1DYNATREAD TECHNOLOGY

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The technology Dynatread patented by Metzeler, it is among the elements shared by the two new Sportecs present at Eicma. The name already says a lot: Dyna stands for dynamic, Tread in English it means tread. The adaptive “dynamic tread” is one of the secrets of the Metzeler Sportec 01 and 01 Rs. In quiet driving or on the wetthe grooves in the tread design promote water evacuation and ensure a rapid response of the tread compound, thus guaranteeing rapid heating, comfort and grip. When instead the asphalt is dry and the conditions are there to “go”, part of the grooves close, favoring the compactness and stability of the tread band. In short: a motorcycle tire with two souls.

2SPORTEC 01 RS

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The new Sportec 01 Rs it is a motorcycle tire approved for road use, therefore developed to offer high levels of grip on the road, but which does not hold back when faced with a day on the track. The adhesion limit it is placed higher than the Sportec 01, which makes it the ideal choice for those who own a super sports bike (such as the Honda Cbr 1000 Rr-R Fireblade present at the Metzeler stand at Eicma) and, if necessary, want to have the possibility of riding around the track with the same tires that they used to reach the circuit, without having to load the motorbike on the trolley or have a specific set to be fitted before getting on the saddle.

3SPORTEC 01

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The new Sportec 01 within the Metzeler range it is the road sports car par excellence, as was its predecessor Sportec M9 Rr. It supports sporty driving and at the same time instills tranquility in all conditions, even when the sky and clouds suddenly do not bode well. Compared to the Rs, the Sportec 01 guarantees higher mileage and better performance in the wet: it is a tire for sports motorcycles that are used every day.

4KAROO 4 STREET

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The new Karoo 4 Street it is a knobby for predominantly on-road use (70%) and occasional off-road use (30%). It was designed for maxi enduros of the caliber of BMW R1300 Gs and Honda Africa Twin (both present at the fair) for which it promises excellent performance on the road with good off-road capabilities on soft terrain, a therefore different target compared to the Karoo 4 which remains more suitable for those who often use rough roads and paths. With Karoo 4 Street Metzeler responds to the needs of those looking for a knobby tire capable of offering lots of grip on the road, good behavior in the wet, good mileage, stability and comfort. Compared to its predecessor Karoo Street, the new profile of the Italian-German tire offers better handling on asphalt, more homogeneous wear thanks to central blocks that are further apart, and less noise thanks to the multi-pitch tread design.