Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE: The Sportier Side of Touring

The Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE is designed for the rider who loves the all-weather reliability of a touring tire but refuses to give up the sharp handling of a supersport tire. While the original Roadtec 01 set the bar for wet-weather safety and high mileage, some riders of powerful naked bikes and modern sport-tourers desired more “feel” and grip when pushing the bike into aggressive corners. Metzeler answered this with the “SE” (Sport Edition). By refining the tread pattern and adjusting the internal carcass tension, the Roadtec 01 SE offers a more athletic character. Whether you are carving through mountain passes on a BMW S1000XR, a Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX, or a KTM Super Duke GT, the SE version ensures that your tires are never the limiting factor in your riding enjoyment.

Evolution of the Tread: Slick Shoulders for Dry Grip

The most visible change in the Roadtec 01 SE is the evolution of the tread pattern. While the center of the tire retains the famous “transversal grooves” that act as a high-efficiency water drainage system, the shoulders have been redesigned. The “SE” features a higher land-to-sea ratio, meaning there is more rubber in contact with the road and fewer grooves at the edges of the tire. This slicker shoulder design provides a massive increase in stability and mechanical grip once the bike is leaned over past 25 degrees. This transition from a high-drainage center to a high-grip shoulder allows the tire to remain a “wet-weather master” in a straight line while behaving like a dedicated sport tire in the twisties. This dual-personality makes it the perfect choice for riders who commute during the week and hunt apexes on the weekend.

Expert Tuning & Maintenance Advice

As specialists in high-performance rubber, we consider the Roadtec 01 SE to be the perfect “missing link” in the Metzeler lineup. Pro Tip: Because the SE version has a slightly stiffer carcass than the standard 01 to facilitate faster steering, it is even more critical to find your “sweet spot” with tire pressure. If you find the ride too firm on a lighter naked bike, try dropping 1-2 PSI from the maximum recommended cold pressure to allow for more carcass compliance. Installation Note: Always pair the SE front with the SE rear; mixing the standard 01 with the SE can lead to an unbalanced handling characteristic due to the different profile shapes and carcass tensions. Safety Note: Despite the “Slick” appearance of the shoulders, the high-silica compound ensures these tires work incredibly well in the rain; however, always allow for a proper 100-mile scrub-in period to scuff the slick shoulder surface before attempting maximum lean angles.

Confidence Whatever the Weather

The Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE takes a proven formula and makes it faster. It is the definitive choice for the rider who wants supersport-level agility combined with the peace of mind that only a premium sport-touring compound can provide. For those who ride year-round and demand a tire that can handle a sudden downpour just as well as a scorched summer canyon road, the Roadtec 01 SE is the pinnacle of German tire engineering. It doesn’t just meet expectations; it redefines them.

Fitment Note: Available in the most common 17-inch sizes for modern sport and touring motorcycles. Not available in HWM (Heavy Weight Motos) versions; for heavy tourers like the K1600, the standard Roadtec 01 HWM is recommended.

Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE Tires

The “SE”, or “Supersport” version, of the Metzeler Road Tec 01 Tire takes the sport-touring prowess of the standard Road Tec 01 and increases the grip offered in the dry. The SE tread pattern and composition maintains the tire’s supersport-touring capabilities and wet weather performance. The SE version features a higher land/sea ratio along the shoulder block for enhanced traction at extreme lean angles. Sidewall construction is standard-duty across all options to communicate better with the road and offer more compliance under light- and medium-weight motorcycles.

Features:

• Increased grip on wet roads, with a focus on low friction surfaces (such as city streets and worn tarmac, low temperature), thanks to radial position of grooves
• Rebalanced tire stiffness to allow a better adherence of the rubber with the tarmac micro-asperities, increasing mechanical grip even on lower friction surfaces
• Belt and carcass tension parameters upgraded to increase stability on rear tires during strong braking
• Increased mileage vs. Roadtec Z8 Interact (up to 10%), thanks to a different footprint shape (larger and shorter) which also enhances motorcycle handling
• Higher wear resistance, obtained through a revised land/sea ration on the rear tire in conjunction with the new tread design, ensures product performance consistency allowing users to enjoy the tire for its entire service life
• Blackwall
• Tubeless (TL)
• W rated for speeds of 168+ MPH