Metzeler Tourance Next 2 – Why?

As impressed as I am with the Metzeler Tourance Next tyres that are fitted to my KTM, I was both happy and sad when I read that the replacement – the imaginatively-named Tourance Next 2 – was soon to be available in the UK.

My happiness comes in the form of an update being available – an improvement on what I am finding to be a very good tyre.

My sadness comes in the form of no longer being able to get a pair of the same Tourance Next tyres to replace the ones I have – unless I’m happy with tyres that may have been on the shelf for a while.

Why do tyre companies do this? Yes, technology moves ever onwards, but how much better can Metzeler make a tyre that I’m already unable to find the limit of?

According to the press release from the Metzeler Marketing Department, it is because … “The Metzeler Tourance Next 2 gives the latest generation of adventure bikes top handling and rider confidence, thanks to improved wet performance and riding pleasure.”

The marketing department is kindly telling me what the new version of the tyre will deliver but doesn’t tell me why the enhancements were necessary. Yes, the weather has been fairly dire and, yes, my mileage has been limited due to the “C-word”, but still – WHY? I like the Tourance Next tyres as they are, thank you.

Not sure how far I would get in answering that question, I rang Metzeler Tyres. A couple of additional phone calls and an exchange of emails later, here is what I found out…

Why change it?

The world of tyres keeps rolling on – sorry about that, for a pun it was pretty awful. At least I didn’t use the “elephant in the room is …” gag.

Motorcycle tyre manufacturers have a symbiotic relationship with motorcycle manufacturers. Each is reliant on the other to push forward.

As motorcycle tyres improve, motorcycle manufacturers develop their bikes to the edge of the tyre’s performance. As motorcycle performance improves, so must the tyres to address the changing need.

This time the driver for the next evolution of the Metzeler Tourance Next tyre comes from a noticeable shift in the motorcycle market.

Over the past five years, the popularity of adventure bikes has changed the landscape for adventure tyres. Adventure motorcycles were once fitted hard sidewall tyres that had a heavy bias towards off-road riding.

The road/gravel bias for an adventure tyre would have been 40/60 back then. Since then that gap swung the other way to 80/20. A fundamental change that required motorcycle adventure tyres to evolve.

Adventure bikes in 2021 come with 140BHP at the rear wheel. To tame that power the motorcycle manufacturers have added traction control, six-axis IMUs, anti-wheelie and no end of other technologies that allow us mere mortals to explore all of the motorcycle’s potential.

Nonetheless, despite all the technology, the single contact patch through which we transmit that 140BHP remains the rear tyre.

And it isn’t all about the rear tyre. High performance, ABS brakes are also driving tyre technology forward. 140 BHP will propel you with noticeable ease, while ABS will allow you to brake all the way to the limit of adhesion. Whereas the technology is amazing, it is nothing without a tyre that can maximise that performance.

What is new?

The power of modern adventure bikes puts more load on the rear tyre. The extra load generates more heat, which has to be dissipated. Whereas tyres work better when they are warm, the additional heat generated from the increased power going through the tyre must be accounted for.

Metzeler’s “Advanced Winding System” and “Zero Degree Steel Radial” technologies optimize the spacing between the cords to address the heat. Add to that changes to the silica compound and the Tourance Next 2 dissipates excess heat more efficiently.

Metzeler could have said we have changed how we build the tyre, but where would be the fun in that?

And there is more. The tread of the tyre now has “Dymatec” or Dynamic mould angle technology, to give it the full marketing name. This is the clever concept of changing the moulding angle of the tread pattern across the face of the tyre.

As you corner the angle at which the tyre interacts with the road changes. Dymatec maintains the angle between the tread pattern and the road surface as you corner, thereby delivering a constant feel.

Along with the construction of the rear tyre, the compound has also been changed to feature a 40-45mm harder centre section. The exact width of the harder centre section varies depending on the overall tyre size.

The compound in the centre section has a high ratio of carbon black so as to maximise mileage and stability at higher speeds. The shoulder compounds meanwhile are 100% Silica to provide excellent chemical grip, especially when the roads are wet.

The front tyre also has a high Silica content – Metzeler didn’t state exactly how much higher, only that it is “over 50%”. They did however mention new polymers and resins to give faster warmup and improved grip.

In a different specification sheet I found, Metzeler state they’ve used “innovative high-silica compound (85%) containing functionalised polymers” for the front tyre.

Picking a figure somewhere north of 50% but south of 85% and you should be about right. Either way that is a high Silica compound.

Why is Silica important?

Silica, or to call it by its real name Silicon Dioxide – SiO₂ for the science geeks – is two oxygen atoms clinging to a silicon atom and is found in sand.

Silica first started appearing in motorcycle tyres in the 1990s, mainly because of the excellent wet surface grip it provides. Face it, the tyre companies had to do something to improve the Nylon Nevergrips from that era.

The bad news about Silica is that it wears out quickly, so manufacturers mix it with Carbon Black, an extremely fine and relatively pure form of carbon to make the tyre last and to give the tyre stability.

Rubber – that thing I thought tyres were made from – in its natural state is white, soft and has poor abrasion resistance. When creating your tyre compound, you add carbon black to make it hard-wearing and then add Silica to give it wet weather grip.

The higher the Silica content, the better the wet weather performance. The greater the Carbon Black content, the more miles you will get from the tyre. Which is why dual compound rear tyres are common today. The centre section has more carbon black to give you the miles, and the edge has a higher silica content to give you wet weather cornering confidence.

Metzeler, in making the shoulder section of the Tourance Next 2, has used 100% silica and are definitely committing to excellent wet-weather performance.

Metzeler Tourance Next 2 Sizes

The Metzeler Tourance Next 2 tyres are listed as being available in eight sizes.

If you want a deeper understanding of tyre markings, look at the breakdown we give in the article below.

Seeing a set of W-rated tyres in the right size for the KTM 1290 made Carle happy as he is currently munching his way through a set of Pirelli Scorpions. This may have something to do with him enjoying as much of the 140 BHP as the roads will allow as often as he is allowed out.

Where are they?

Despite all of the press releases, emails and telephone conversations, I can’t find anywhere currently stocking the Metzeler Tourance Next 2 tyre.

Update from Metzeler … Tourance Next II is due to land with us in early March.  Tourance Next and its predecessor, Tourance, remain in the range.

I know this will change, but it is slightly frustrating if you are looking to switch to the next generation Tourance Next tyre when the weather turns for the better.

Hopefully, by then, there will be a few real-world road tests of the tyre for us to pick the details from. Having had an insight into why Metzeler decided an evolution of the Tourance Next tyre was needed, I’m keen to know if the Metzeler tyre engineers’ hard work has translated into an even better ride.