2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test

Overall test winnerMetzeler Roadtec 01 SE

Motorcycle tyre testing is the most difficult type the tyre testing available, and as such we don't get a many good motorbike tyre comparison tests as we do for car and SUV.

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson

October 20, 2020 3 min read Updated January 8, 2025

Tyre shortlist Read the test

Tyres tested: 6
Tested size: 180/55 R17
Disciplines: 1

At a glance

Tyre shortlist

6 Tyres tested

Published finishing positions, with the strengths and considerations from this test. Owner reviews cover other sizes and driving conditions.

1^st

Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE

Read full verdict

7 owner reviews Test Results

2^nd

Dunlop RoadSmart III

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16 owner reviews Test Results

3^rd

Pirelli Angel GT II

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7 owner reviews Test Results

4^th

Continental ContiRoadAttack 3

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1 owner review Test Results

5^th

Michelin Road 5

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24 owner reviews Test Results

6^th

Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T31

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3 owner reviews Test Results

Tyre shortlist

Compare selected tyres

2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tyre Test · 180/55 R17

Tyre	Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE	Dunlop RoadSmart III	Pirelli Angel GT II	Continental ContiRoadAttack 3	Michelin Road 5	Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T31
Position	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4^th	5^th	6^th
Keep researching	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results	Read owner reviews Test Results

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The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

Motorcycle tyre testing is the most difficult type the tyre testing available, and as such we don't get a many good motorbike tyre comparison tests as we do for car and SUV.

Fortunately in 2020 the UK motorcycle magazine MCN managed to test six of the best sports touring motorbike tyres using a BMW R1250RS.

The only objective test included was a 70-0 mph dry braking (below), the rest of the results were taken from a 22 mile road route over many different surfaces, which two riders tested blind and rated the tyres for steering, confidence, stability, ride quality and feel.

Dry Braking
Position / Tyre	Result	Gap to best
1Continental ContiRoadAttack 3	50.61 m	Best
2Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE	50.68 m	+0.07 m
3Dunlop RoadSmart III	50.95 m	+0.34 m
4Michelin Road 5	52.01 m	+1.40 m
5Pirelli Angel GT II	52.69 m	+2.08 m
6Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T31	52.7 m	+2.09 m

The difference between best and worst was 4.1% (2.09 m ≈ 0.5 Car Lengths).

Be sure to check out the full test information at the MCN site www.motorcyclenews.com

Results

Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE

Excellent steering, felt the sportiest of the bunch. They make the bike feel light and nimble with precise steering, excellent levels of confidence, very stable, good levels of grip from cold. Ride quality is a little harsher than some of the other tyres in the test, but lots of feedback and feel. Wonderful tyres.

All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	2^nd / 6	50.68 m	+0.07 m

Dunlop RoadSmart III

Linear and progressive, with a neutral feel. Super accurate with perfect tracking. Not quite as good from cold as the Metzelers, but once there's a tiny bit of heat, they're great. Good over bumps, but quite a firm ride overall.

All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	3^rd / 6	50.95 m	+0.34 m

Pirelli Angel GT II

These make the bike feel light and accurate, lots of confidence, work really well from cold, and allow you to hold a line nicely through the corners with excellent feel. Also really stable, move around less than others over bumps and don't track in tramlines. Decent ride quality if not a little on the stuff side, feeling harsher over bumps on the motorway.

All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	5^th / 6	52.69 m	+2.08 m

Continental ContiRoadAttack 3

Sportiest feeling tyres on test, nimble and accurate, they drop into corners like a sports tyre with high levels of confidence. When pushing hard a little vague on the rear, but for normal riding they're great. Slightly less feel than the other tyres on test.

All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	1^st / 6	50.61 m	Best in this discipline

Michelin Road 5

The Road 5 makes the bike light to steer, nimble and accurate. They make direction changes easy and it feels like you can place the bike anywhere you want, with great confidence even from cold. Very stable at lower speeds but w hen riding quickly they felt a bit overwhelmed by the weight of the BMW.

All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	4^th / 6	52.01 m	+1.40 m

Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T31

Steering is good with plenty of feel, however they take longer to warm up than others and felt a bit slithery until then. During faster riding, the TC light came on more with these tyres than others on test, and they tended to tramline more than the others. They feel secure when the bike is lent over in fast corners but the ride quality isn't the best.

All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tyres in this test, not the whole market. These are individual measurements, not weighted overall scores.

Test	Position in discipline	Result	Gap to best
Dry BrakingLower is better	6^th / 6	52.7 m	+2.09 m

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