2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tire Test

Overall test winnerMetzeler Roadtec 01 SE

Motorcycle tire testing is the most difficult type the tire testing available, and as such we don't get a many good motorbike tire 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

Tire shortlist Read the test

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

At a glance

Tire shortlist

6 Tires 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

7 owner reviews Test Results

2^nd

Dunlop RoadSmart III

16 owner reviews Test Results

3^rd

Pirelli Angel GT II

7 owner reviews Test Results

4^th

Continental ContiRoadAttack 3

1 owner review Test Results

5^th

Michelin Road 5

24 owner reviews Test Results

6^th

Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T31

3 owner reviews Test Results

Tire shortlist

Compare selected tires

2020 Motorcycle Sports Touring Tire Test · 180/55 R17

Tire	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

Explore the complete results →

The full test

The evidence behind the verdict

Motorcycle tire testing is the most difficult type the tire testing available, and as such we don't get a many good motorbike tire 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 tires 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 tires for steering, confidence, stability, ride quality and feel.

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Continental ContiRoadAttack 3	166 ft	Best
2Metzeler Roadtec 01 SE	166 ft	0 ft
3Dunlop RoadSmart III	167 ft	+1 ft
4Michelin Road 5	171 ft	+5 ft
5Pirelli Angel GT II	173 ft	+7 ft
6Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T31	173 ft	+7 ft

The difference between best and worst was 4.1% (7 ft ≈ 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 tires in the test, but lots of feedback and feel. Wonderful tires.

All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires 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	166 ft	0 ft

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 tires 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	167 ft	+1 ft

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 tires 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	173 ft	+7 ft

Continental ContiRoadAttack 3

Sportiest feeling tires on test, nimble and accurate, they drop into corners like a sports tire 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 tires on test.

All discipline results (1)

Discipline positions compare the ranked tires 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	166 ft	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 tires 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	171 ft	+5 ft

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 tires 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 tires 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	173 ft	+7 ft

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