Metzeler MCE Karoo 2 Motorcycle Tire

Comments about Metzeler MCE Karoo 2 Motorcycle Tire:

I have this tire on a BMW 650 GS twin. I use it with a Michelin Anakee on the back. Since I ride a lot of gravel and dirt...still probably 80% street it seems to wear well. I put it on this spring and spent a week in Canyon Lands off road. I have 3,000 miles on it and it seems to be holding up well. Tread deapth in the center is now 7mm. On the street it holds well enought to drag the center stand...not hard on this bike. Also seems comfortable in excess of 100 MPH. I used this tire because it was the only knobby available that is tubless radial. Manufacturers recommend not mixing radials and bias tires.

Comments about Metzeler MCE Karoo 2 Motorcycle Tire:

I have been using these Metzler Karoos on my 2000 DR.Z for the last 6 years. I usually go through two rear tires for every front. I wish they could make the knobs a little longer for pure off road bliss but I know that would make them not as suitable or durable for street use. Here in West Central Florida we get predictable afternoon downpours. The Karoos are just as predictable as those storms. They break loose gradually and are easily recovered on the street. Off road in our miles of DEEP sugarsand the front steers positively and I get enough traction from the wide rear center lugs to skim the front wheel over the sand whenever possible. On tight woods riding I get sure footed bite when leand over and great drive out of the corners.

Comments about Metzeler MCE Karoo 2 Motorcycle Tire:

The Karoo front tire was recommended online as a good match to the Dunlop 606 rear tire for mostly off-road/woods riding with some street use, so I got one.

The knobs are very short, and the tread pattern much less aggressive than the 606. It worked fine on the street, and OK on the trails when new. After about 600 miles the knobs were down to around 5mm or so, and it had pretty much lost its ability to grip off-camber surfaces or anything other than pavement or flat, dry, hard-packed dirt.

This would be a fine tire for 90% street / 10% dirt usage, but that's just not what I do. I replaced it with a Dunlop 606 front to match the existing rear tire, for a big improvement in dirt performance (the Dunlop seems fine on the sreet as well, but I'm not exactly dragging the pegs).