First Look! Metzeler Karoo 4 Tires | BMW MOA | 50/50 Tire Overview

Brian from ‪@metzelermoto‬ gives ‪@manybikes‬ a walk around of the new Metzeler Karoo 4 50/50 tires. These tires will replace the Karoo 3 and have many great advancements. ETA August 2022
Thanks for watching!
Kyle

[@wheatdevon]

I like this guy because he is HONEST! "I don't know" is hard for some people to say.

[@manybikes]

Yeah right!

[@kc5qnb1]

Great job Kyle, and it was great meeting you at the BMW MOA rally.

[@manybikes]

The feeling is mutual!

[@trekkydelirium-vroom5821]

Thanks; i can’t wait for your review of those new Karoo 4. Cheers; best regards from Montreal.

[@manybikes]

Thanks! Coming Soon! I will be riding them as soon as they are released.

[@pont0n]

Metzeler guy did NOT expect you pull out your tools :) I'm EU located and those tires get good initial reviews. Looking forward to your review Kyle!

[@manybikes]

Thanks! Yeah… he was a bit caught off guard ;)

[@tshansen]

Thank you for taking the time and share this Kyle.... always nice to see and test new tires. I really hated the Karoo3... the wet grip was just terrible (in Norway) I think I need to try these for my self. Thank you for this. Cheers

[@manybikes]

Thanks for watching! Yeah.. I liked the Karoo 3 until I rode something better ;)

[@swegotech8466]

This could be the perfect tire for a lot of riders out there. Thanks for sharing this video !!! Looking forward to yout K60 Ranger test as well :-)

[@manybikes]

Yeah, i think so too. This will probably be more, but the K60 Ranger SET was $263 delivered to my door… that is LESS than the price of some single rear tires! … the K60 Ranger tires are scheduled to arrive today, More on that when they get here… thanks for watching!

[@justsomedude445]

just spooned a rear k60 ranger on literally last nite///// TKC80 front

[@larrylund1138]

Good to see you again Kyle. Good stuff as usual. You are the Guru on tires for sure. I am currently running an AX41 on my 22 KLR as per your recommendation to try. I like the road grip and general ride of the AX41 but I want to try out something different. These Karoo 4 look pretty good.

[@manybikes]

Thanks! You too! My K60 Ranger tires arrived yesterday and I am itching to try those too... we shall see!!!

[@AdventureGlide]

Thanks for sharing this, Kyle. I really appreciate what you do. Unfortunately, my Karoo 3's burned up pretty quick. Nice to see something new. When are we gonna hear about the K60?

[@manybikes]

I’ve had the K60 Ranger on order for a while now.. Revzilla billed me for them yesterday so they should show up soon. I plan to mount them, ride them to the Get On ADV Fest in South Dakota. 4k miles in 8 days. We Shall see!!!!

[@AdventureGlide]

@@manybikes Nice, I have been eyeballing them. I love the Anakee Wilds for everything I do on the GSA and previous big bikes. But I know it's too good to be true. Rip like the Anakee Wilds and last like the other Heidenau's.

[@clarkpiper5669]

@@manybikes I ordered mine three weeks ago and still waiting

[@advmatt]

Sweet! I love testing out new tires. These should be much better at off camber over the 3s.

[@manybikes]

Yes they should!!!

[@scottmiller4516]

Thanks Kyle.

[@manybikes]

Yes Sir!

[@ScramblerStories]

I'm definitely interested in trying these. I've enjoyed my experiences with the Karoo 3s.

[@manybikes]

Me too!!!

[@morkys2410]

Thank-you for sharing this with us. Great looking tire. For off road I would personally prefer a bit more space between the two centre knobs. But, if that centre groove is enough to prevent it from behaving like the Shinko 805 rear then maybe that is enough. In fact I have looked at pictures online and I suspect it may be ok. Will love to hear your experience with it, and as always...lol...the weights of the tires.

[@manybikes]

Yeah, I need to find a pocket scale I can carry with my during trade sho type experiences such as this ;) I learned from the K60 Ranger experience… and had my other tools “on hand” this time. Speaking of that… the K60 Ranger tires are scheduled to his my front door today! $263 delivered. That’s less the some of the current “single rear tires available!” More on that when they arrive… thanks for watching!

[@morkys2410]

@@manybikes I know I speak for your subscribers and more that we really appreciate the work you do reporting on tires. The durometer readings you take are helpful to anticipate wear and grip etc, so really appreciate that. When I am looking for tires for my bikes I look at a few different things in order to make a decision. I think the things that many people would benefit knowing about tires, in no particular order are: 1) Performance and handling both on and off road 2) Weight 3) Noise on road 4) Longevity / Mileage Keep up the good work. Reviews from various places are often rather random and it makes it hard to compare tires. Nobody else looks at tires and examines them to the extent you do. It is very helpful. Thanks 😎🤓

[@georgemorissette8856]

Can’t wait for your review. You have become the go to guy on KZbin for motorcycle tire reviews. I have 7 motorcycles and I don’t buy tires now without cross referencing your review. I know you haven’t tested this tire , but it looks a bit like the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR . Looks like the Karoo 4 tread may be slightly deeper . Speaking of which , for 60% fast twisty street , 40% gravel forest roads . What do you like better the AX 41 or the Pirelli ? And do you think this Karoo 4 will be similar to those 2 tires ? They would be on a 701 Enduro and or 890 Rally . Thx,

[@manybikes]

Great questions and thanks for watching! I think the AX41 is still a better tire. The tread depth here looks a little deeper... but with out a side by side it's hard to tell. For sure a benefit over the Karoo 3!

[@Bob_on_Bikes]

Hi Kyle, you've earned so much respect for your thorough adv tire reviews. I would LOVE to see you hop on a ~300-400lb dual sport and put some DOT knobbies through the ringer! Dsport, d606, tr8, gt723, 244, k270, etc. With durometers, weights and all the awesome Bradshaw treatments! Waddaya say? Couple months of torture on a drz, crf, or klx?

[@manybikes]

Yea, I’d love that too. I really need to do it as it has been requested many times. Like a lot… I had a 2007 KTM 450 EXC and a 2002 DRZ 400 they would have been perfectZ

[@GerhardCombrink]

Thanks Kyle, you do know you’ve changed not only the industry with your initial in depth comparison, but also the oem tyres coming out on bikes like the R1250gs?

[@manybikes]

Thank you for your kind words and for your support. It is a labor of love!

[@bottomlinebassin2001]

Kyle is the motorcycle tire Project Farm!

[@manybikes]

Labor of Love!

[@jesseonamotorcycle]

I think I need these on my new tiger 1200

[@manybikes]

From what we hear these will be super solid. I am curious!

[@williamb.6918]

My 150/70-18 rear was completely smoked after less than 2100 miles of 50/50 street/dirt riding. I have less than .5 mils of tread depth in some areas of center tread.

[@manybikes]

That is crazy!

[@williamb.6918]

@@manybikes I thought so too. The front is holding at about 6 mils so I threw a new RallZ on the rear and the combo feels pretty good. I may try the Anakee Wild front with the RallZ next (a combo recommended to me by one of the tour group/rental outfits). The RallZ with the huge voids have been nail magnets for me (ironically one of the guys I rode the Idaho BDR with recently picked one up within the first 250 miles). Between the RallZ and Adventure 500 miles is a record for me without a nail puncture (some of it is probably chance, but I have not seen that with other tires with a similar on/off-road ratio).

[@Crsf84]

Years on did anyone push these tyres off and some on road? I had the 3s and any sort of damp tar on way home they were awful.

[@manybikes]

@@Crsf84 Karoo 4 in the wet: Metzeler Karoo 4 Wet Weather Performance | CA State of Emergency kzbin.info/www/bejne/lV7Qla2Vj5xogsU Full review: Live! Metzeler Karoo 4 FINISHED @ 3700 Miles | Riders Share Rant kzbin.infoz2sBH_yNnTs?feature=share

[@Pug80]

@kyle, really hanging out for your in-depth take on this one!

[@manybikes]

Awesome! I just priced them now that they are available.... WHEW! $$$ DOUBLE the price of the new K60 Ranger tires.

[@TempusFugit2K]

Great review Guys. Definitely looking at this Tire for my 2nd Set for my ´23 Africa Twin. - Question - I just bought a new Africa Twin (non- Adv Sports) w/Karoo Street tires, I am going to put these tires on a new Set of Tubeless Wheels.... but they have "Tubed Tire" on the sidewall.... are there 2 types of Karoo Streets? (Tubed & Tubeless??) or are they BOTH OK Tubeless?

[@manybikes]

Awesome and No No No! Any tubeless tire you can fit a tube into. BUT... if the tire says tube type you MUST run a tube.

[@XLAdvRider]

Looks like a great tire and and an improvement over the Karoo 3 but as I mentioned on your Instagram post, the % off/on road positioning of this tire is ridiculous and no longer meaningful. Michelin did the same with their Anakee Wild at one point early on calling it 70/30 dirt/street but then realized the 50/50 segment is the largest and didn't want to limit their appeal. In your 2014 video with Landon he called it a "true 50/50 tire" but I'd read it back then described as a 70/30 dirt/street tire designed to go head to head with the TKC-80. Revzilla's currently calling it a 70/30 STREET/dirt tire (maybe they inverted it by mistake?). Also see Motoz nuances in the tread block design. Still eager to try it though!

[@manybikes]

I an not a fan AT ALL of the ratings… I see street tires, MX Tires and ADV tires. The manufacturer’s themselves themselves are all a bit wishy washy with it comes to “how off-road” their tires handle. We shall see with this one…. Time will tell.

[@MattyPaynter]

Appreciate your commitment Kyle. Relatively new ( 2 plus years ) to adventure riding on the GSA. Confident on road ( 30 plus years ) , not as much off-road ( 2 plus years ). Coming off TCK 80 ‘s which feel good but want to go to either Karoo 4’s or Motoz Rallz to try something different. Genuinely ride about 50/50 road off-road. Question- What would you recommend as better choice given my circumstances. ( Obviously you haven’t ridden 4’s yet, but my guess is you know a fair bit by looking at them ) Thanks in advance - Matt 👍

[@manybikes]

I'd recommend you go straight to the Motoz Dual Venture front tire. It is a new tire from Motoz and it works really really well. AND... it is revers-able. Swap it every 1500 to 2k miles an you have a like new tire again. I am digging it.

[@jesseonamotorcycle]

I ordered them. Can’t wait to put them on my Tiger 🐅

[@manybikes]

Awesome! Let me know your thoughts please!

[@greywolf9292]

Why is everything taking so damn long to hit the shelves? I saw a European review of these tyres and was hoping to replace the Karoo 3's on my KTM 890 Adventure R a bit sooner.

[@IAmYourReflection]

The great reset

[@manybikes]

Pretty ridiculous for sure!

[@cloudjumper8868]

These are today going on my bike. I am expecting very much.

[@manybikes]

What? How do you have these? This set is the only set in the USA at the moment!!!

[@cloudjumper8868]

@@manybikes Yeeesss, check my chanel! There is a proof! Literally 12 minutes of proofs with offroad riding, closeups, scrubing and initial impressions! I´m cheating though, I´m from Europe. Karoo 4 is aviable here for few weeks IIRC. Btw, info in your video is quite right. Rear tire compound (at least the middle section) is quite soft. The leading edge is rapidly coming down even after 20km of riding offroad. I think Karoo 3 had the same issue? Therefore I expect mileage to be quite similar to Karoo 3. Offroad though... man the tire is so good. Take it as an information from not experienced offroad rider, but still, the confidence offroad is so high! Btw: thanks for your videos on the tires, especially the tire comparison series. Very helpful, informative, fun!

[@MattyPaynter]

@@cloudjumper8868 how are the 4’s now after a few more weeks of riding. ?

[@cloudjumper8868]

@@MattyPaynter I have 3 videos on my channel regarding or reviewing these tires. In part 3 I am sumarizing my experience so far kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnaWl5dpqNiteJI

[@tripcitymoto489]

What sort of lifespan were folks reliably getting on the 3s? I understand the limitless factors, but on average.. My karoo 4 rear and dual venture front just came in. I'm moving to the mountains of NC so now I don't have to pound so much pavement to get to good stuff, hoping I don't end up wearing them out in 3 months!

[@manybikes]

I get about 3k miles out of the Karoo 3 rear and close to double from the front.

[@armywrench]

Nice. The Karoo 3’s really had a bad habit of letting go on the side bite for me. Not confidence inspiring. They equated to hockey pucks for hardness as well in colder weather. I ditched them at

[@manybikes]

Thanks for your comment. I agree with your thoughts on the Karoo 3 tires. Regarded the K60 Ranger, I haven’t measured it yet… but I do have a set on order and will test them right away.

[@armywrench]

@@manybikes just got back from scrubbing them in. Pretty sticky compared to the Shinkos 804/805’s I just came off of which is really surprising becuase of how soft they are. I usually would have to drop it down to 4 or less in rally mode to pick up the front tire. (790r)I had it in 7 and she lifted right up. Crappy metric but still notable. No speed wobble. Freshly graded gravel roads and hardball tonight. Honestly out of the gate the ranger is impressive. Confidence positive tires for sure. If I get 3k miles out of them I’ll be happy.

[@piotrkruczek7567]

Metzler's website says the rear is a dual compound, so I expected the middle knobs to be harder for better durability. Bit disappointing to be honest...

[@manybikes]

The durometer says otherwise here... Super soft!

[@rideyourbike]

Interesting tire. It's a direct competitors to the Bridgestone AX41, right? Thanks.

[@kevinsgro3252]

I really can't thing of anything better than the ax41s in regards to a true 50/50. I hope the karoo 4s and the k60 ranger give it some tough competition

[@manybikes]

Yes, right in the sights of the AX41... but they say much longer mileage. We shall see!!!

[@manybikes]

It looks a lot like the K60 Ranger... the comparisons will be interesting!

[@rideyourbike]

@@kevinsgro3252 I agree, mate. IMHO the AX41 has the best grip in the 50/50 tires, which is the most important criteria for me. Eg, on wet tarmac, in rain, mud, sand, gravel... Even at low temperatures (around or below 0ºC/32ºF). Let's see what Kyle's review pops up between AX41 vs Karoo 4 vs K60 Ranger. Cheers.

[@rideyourbike]

@@manybikes Yep, let's see if they can keep up with AX41 tires grip. If they can deliver high grip with high mileage, it will be the closest thing possible to a miracle...

[@AustrisPhoto]

Motoz Adventure are 14.5mm thread depth

[@manybikes]

It all depends on how / where you measure and the tire size. On the 150/70-18 I have, it measures 17/32nds or 13.49 cm.

[@williamb.6918]

So curiously Metzeler is listing both T and Q rated versions for several sizes. Any chance you can find out what the differences are there?

[@manybikes]

Speed Rating, thats all... T is rated at 118 mph and Q is rated at 99 mph.

[@williamb.6918]

@@manybikes Interesting to see different speed ratings for what looks like the same tire in the same size (maybe one is an OEM, maybe another is not). 150/70 R 18 M/C 70Q M+S TL and 150/70 R 18 M/C 70T M+S TL is an example (curiously I do not see this on the Euro site, just the US).

[@tango165]

Good stuff!! 😎👍🏼💪🏼

[@manybikes]

Thanks 👍

[@richardkessen7009]

They looked at Motoz for block placement

[@manybikes]

Yeah right?!

[@spotthedogg]

Buddy didn’t know what to do while you were talking about the tire, lol You also schooled him on on edge grip on a side hill, not when you’re leaned over, haha

[@manybikes]

Ha! Ha!

[@greenrush4313]

i cried for me and i cried for KAROOU

[@manybikes]

Why were you crying?

[@greenrush4313]

Its a long story about Karoos@@manybikes

[@manybikes]

Well, I'd love to hear it sometime.

[@verdonrocksphotography3510]

Nice nice maaaa maaaan

[@manybikes]

Another option! I really like the improvements over the Karoo 3. Now… time to put them to the test!

[@mrluxta]

The only problem I had on the Karoo 3 was that the side wall wasn’t scattered 😏 Hopefully the new design will stop sweeping out 😂 And making me shit myself 😂😂😂

[@manybikes]

100% I feel the same way. The side traction on these appear to be better.

[@paulvandervyver4223]

The name Karoo comes from an area in South Africa. It's a beautiful part of South Africa, very hot in summer, very cold in winter and known for a dry desert-like climate, rough rocky and sandy terrain...tough country, great for off road riding

[@manybikes]

We shall see!

[@generaldistrust]

maybe it's time for a new *"Paris Karoo"* enterprise 🤣

[@robpinter5431]

The rear look a bit like a Motoz Rallz...

[@manybikes]

Maybe a little... but much more like that K60 Ranger! These two will probably butt heads!

[@defylifeadventure]

single compound? Percentage of silica? Why don't the reps ever know anything about the tyres. Performance during wear? The Karoo 3 were great until part worn then fell off a cliff even when having decent treat left.

[@manybikes]

Yeah, the details is what I was after. Kinda like pulling teeth. We will see… looks promising but the tread depth is pretty shallow for as soft as the tread is.

[@firstamendmenttshirt4768]

You all taking about 500 pound bikes. I have a tire that is 90 10 1000 one it an here I thought it would last 500 miles. Lol.

[@manybikes]

Ha! Ha! Ha!

[@ryanmalone2681]

We now know the mileage is crazy low.

[@manybikes]

What mileage have you seen?

[@ryanmalone2681]

@@manybikes 2500

[@ryanmalone2681]

What are you a tire convention or something???

[@manybikes]

Nope... The BMW National Rally. Good People!

[@ryanmalone2681]

@@manybikes Cool. I’m out east and not as many events or rally’s out here.

[@manybikes]

@@ryanmalone2681 I’m in Springfield Missouri

[@ryanmalone2681]

@@manybikes I looked at that one. I’m planning an Iron Butt and saw they were certifying on the spot, but no starting locations were nearby. More importantly I’m still on crutches after 4 weeks from the crash below (happens around 16:00). kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5KXl6yGirhjjMU

[@glenntroopy]

i got 3000kms out of a k3 on a ATAS so i wont be buying them

[@clarkpiper5669]

Looks like the Shinko 805 only with offset side lugs. 👍

[@manybikes]

Totally!

[@ryanmalone2681]

First!

[@SimonBrisbane]

Made in China or Chinese owned? 😑

[@manybikes]

I need to look at the sidewall closer... stay tuned!

[@cloudjumper8868]

According to the websites in Europe, they are supposed to be made in America. South America. Brazil to be precise. :-D

[@SimonBrisbane]

@@cloudjumper8868 I don’t trust the websites, I trust the sidewall. China is trying to obfuscate their ownership and manufacturing of products as people realise how hostile they are and understand their human rights abuses. They are not a benign country.

[@cloudjumper8868]

@@SimonBrisbaneWell if people hate China so much, it would be suicide for company to hide info about made in, right? Especially if they were purposefuly hiding the info from people or worse, misguiding them with wrong info. Such an info leak would be suicide if people are so annoyed by China, right? Anyway, on mytires, rear one has Made in Germany label on a sidewall, front one has Made in Brasil printed on sidewall.