Metzler Karoo 4 Review - Off Road & On Road With BMW F 900 GS

[@JoonesAdventuresMC]

I’m totally in to your way of classifying the tire. I believe we have talked about it some time before. Normally people use to divide 100 between off-road and onroad capability. But I use to grade the performance individually. Zero is no grip at all and 100 is the best you ever can expect from a tire, almost climbing walls 😂 50/50 is not good or bad on any surface 70/70 is pretty good on both. in that type of comparison you can add dry tarmac, wet tarmac, gravel, mud, sand, snow and so on. So it can be 70/60/70/40/30. You often see that on professional comparison but with stars instead Dry tarmac ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ wet tarmac ⭐️⭐️⭐️ gravel road ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mudd………⭐️⭐️ sand………..⭐️ When you display it like that people seems to understand it easier 😊

[@Braapncamp]

Yes, this is the way! To get traction on mud there a lot better tires and those get slippa as well 🤣. Thanks for inputvto the discussion Jonas. 👌

[@swedbear4035]

I like it! Completely agree that it makes it a lot more useful and clear to categorize it like that 👍👍 I might "steal" that concept 😉

[@procesgnilny]

Nah... 100 represent percentage and it does not intend to describe performance, but usage of the tire - 50/50 means it could be use 50-50 on tarmac and offroad and would perform similarly in both environments. 70-30 meand its mostly road tire and will perform much better there than offroad. Why complicate things?

[@JoonesAdventuresMC]

That definitely what most people mean with those numbers, you are 100% correct about that. But are sure that that’s what Mattias mean when he says -“I will call them a great seventy seventy tire actually” 🤔

[@whza75]

Use them on my 1290SAR, it is one of the few tyres that the 1290 doesn't eat up immediately. Mileage is good, considering bike and rider weight, style of riding, etc. These tyres work great on Karoo gravel roads in South Africa, but I guess that shouldn't be a surprise 😊

[@Braapncamp]

Thanks for Your first hands experience input! Always welcome 👍

[@CharlesLindsay1]

I have Karoo 4's front and back on my '21 T7. I use the tubeless versions, with tubes installed. Traction is good both on-road and off-road. It's an improvement over the stock Pirelli Scorpions, both on and off road, but the wear wasn't what I'd hoped. As it turns out, I've been riding too fast (above 140kmph from time to time) without enough pressure (I'd put 32-34psi into the tires cold, but when I got home after a quick 80km up and back, it was down to 26psi). So: Lessons learned: After about 5000km, the Karoo 4 is a big improvement off-road compared to the stock tires, and just as good traction on even wet tarmac. I'd hoped to get 10,000kms, but it looks like I'll maybe get 7500kms out of these two. (other tires I've used includes TKC80s, MT21+D606 -- a big upgrade over the stock tires on a CRF250L -- and the T7's original Scorpions)

[@Braapncamp]

I could imagine that You feel improvement, i'never got more than 5000Km out of tires like these. But it is interesting with others experience. Thanks for your input from these tires.

[@christopher54179]

On another note Mattias I really enjoy your trips showcasing Norway. I lived in Lofthus for 6 months and wish I had the means now to ride there in my 1290. Ha det bra. Ha en flott dag

[@Braapncamp]

Tusen tack! To do ADV trips is more fun than tire reviews. Tires are something we need and ADV something we want! 😂🙌

[@samhill3496]

With my new R9T U GS it came with Bridgestone battle somethings for the highway. The Karoo 4 is a choice I am considering for my off road hard pack gravel rides. I make no pretensions on it being a dirt bike anywhere close to my Tenere T700. I also am considering the Dunlop Trailmax tires. I have a set mounted on my spare tubeless T7 wheels. They have a rally version available 70/30 dirt oriented which have gotten good reviews both on road and off. So we will see. The new knee is comimg along, just not there yet. Good job Mattias one of my Nordic ADV riding friends. You take care

[@Braapncamp]

Would love to have a R9T Scrambler, love the look of them and must be a cool ride. Ride on my friend and braka in the knee with style 💪😁

[@christopher54179]

Great review. Might give these a go next time. I’m pleased with the Motaz Tractionator Adventure on my 1290. As you mentioned Karoo 4 are popular also here in Australia.

[@holden3083]

What are the motoz adventures like on wet roads please?

[@Braapncamp]

Thats great to hear, sand proven as well then. 😁

[@christopher54179]

@@holden3083 no problem. Very predictable and good wearing. Done 5500km and not half worn yet. Mixed tar and gravel maybe 70% tar. And I turn the throttle a bit🤣

[@enduromotorradtouren]

I agree (friends ride them) with you, Mattias. Metzeler Karoo 4 has good performance, but limited mileage. Still plenty for 15 days of long trailrides in Romania ;-) Happy days, Günter/Nürnberg

[@Braapncamp]

Aaa thanks for your experienced input Günter, much appreciated. I could imagine that the milage is in the midrange, quiet and grip has a cost.

[@enduromotorradtouren]

@@Braapncamp No pros without a con ;-)

[@servalico]

What results did you get from the Mitas E07+ and compared to the Karoo, which did you like best?

[@Braapncamp]

These are alot better than the E07+ in my opinion. Both are like a 50/50 tire. These felt dome grippier. .

[@neleig]

Thank you for your helpful review. I am in the market for a more off-road set to replace the Karoo Streets that came on my Triumph Scrambler 400.

[@Braapncamp]

Thanks, these gelt good for travel and adventure. Quiet and grippy on asphalt/gravel.

[@hovishill2779]

Nice review Mattias 👍🏻. Question has to be, which would you buy, Dunlop Trailmax Raid or Metzeler Karoo 4 as they both seem to be excellent tyres.

[@Braapncamp]

Thanks, never tried the Trailmax but i've only heard good about them. Traimax looks like a better travel tire.

[@stepheneldridge6998]

Nice review Mattias..looks like a decent tyre. The BMW is a great looking ADV bike! My experience of the Karoo 3's was not good...on the road i had zero confidence in them after some big slides. Hopefully the Karoo 4 is better! Cheers, Steve ps i hope you will post a video of your time on the T7 Extreme...?

[@Braapncamp]

Thanks Steve! You can count on a video on the Extreme ☝️😁

[@BeanieBiker_AutisticRider]

must be the bike or the way you ride, I have 5k miles on road and off with the Karoo 3s and they are a superb tyre, gives me great confidence in any conditions, both dry and wet, not had any issues with the Karoo 3s.

[@Braapncamp]

Probably a combo of causes, happy to hear that they work for You. 👍

[@pinkiewerewolf]

Good look the the Karoo 4's Mattias. I've been looking for that "ultimate" ADV tire for long miles on the road but decent performance off-road. Easy, slick mud always seems to be the stopper for tires that perform well on the pavement. I might give these a try for my next tire. I'm running the Dunlop Trailmax Missions right now which have worked well on everything except the mud. Even gravel they worked well.

[@Braapncamp]

Thanks my friend! Mud is always tricky most tires and especially OEM fettet tires are not really up to that task. But we work thru it any way 😱✊️✊️. My Motoz Deserts does mud better than these rides but are anoying noisy. But quiet on the gravel/forest roads ofc 😂👌.

[@skybluetenere]

Check the Mitas Dakar version tyres. I'm really impressed about the 21.5 tkm I've done on my rear tyre Mitas E-07 Dakar.

[@pinkiewerewolf]

@@skybluetenere Thanks for the information Mattias. I’ll have the shop order those for the next set. 👍

[@pinkiewerewolf]

@@Braapncamp I'm having the shop mount a MotoZ rear tire on my 501. I bought a Warp 9 rear wheel with a Cush drive for the bike.

[@holden3083]

Cheers for the review. Wonder how these compare to the motoz gps & adventures? Looking at these + 3 others for next set. What are they like on wet roads please?

[@Braapncamp]

Hope someone else could chim in here, I have only experience of the Motoz Rallz and Desert. The RallZ performed well on all surfaces is my experience. Front does not bite as good as the Desert though on looser gravel.

[@swedbear4035]

Kyle Bradshaw tested the Karoo 4 on the highway in torrential rain and claimed them the grippiest adv tire in wet weather as I recall it. Search for it here on the tube and you shall find it 👍 He really likes the Rallz as well (as a complete package)

[@Braapncamp]

@@swedbear4035 i could imagine! They really felt grippy and soft.

[@progammler]

Karoo 3 is a death trap! I threw mine away after almost crashing twice because the front tire slid out for no reason on wet tarmac at 10-15°C. I really like the the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR! I was surprised how well it handles on all surfaces except mud & grass but even something like the Michelin Anakee Adventure struggled once it got wet. Not sure where to go next. May I'll try a propper offroad tire in the front and mix it with a 60/40 rear to get a little more mileage out of it? Anyway thanks for your input on the Karoo 4

[@Braapncamp]

Thanks! Thats a good way to go. If You mainly ride unpaved roads go for a more aggressive enduro like front tire. Test and see what You like it. On my 690 i was running Mitas C02 rear and C21 front. Very aggressive and fun for sporty rides.

[@Wyatt1314.]

Literally my first thought when seeing the thumbnail "you definitely cannot push that front tire hard"...

[@progammler]

@@Wyatt1314. Note that I was talking about the karoo 3. The 4 seems to have improved but I probably won't try that model since I only have one life. I have ridden 10 year old motocross tires on wet tarmac that were more predictable than the karoo 3 lol

[@Braapncamp]

No, when playing with the guys these tires limits how hard to push or at least gives a lot less marginals. So I would not recommend these for the fun rides. But great for group rides on event with mixed skills riding and for inspired ADV rides.

[@Braapncamp]

A fun thing though is that I pushed two sets of the aweful Karoo 3's really hard on my 1200GSA once in a time. Totally toasted and needed to be replaced after 1500Km, both sets. Had them on fun events like 15 years ago. Won one of the sets at one of the events, would never have bought them twice 😂

[@leberkas_adv]

i rode both and both had the same thing: at the beginning, the rear wears down quickly up to around 2tkm. after that the wear down goes slower but the compound of the tire seems to be different (somehow harder/stiffer) so it behaves differently. i hoped they fixed this with v4, wasn't the case for me.

[@Braapncamp]

Thanks for your experienced input, should be interesting for thise who are in the market for a set.

[@BeanieBiker_AutisticRider]

I would be interested to know the experience of the riders, those knocking the Karoo 3s, what bikes they are riding, what conditions they are riding them in and air pressures etc because I am at 5k miles with the Karoo 3s on my F750GS, having done those miles both on and off road, doing some of the TET in France and the Green lanes in the UK and the Bridgestone Trail which is 42km at Ragley Hall, I have nothing but confidence with those tyres, they have given me great feeling on the bike, having done ruts, shale, rock, boggy mud, dry mud, slippy mud, sand, grass and forest in all weather conditions, I ain't no Chris Birch or Lyndon Poskitt on a bike off road, but the Metzeler Karoo 3s have done me well, and I will get another trip out of them before this season is over, and when I say season I mean the whole of 2024, yes I ride all year round, so I would have a guess that it is the rider that is the problem and not the tyre itself

[@Braapncamp]

It is always the rider. But the rider will also feel the difference on tires or tire set up's. So let's say that I like other tires better. Happy Trails, seems like 2024 will habe great oportunities 😁👍

[@ultimatepu5h]

70/30 you mean ha! Did you buy that bike?

[@Braapncamp]

Ha! No, I actually mean 70/70. 100 is not realistic to have as the measure for a tire. Better to try and evaluate the off and on road characteristics in each dicsipline to 100. ☝️😁

[@ultimatepu5h]

@@Braapncamp I understand =]

[@olegyd]

Karoo 3 eas very bad, slippery, dangerous. Not really looking for any Metzler tyres anymore

[@Braapncamp]

That was exactly my view on it as well, but this was an improvement.