The Continental RoadAttack series are sports touring tires that strike a balance between performance and life. They are ideal for sport enthusiasts, standard, street-oriented adventure bikes and mid-performance sport bikes.
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The evolution of the Continental Road offensive tire
With each generation from continent, carcass, compound, profile and tread designs have evolved. When RoadAttack first debuted in 2005, it introduced Continental’s ZeroDegree belt, a continuous steel wire that runs radially around the tire body in the same direction of travel, enhancing stability.
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In 2010, RoadAttack 2 introduced TractionSkin, Continental’s exclusive “pre-rubbed” tread surface that requires no anti-slip agents and virtually eliminates tire cracking time. RoadAttack 2 also features MultiGrip, where a single compound is heat-treated in a progressive fashion to provide better wear at the center of the tire, while also being more flexible and gripping better on the shoulders. MultiGrip provides smooth transitions between zones instead of the abrupt transitions that can happen with multi-compound tires.
In 2013, RoadAttack 2 Evo featured RainGrip, a high silicon compound designed for optimal performance in wet conditions. Four years later, the new RoadAttack 3 comes out with EasyHandling, a specialized alignment between the contours of the front and rear tires that is said to deliver neutral handling, especially when cornering and when cornering slowly.
All of these technologies are present in the new RoadAttack 4, with the addition of Continental’s latest trick: GripLimitFeedback. The unique combination of body structure and tread compound improves driver response when the tire reaches its traction limit.
RoadAttack 4 features a new compound and updated tread pattern that, according to Continental, boosts performance in wet weather, delivers faster warm-up times in cold and wet conditions, and provides traction. dry with a wide range of sports tyres.
A new silica-rich compound improves grip on wet roads without sacrificing range, a new resin blend makes the tire stickier even in cold weather, and the entire rubber layer has been optimized for better grip. used with modern ABS and traction control systems. Continental describes the RoadAttack 4 as a “super touring” tire for today’s motorsports, adventure travelers and motorsports over 150 hp.
The case of rubber meets the road
To test some of those claims, Continental invited us to BMW Performance Center in Greer, South Carolina, across from the plant that makes all BMW X-Series SUVs. The Performance Center offers automotive and motorcycling training, and facilities include a closed track, grand slide, as well as a variety of obstacles and off-road trails.
Many BMW motorcycles have been fitted with RoadAttack 4 tires. I sat on an F 900 R, which has an 853 cc Parallel-Twin engine, based on our last test of 2020, making 88. horsepower and 58 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheel.
Related: 2020 BMW F 900 R and F 900 XR | Road test evaluation
The BMW instructors started us off with some basic exercises, such as driving slowly using only the clutch to control speed, as well as fast and slow clutch weaving. We transitioned to high-speed braking and turning exercises, and I quickly appreciated the RoadAttack 4s’ grip and handling.
When we were instructed to accelerate from a stop to 30 mph, pass between the two cones, then close the gas and apply the maximum brake, the F 900 R came to a halt. As our target speed increased to 50 mph, I accidentally stood on the pedals after gripping the front brake lever. The F 900 R has ABS, but I’m in Dynamic mode, which reduces front wheel interference. The front tire provides a firm grip as the rear wheel lifts into a graceful, unintentional wheel, the likes of which I will probably never reproduce.
In the afternoon, we embarked on an energetic ride on cold, wet backroads, and we ended the day with a game of cat and mouse on the track, where we pushed the tires to the finish line. their term. Regardless of the conditions, the RoadAttack 4s starts up quickly, offers confident handling on a wide range of pavements, and durable grip.
On Day 2, I picked up an R 1250 RT for a longer test drive on some of the most twisty roads in southern Appalachia. At 615 lb, the RT is 144 lb heavier than the F 900 R and its larger engine makes 37 more horsepower. The performance of the RoadAttack 4s is even more impressive on a larger bike that places higher demands on the tyres. We didn’t get a chance to test drive the RoadAttack 4 on wet roads, so we’ll order a set soon and report back.
The Continental RoadAttack 4 tires come in a variety of sizes, with 17-inch and 19-inch front wheels, 17-inch rear wheels, and there’s even a GT version for heavy bikes.
