MXA TEAM TESTED: METZELER MC360 MID-SOFT TIRES

WHAT IS IT? The MXA wrecking crew hasn’t seriously tested Metzeler motocross tires since we raced Maicos at Saddleback. When tire guru Doug Schopinsky sent MXA a set of Metzeler MC360s, we were confused, because Doug told us that the MC360 was a street-legal, DOT-approved, on-road tire that could be used for anything from street to gravel to trail to ISDT to motocross. We had our doubts about that claim.

WHAT’S IT COST? $129.04 (rear), $99.95 (front).

CONTACT? www.metzeler.com or your local dealer.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Metzeler MC360 Mid-Soft tires.

(1) Rear tire. We started by running the rear Metzeler MC360 at first by mating it with a Dunlop MX3S front tire to isolate the rear with a known front. Surprise! The MC360 was a very good intermediate-terrain rear tire. It was very secure-feeling, hooked up well in a straight line and rolled into corners with very little slippage. Plus, it wore really well when used on the correct dirt (Metzeler makes an MC360 Mid-Hard for hard-pack dirt).

(2) Front tire. MXA test riders only like a small handful of front tires, while they will tolerate most rear tires. The MC360 front looks like a sand tire. It has five rows of knobs, with the tall center knobs aligned longitudinally with the side knobs. The land/sea ratio is widely spaced down the center, with larger blocks on the sides for cornering. In action, it feel like it presses the center knobs into the ground for bite and then supports them with maximum rubber on the sides.In the end, we were pleasantly surprised by the front MC360

(3) Performance. Bottom line? We would gladly race on these tires (on the proper terrain). Metzeler’s compound know-how allows them to build a tire that grips the ground securely.

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? We won’t be riding the Metzeler MC360s on the pavement, but we will in the dirt.

MXA RATING: The MC360s were a shocker. Not because they worked on a motocross track, but because they worked well, in spite of being designed as a do-it-all set of tires.

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