Michelin Commander II tires

[Gypsy Dragon]

Originally Posted by ndbigfish

I may be the only one that has not had a positive experience with Commander IIs. I put a set on last October and by the end of this month they will have to be changed. During the period, Ive put on just under 11,000 miles. Apparently the heat and road surface here limits the mileage. The best mileage I ever got from a rear tire was 13,000 miles from a Dunlop 404, made in Japan and installed on a Nomad.

I tried a set of the Commander II's and didn't like them. I thought they had a really vague fell and feedback to them. Also I think they are slippery in the dry, and like ice skating in the wet, I had absolutely no confidence if there was any moisture on the road at all. I don't like the profile of the rear either. it is too squared off, which is normal for most cruiser tires, and gave me the "fall in" feeling when leaning in to a corner.

I am currently running a set of Avon Cobras, and they are ok. I like the feel, and the shape, but there is nothing about them that excites me. Nothing stands out. They do have good wet grip, and good feedback, and I would have no issues running them again, but I don't like them as much as the Pirelli Night Dragons. I am going to try a set of 888's next, then will decide between them and the Night Dragons which will be my tire.

[hayes]

I'm looking for performance and life. I'm about to replace my second tire this year. What would everyone recommend? I'm looking at the night dragon. The stock bridge stones only last about 5-6000 miles.

[napom]

I just put on my third set of C II's . . .

[hayes]

Commander? I looked into those but people seem to hate them recently.

[dhobbs74]

Guys tires are not built and designed to last forever, at some point you're going to have to change them. These bikes are heavy and the rear tire has to carry the weight of the rider and the weight of the bike. Combine those two with a hot road surface, it's going to eat that rubber. Me personally, if I can get at least 10-12000 miles out of a rear tire, i'm happy with that. The more miles you put on your bike, the faster you're going to have to change the tire, those are the rules, those have always been the rules. When the tire wears down, Just go buy another one.

[hayes]

Originally Posted by dhobbs74

Guys tires are not built and designed to last forever, at some point you're going to have to change them. These bikes are heavy and the rear tire has to carry the weight of the rider and the weight of the bike. Combine those two with a hot road surface, it's going to eat that rubber. Me personally, if I can get at least 10-12000 miles out of a rear tire, i'm happy with that. The more miles you put on your bike, the faster you're going to have to change the tire, those are the rules, those have always been the rules. When the tire wears down, Just go buy another one.

No one is saying they don't want to change tires, just that they don't want to change them often. I've got 12500 miles on my bike and I'm getting ready for my third rear tire. I'd settle for 10-12k.

[Bud2rat]

I'm on my second rear Commander II. I got 15k out of the first one and it still had a few thousand left, but I was leaving on a road trip and decided to change it out. I also pull a small trailer with my camping gear.

[Ozymandias]

I put a Dunlop American Elite (180/65) on my Voyager. I haven't worn it out yet but it looks like it will get about three times the mileage of the Bridgestone Exedra Max that I had on previously or about twice what the OEM Bridgestone Exedra 722 got. I don't ride it hard and I haven't been in really rainy weather though I rode in the rain a few times and had no trouble at all. So far I like it a lot.

[napom]

My Voyager's tires:

Stock 6,000 miles before changing out both front and rear

1st set of Michelin Commander II's (traditional weights and Kawi recommended air pressures)

Just over 16,000 miles before change out - mostly 1 up - Back tire shot - front not far behind - front end wobble for last 2,500 or so miles

2nd set of C II's - Dyna beads for balance run at 40 psi rear 38 front

Just over 14,000 miles before swap out about 5,000 miles of this 2 up - still had some life to both tires but with an 8,000 mile plus ride ahead of me swapped them out early on - Rock solid ride throughout life

I am one of those who changes the front with the rear . . . I want fresh equal rubber on both ends . . . usually the front is only a couple thousand miles behind the rear anyway, so saves bike down time as well . . .

3rd set of C II's . . . Just put on last week . . . by this time next month will have over 8,200 miles on them . . .

[tonik]

Originally Posted by napom

My Voyager's tires...... front end wobble for last 2,500 or so miles.. . .

I am adding up over 40K on your bike? Have you changed out your steering head bearings? I just swapped mine out at 28K to the All Balls. I had the wobble bad. It's gone, solid as a rock.

[napom]

Just over 36K on her now - will be over 40 K soon . . .very soon :-))

I bought the All Balls when my first set of C II's started the wobble, but after swapping them out to new C II's with Dyna Beads haven't had the wobble again . . . I'm figuring on putting the All Balls in this winter when I do some fork maintenance and whatnot . . .

[Chuck A.]

I've gotten 10,000 miles on my M II's now and love them. This past weekend I got caught in a rain, got into a turn lane and grabbed and hand full of front and rear brakes. The rear locked, slid, and I all but laid her down. Thought at first it was the tire just loosing grip in the rain but later turned in the same place in my pickup truck and slid the tires. I realized the problem was oils in the center of the lane from cars, truck and 18 wheelers stopping there. I have road tested my tires this year in the East Tennessee and North Georgia mountains while riding with a pack of sport bikes. I have ground down the bottom of the engine guard and floor boards, haven't lost the traction due to the tires, yet. By now with the mileage, most tires will have given up grip due to wear and rubber hardening. I'll be buy another set when needed. I run them at 32lbs front and 40lbs rear as I am a large feller myself. When traveling with a loaded tailbag I run 42 rear. I also run the 130/90/16 on the front. Handles far better to me in the tight corners, which I always seem to take a little fast..

[hayes]

I will be installing the Bridgestone exedra g2. We shall see how this does.

[Ken Vega]

Originally Posted by hayes

I will be installing the Bridgestone exedra g2. We shall see how this does.

I had those on my 1500 classic. They suck. They dont inspire confidence and wear out very quickly. Like all the Stones

[hayes]

Not what I wanted to hear. Maybe I'll try the metzler 880?