Tire Pressure

[Tortuga]

The rear ME88 on my '06 Nomad shed the tread on at least part of the left edge of the rear tire. I haven't climbed up under the bike but can see two strips about an inch and a half wide and a foot long are missing...right down to the wires. I assume these weren't the original tires as they were on the bike when I bought it used a few months ago, with 18,000+ miles. The tires had a fair amount of tread and I check them frequently, as I did two days before we left for a tour of N. AZ. After three days of about a thousand miles riding, I was putting the bike in the trailer. The Queen of AZ was watching from behind and told me our riding was done as the tire had shed some tread. Pressure has been at 40psi. I assume it was a combination of two up, 95-100 degree days and newly chipped crowned roads that caused the problem. Be that as it may, I opted for Michelin Commander II's: 180/65B-16(81H) and 130/90-16(73H), although I question the value of the 130. I switched to that on my Yamaha Venture and felt no difference, notwithstanding the glowing reports from others that the 130 was the be all and end all in improving the handling. Now then, my question is, what pressures have folks found to give mileage, ride, grip, etc? I went to the Michelin site and all I could find was to use whatever pressure the owner's manual suggested. This was odd since the answer has no consideration of what bike, what tire and so on, so no help there. What do you guys set pressures at considering probably 95-98% two up back road riding?

[nomadtom69]

ran 40 in front and 42 in back should work mine handled great

[Caveman]

That is the perpetual question my friend. Seeing as though you live in a similar climate, you'll probably have similar results as I have. I went with the Commander II's myself & are very happy. I've played around with different pressures for the last few months.

I run the back tire at 40psi, the air shocks at 32psi and the dial at 2 for one up riding and 4 for two up riding. I have a trunk and weigh 205, so the bike is decently loaded. I tried 36psi-44psi on the rear and like 40 the best. The heat out here definitely affects the tire differently that those who live in other climates.

On the front tire, I used to run 40psi with the original spec tire/rim but now I have a 2010 Street Glide wheel, which is 18".. so it's a little different for me. 40psi is too hard with this configuration, so I run 36psi.

[Tortuga]

Originally Posted by Caveman

That is the perpetual question my friend. Seeing as though you live in a similar climate, you'll probably have similar results as I have. I went with the Commander II's myself & are very happy. I've played around with different pressures for the last few months.

I run the back tire at 40psi, the air shocks at 32psi and the dial at 2 for one up riding and 4 for two up riding. I have a trunk and weigh 205, so the bike is decently loaded. I tried 36psi-44psi on the rear and like 40 the best. The heat out here definitely affects the tire differently that those who live in other climates.

On the front tire, I used to run 40psi with the original spec tire/rim but now I have a 2010 Street Glide wheel, which is 18".. so it's a little different for me. 40psi is too hard with this configuration, so I run 36psi.

But, of course, it's a dry heat, right.

[cnc]

It may not be so much the tire pressure as the tire it's self. You are not the first one to experience delamination with a Metzeler. There were several threads on here a few years back about it. It seems if I remember correctly the country of manufacture was changed and the quality went down hill. Maybe others who experienced this problem will chime in.

[Tortuga]

For 35+/- miles before trailering the bike, we were riding at 75 mph on I40 in strong winds. Seeing the threads after that made me shake. My real question, though, is what is the popular pressure for the Commander II's?

[denny 606]

Originally Posted by Tortuga

For 35+/- miles before trailering the bike, we were riding at 75 mph on I40 in strong winds. Seeing the threads after that made me shake. My real question, though, is what is the popular pressure for the Commander II's?

I run 38f and 40 r , I weigh 285 an have tour pak on mine as well. Shocks are on 4 with 25 psi in them.

Do most of my riding solo too. I don't care how I air them 10,00 a set is about as good as I get but I change mine as soon as I get close to the wear bars and ride pretty aggressively in these hills I live in. I toyed with the dark side thing in my head and decided I don't want to go that route . I don't have any particular reason , I just don't want too and since it's mine and I'm buying the tires that's enough of a reason. That's what I'm running with the same tires you are going to. I'll also note that I did put the progressive springs in the front if that makes any difference to you.

[Jllm02199]

Originally Posted by Tortuga

The rear ME88 on my '06 Nomad shed the tread on at least part of the left edge of the rear tire. I haven't climbed up under the bike but can see two strips about an inch and a half wide and a foot long are missing...right down to the wires. I assume these weren't the original tires as they were on the bike when I bought it used a few months ago, with 18,000+ miles. The tires had a fair amount of tread and I check them frequently, as I did two days before we left for a tour of N. AZ. After three days of about a thousand miles riding, I was putting the bike in the trailer. The Queen of AZ was watching from behind and told me our riding was done as the tire had shed some tread. Pressure has been at 40psi. I assume it was a combination of two up, 95-100 degree days and newly chipped crowned roads that caused the problem. Be that as it may, I opted for Michelin Commander II's: 180/65B-16(81H) and 130/90-16(73H), although I question the value of the 130. I switched to that on my Yamaha Venture and felt no difference, notwithstanding the glowing reports from others that the 130 was the be all and end all in improving the handling. Now then, my question is, what pressures have folks found to give mileage, ride, grip, etc? I went to the Michelin site and all I could find was to use whatever pressure the owner's manual suggested. This was odd since the answer has no consideration of what bike, what tire and so on, so no help there. What do you guys set pressures at considering probably 95-98% two up back road riding?

I running the tires you put on. 10.000 miles with no wear. Smooth as silk.

[degreaser]

I switched to Michelin Commander II tires

[dfly9891]

I have the Michelin Cmndr II attached to my 05 1600 Nomad and I run 32 psig front and 38 psig rear but I only weigh 150 lb. I keep 7 psig pressure in the rear shocks and the rebound set to III.

When I have my wife on the back who weighs 128 lb, the only change I make is to increase the rear shock pressure to 15 psig.

Front forks have race-tech rebuilds which makes them more confidence inspiring and firms up the whole chassis.

[dfly9891]

I have the Michelin Cmndr II attached to my 05 1600 Nomad and I run 32 psig front and 38 psig rear but I only weigh 150 lb. I keep 7 psig pressure in the rear shocks and the rebound set to III.

When I have my wife on the back who weighs 128 lb, the only change I make is to increase the rear shock pressure to 15 psig.

Front forks have race-tech rebuilds which makes them more confidence inspiring and firms up the whole chassis.

[VulcanJeff]

1500 Classic here so YMMV, pardon the pun, haha! In my Commander IIs, I run 32psi in my 130/90 up front and 42psi in the rear, also stock sized at 150/80. If I recall, Kawolski calls for 28 in the front and 40 in the rear. The rear's sidewall says 42psi max. I don't recall what the front's max is.

I think your Nomad is, per the factory, 32 front and 40 rear. I would be inclined to try 36'ish in the front unless it rode absolutely too harsh which is the case with my bike. Once I get to 34psi or above, it feels like a Flintstones mobile.

Metzlers caught a lot of sh*t from the Valkyrie crowd back in the day. Their tires were shyte on that bike. Somehow the brand has escaped eternal scorn despite numerous stories of tires flying apart. Shinko's reputation seems to have not fared as well regarding the same dilemma more or less.

[mbarr10]