Rear Tire Splitting

**BlueStreak07** · 09-30-2018, 05:21 PM

Looking for some suggestions. While comparing the rear tire on my Nomad and a friends Voyager a friend & I discovered 3 large cracks in it in the left side tread. The tires are Michelin Commander II Motorcycle Tire Cruiser Rear - 180/65-16 with just under 19000 miles on them that I had put on in July 2016 with a manufacture date code for the 1st week on March 2016. I usually keep 36 to 38 psi in it and the bike is garage kept. The tread still looks good except for the cracks. Has anyone else run across this and do I have a valid complaint to go to Micheline with?
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**Badger: Black Hills** · 09-30-2018, 08:16 PM

If you are unhappy with a product, complain. The worst that can happen is they say no. Having spent many years serving the public I can tell you that the customer who politely approached me with the attitude that they had a problem and I was the only one that could help them got my best possible response.

With that many miles on the tire you must be running a pretty hard, high mileage rubber. I'm no expert by maybe that makes it more likely to dry rot.

Also, you might want to run a little more pressure; I run 38 in front and 42 in the rear (2002 nomad).

Whatever you do, replace the tire!

TX1700 · 09-30-2018, 08:45 PM

Wow, it is hard for me to believe you have 19000 mile on that tire! I have gotten 19000 out of a front tire but that looks like it is new tread! I will be looking into Michelin Commander II for my next set of tires! If they aren't all getting crack like yours. My old Metzelers got cracks like that with 18000 or so mile but were at the end of their tread life. I have heard other running the Michelin Commander II's on the Voyager and having bad tire and Michelin not covering the tire because the are not the OEM size for the Voyager. Good luck and let us know how and what you get done.

**BlueStreak07** · 09-30-2018, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger: Black Hills

If you are unhappy with a product, complain. The worst that can happen is they say no. Having spent many years serving the public I can tell you that the customer who politely approached me with the attitude that they had a problem and I was the only one that could help them got my best possible response.

With that many miles on the tire you must be running a pretty hard, high mileage rubber. I'm no expert by maybe that makes it more likely to dry rot.

Also, you might want to run a little more pressure; I run 38 in front and 42 in the rear (2002 nomad).

Whatever you do, replace the tire!

Thnx. The complaint processing is started. Waiting on the return email. And the bike is out of service until I can get it replaced. Wouldn't chance a blowout. Looks like I'm going to have to increase the tire pressure I use, others on other forums having been saying they use high pressure then what I've been using.

redjay · 09-30-2018, 08:58 PM

I would say you have a valid cause for complaint.

**plumber63** · 09-30-2018, 11:08 PM

I put 18,000 on a rear Commander 2, It wasn't totally worn out but it did cup(scallop) real bad. Started around 13,000 miles, and as it got worse it got noisy. Also started to loose traction, especially when wet. But mine didn't split like yours. I ran around 40-42 psi.

You first pic show major cupping. With the lower air pressure you were running, almost looks like it was tearing the tire apart.

**plumber63** · 10-01-2018, 06:53 PM

Delete the link, not sure why its doing that. It came up in a google search and opened with no issues

**JD Hog** · 10-01-2018, 07:50 PM

OK Troy, the links have been deleted.

rolfe · 10-01-2018, 08:58 PM

2010 Nomad runs a 170/70-16 rear tire.

Wrong Tire Size Under Pressure ? Bad Tire ? Wrong Tire Size Over Inflation ? Heat build up ? etc....

Using Tacoma World Tire Size Calculator

on the tire you have installed- overall in Diameter, Circumference and Sidewall Height is down 0.83 %
overall in Width is up 0.39%
revolutions per mile using 19k miles is up 94,430 additional revolutions
as compared to 170/70-16

But is amazing you have 19k out of them.

The only tire change I made once was with the ME880 rear - per their specs no issues.

Running Shinkos 777HD now which stick like glue with their soft rubber compound - my feelings on these are the mileage will be low but that doesn't bother me as how they handle.

wow 19k

Lumberjack · 10-02-2018, 11:00 PM

I'm lucky to get 10-12 kilometers on a rear

That's running 41 PSI (max) on it too

redjay · 10-03-2018, 07:07 AM

I currently have 24,000 kms on my Commander II rear tire with probably another 5,000 to 10,000kms to go.

H8BUGZ · 10-03-2018, 03:56 PM

My Voyager must be a real lemon! I have had several Commander II's on the back and never seen that kind of mileage. 15-16K maybe-but they are not very trip worthy near the end. Never got out of the 30's for fuel mileage either. Must be doing something wrong?

**Sabre-t** · 10-03-2018, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H8BUGZ

My Voyager must be a real lemon! I have had several Commander II's on the back and never seen that kind of mileage. 15-16K maybe-but they are not very trip worthy near the end. Never got out of the 30's for fuel mileage either. Must be doing something wrong?

Riding style had a big impact on tire mileage, I think. I don't accelerate or brake hard normally. But you "ride it like you stole it" you are going to chew up tread (and gas) a lot faster than someone like me.

Scootergptx · 10-04-2018, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolfe

Running Shinkos 777HD now which stick like glue with their soft rubber compound - my feelings on these are the mileage will be low but that doesn't bother me as how they handle.

wow 19k

On my third rear of those. Mileage has varied, but no where near 19k. Seem to last about a year. I never kept track of the mileage. I do know I put almost 9k a year just going back and forth to work. So for the price and the way they handle, I'll keep using them.

H8BUGZ · 10-04-2018, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabre-t

Riding style had a big impact on tire mileage, I think. I don't accelerate or brake hard normally. But you "ride it like you stole it" you are going to chew up tread (and gas) a lot faster than someone like me.

I guess I don't brake hard, as I have 71,000 miles on the original front brake pads! Also huge "Chicken Strips" as 99% of my riding is straight down the highway from 65-80 mph. I guess it was a kind way to say, unbelievable mileage and tread wear. Sorry the Commander is coming apart.

09-30-2018, 08:16 PM	#2
Badger: Black Hills Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Black Hills, SD Posts: 200	If you are unhappy with a product, complain. The worst that can happen is they say no. Having spent many years serving the public I can tell you that the customer who politely approached me with the attitude that they had a problem and I was the only one that could help them got my best possible response. With that many miles on the tire you must be running a pretty hard, high mileage rubber. I'm no expert by maybe that makes it more likely to dry rot. Also, you might want to run a little more pressure; I run 38 in front and 42 in the rear (2002 nomad). Whatever you do, replace the tire! __________________ 2009 National, Custer, SD 2010 NW Regional, Kalispell, MT 2011 National, Maggie Valley, NC 2011 Rally in the Redwoods, CA 2013 National, Estes Park, CO 2013 SE Regional, Blairsville, GA 2014 NW Regional, Orifino, ID 2014 NC/SC Regional in the Ozarks, AR 2016 NC Regional, Hillsboro, WI 2016 E. Canada/NE Regional, Quebec 2017 National, Lake George, NY 2018 SC/NC, Custer, SD 2018 Antlers, OK Last edited by Badger: Black Hills; 09-30-2018 at 08:21 PM.
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09-30-2018, 08:45 PM	#3
TX1700 Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 128	Wow, it is hard for me to believe you have 19000 mile on that tire! I have gotten 19000 out of a front tire but that looks like it is new tread! I will be looking into Michelin Commander II for my next set of tires! If they aren't all getting crack like yours. My old Metzelers got cracks like that with 18000 or so mile but were at the end of their tread life. I have heard other running the Michelin Commander II's on the Voyager and having bad tire and Michelin not covering the tire because the are not the OEM size for the Voyager. Good luck and let us know how and what you get done. __________________ TX1700 on VBA plunge on Texas VROC VROC #36447 VBA #02703 Ivan's reflash 2013 Vulcan Voyager ABS 2002 Road Star (sold)
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09-30-2018, 08:58 PM	#5
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,945	I would say you have a valid cause for complaint. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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09-30-2018, 11:08 PM	#6
plumber63 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 989	I put 18,000 on a rear Commander 2, It wasn't totally worn out but it did cup(scallop) real bad. Started around 13,000 miles, and as it got worse it got noisy. Also started to loose traction, especially when wet. But mine didn't split like yours. I ran around 40-42 psi. You first pic show major cupping. With the lower air pressure you were running, almost looks like it was tearing the tire apart. __________________ Troy Donat VBA #02401 2015 Voyager 2006 1600 Nomad black(sold) 2016 Salem, Antlers, 2017 Eureka Springs, Lake George, Antlers 2018 Custer NR, Antlers Last edited by plumber63; 10-01-2018 at 06:50 PM.
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10-01-2018, 06:53 PM	#7
plumber63 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 989	Delete the link, not sure why its doing that. It came up in a google search and opened with no issues __________________ Troy Donat VBA #02401 2015 Voyager 2006 1600 Nomad black(sold) 2016 Salem, Antlers, 2017 Eureka Springs, Lake George, Antlers 2018 Custer NR, Antlers
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10-01-2018, 07:50 PM	#8
JD Hog Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Placerville, CA Posts: 2,953	OK Troy, the links have been deleted. __________________ Jim Diebolt 2015 Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS The Black Kaw 2005 Vulcan Nomad Sold 2006 Honda 1800 VTX (Freebie) Sold 2008 Harley Ultra Classic Sold 2001 Harley Ultra Classic Sold Hangtown, Kalifornia VBA #2625
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10-01-2018, 08:58 PM	#9
rolfe Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Lake Travis, Texas Posts: 518	2010 Nomad runs a 170/70-16 rear tire. Wrong Tire Size Under Pressure ? Bad Tire ? Wrong Tire Size Over Inflation ? Heat build up ? etc.... Using Tacoma World Tire Size Calculator on the tire you have installed- overall in Diameter, Circumference and Sidewall Height is down 0.83 % overall in Width is up 0.39% revolutions per mile using 19k miles is up 94,430 additional revolutions as compared to 170/70-16 But is amazing you have 19k out of them. The only tire change I made once was with the ME880 rear - per their specs no issues. Running Shinkos 777HD now which stick like glue with their soft rubber compound - my feelings on these are the mileage will be low but that doesn't bother me as how they handle. wow 19k Last edited by rolfe; 10-01-2018 at 09:48 PM.
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10-02-2018, 11:00 PM	#10
Lumberjack Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 542	I'm lucky to get 10-12 kilometers on a rear That's running 41 PSI (max) on it too
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10-03-2018, 07:07 AM	#11
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,945	I currently have 24,000 kms on my Commander II rear tire with probably another 5,000 to 10,000kms to go.
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10-03-2018, 03:56 PM	#12
H8BUGZ Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Midwest Posts: 273	My Voyager must be a real lemon! I have had several Commander II's on the back and never seen that kind of mileage. 15-16K maybe-but they are not very trip worthy near the end. Never got out of the 30's for fuel mileage either. Must be doing something wrong?
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