yea tires again

[billmac]

Getting ready for new tires, would like to try the Commander ll on my 07 RSTD but it looks like I will need to use these sizes. would I have any trouble if I went this way. Mostly solo but some 2up.

 

front: 130/90-16 73-H $116.95

 

rear: 150/90-15 74-H $161.95

 

from the Bike Bandit.com

[buddy]

Getting ready for new tires, would like to try the Commander ll on my 07 RSTD but it looks like I will need to use these sizes. would I have any trouble if I went this way. Mostly solo but some 2up.

 

front: 130/90-16 73-H $116.95

 

rear: 150/90-15 74-H $161.95

 

from the Bike Bandit.com

 

Yep you be just fine size I have as well very pleased but mine are different mfg tire

[cowpuc]

Hey Bill,,

While not exactly the same application cause I have never owned a RSTD, I have been down the Michelin Commander 2 road on one of my 83 1st Gens.. I tend to go thru a lot of rubber touring the desert regions. Got talked into trying one on the rear of my bike out in Texas one time, was told by the guy at this little bike shop that "their all we use out here", paid $135 for mine (not bad for a desperate desperado)..

After spending time on that tire I could see why the guy sold a lot of them out there.. It wore like iron compared to the Dunlops/Shinko's/Pirelli's and Metzlers I had ran before.. Definitly a high mileage tire,, HARD rubber tire.. The down side of it was, to me,, though I didnt end up with rubber all over the back of my bike like in the past, it hated cooler pavement - had to be very careful on the mountain twisties AND on wet cooler pavement I HATED that tire - look in a Websters under SLIPPERY WHEN WET and you will probably see that tire listed..

One thing I noticed right away with mine was it didnt appear to have the tread depth when new that other brands I had boughten had,, like I got shorted half the tread depth.. May have just been my imagination but it really appeared that way.. I KNOW the harder rubber definitly affected the cornering and wet weather handling but I always wondered if the lack of tread depth didnt increase those issues... Also,, the profile of the tire was different,, it didnt have the same "crown" as I was use to, it sat flatter (a little closer to going to the dark side) than the other tires...

Bottom line:

Wear factor +10

All other Factors +3,, maybe,, depending a lot on how hard it was pushed..

 

Just my 2 cents....

Puc

[Winddancer]

Cowpuc are you sure you didnt get a used one?

I have been using commander II's on all of my bikes because they wear so well, and none of them had a flatter profile, and the stick well in the rain and on cool, even snow and frozen pavement..I ride my voyager XII year round here in New England and have 32k on a Commander II front tire with a car tire in the rear..

 

Billmac...

yup those are the sizes, and you will love the tires..

keep them aired up around 40/42 and they will last a long, long time..

[cowpuc]

Cowpuc are you sure you didnt get a used one?

I have been using commander II's on all of my bikes because they wear so well, and none of them had a flatter profile, and the stick well in the rain and on cool, even snow and frozen pavement..I ride my voyager XII year round here in New England and have 32k on a Commander II front tire with a car tire in the rear..

 

Billmac...

yup those are the sizes, and you will love the tires..

keep them aired up around 40/42 and they will last a long, long time..

 

Winddancer,,, I am sure it was a new tire - very possible it was new OLD Stock though,, place that sold it to me was a back country small town joint that just happened to have something that fit my bike, got me back on the road!! Matter of fact,, I think that tire is still on one of my "parts" bikes (my wore out bikes become victims),, because it did wear so well I may very well slip it on my current bike when I head to the desert this year - like you mentioned Dancer,, they do wear extremely well!!

Dancer,, what do you run for a car tire on the back? I have never gone that route BUT by the sounds of things maybe I will give it a try..

Hey Bill,, probably oughta listen to Dancer,, sounds like that Texan may have gotten the best of me in that one:rotf:

I get a chance I will snap a pic of the Commander 2's profile on the parts bike in comparison to the new Metz I just stuck on my rider.. Got me curious now.........

[billmac]

I thought the commander ll just came out 2 or 3 years ago?

[djh3]

MC 2 are whats on mine now. Over 15k on them and they have been very good in rain and all around. I am going to try out a Shinko next. My rear is on last few hundred miles or so I figure.

On thing for sure shop around on prices. My experience is motorcycle super store has been best price. Jake Wilson has also had good pricing.

[cowpuc]

MC 2 are whats on mine now. Over 15k on them and they have been very good in rain and all around. I am going to try out a Shinko next. My rear is on last few hundred miles or so I figure.

On thing for sure shop around on prices. My experience is motorcycle super store has been best price. Jake Wilson has also had good pricing.

 

Well,, gonna go out on another limb here DJ,, just for you... Go ahead and whip me if ya need to guys but I gotta say it... I would reconsider Shinko's... Been there, price was right, tires looked great and I thought I would try em.. Bought the correct sizes, as close to weight carrying capacity to my E2's as I could get, mounted/balanced em up, loaded up the bike and Tippy and I headed for the Dragon.. Going south on the highway out of Johnson City TN, 104 degree day, hot tarmac, Tweeks all of sudden let me know she her shoe came off.. Got her landed ok.. Back tire flatter than a pan cake. Got her ripped down, up on center stand spun the back tire and heard a noise inside the tire.. Guy stopped to help, rolled the back wheel and said "you got drivetrain problems", said no I dont - what ever punctured my tire is still inside it..

He took me back to "Jims" (GREAT FOLKS) in Johnson City.. Told the mechanic I wanted what ever was inside the tire rattling around for a keep sake.. Below are a couple of pics of what went thru the brand new Shinko - I keep this piece in my maintenance department bag just to show folks.. Notice that there really are no pointed edges on the piece, not like a nail or a screw or something.. The guy at Jim's agreed with me when I commented that something like that should have never punctured the tire.. He said that Shinko's dont have the carcass strength of the most other brands...

Personally,, l wouldnt run em again unless I had to..

 

Just my opinion.....

Puc

[djh3]

I heard a statement once years ago that still makes sense. why are probably 60 of your flats on a bike on the rear? Because you hit them with the front and it stands up whatever it is on angle and the rear get the bad end of it.

Thanks for the info.

[cowpuc]

I heard a statement once years ago that still makes sense. why are probably 60 of your flats on a bike on the rear? Because you hit them with the front and it stands up whatever it is on angle and the rear get the bad end of it.

Thanks for the info.

 

Love your saying, makes a LOT of sense!!

Your welcome for the info!

Puc

[djh3]

Actually just a repate from a friend I use to ride with in my old club in Oklahoma. I think he was a "retread" guy also. It made perfect sense to me also.

[Winddancer]

Cowpuc,

So far for CT's I have run a Federal, Nexen and I am about ready to try the Nankang..

at the moment I like the federal the best because it has a stiffer sidewall then the nexen did, but the Nankang seems to have a stiff sidewall too, so I am going to give that a try once I get a chance to pull the tire and have it mounted, which I will do before rolling thunder.

I will let you know what I think of it..I actually am thinking of doing a thread and pics with the comparison for people who have questions on this subject..

running a CT is an adjustment, I can go into all the tricks to help with that, so if you do decide to do it, let me know, but as for me.. I will not go back to an MC tire..

 

@billmac Yes they are pretty new, but my 32k+ miles have been in about 18 months.

Edited May 6, 2014 by Winddancer

[crazygaucho]

got the rear Pirelli Mt66 installed Wednesday and a 150 miles ride on Sunday ......... so far so good

I don't have high expectations on durability but for a hundred bucks anything over 6k will be a bonus for me.

I was tempted to try the shinkos too.

 

the commander were made in Thailand and the Pirellis in Brazil

[billmac]

Just got the commander ll's mounted today felt real good and rode better than the old worn tires. came home and pouring rain showed up so I'll ride later. Riding in the rain don't bother me just not starting in it if I don't have to.

[Illinois]

Just got the commander ll's mounted today felt real good and rode better than the old worn tires. came home and pouring rain showed up so I'll ride later. Riding in the rain don't bother me just not starting in it if I don't have to.

 

Also have a RSTD. Can you determine any difference in handling with the smaller front tire?

[IronMike]

Just got the commander ll's mounted today felt real good and rode better than the old worn tires. came home and pouring rain showed up so I'll ride later. Riding in the rain don't bother me just not starting in it if I don't have to.

Man I loved the MT 66 you will get 6k out of it easily. Its known to be sticky. I had one loved it but it started to crack in the treads where the tread meets the carcass. So I just got another one thinking maybe I ran through some chemical. But it did the same thing. Just a little uneasy since I take long hard fast rides far from home. Just watch for the cracking. I actually ran one to the Tail and back cracked and it did not get any worse. I've got pictures but who can find them. I need a way to organize pictures that works. Off topic!

 

Tires a a funny commodity. Used to be everyone swore by metzler then I noticed the made in USA ones were lasting longer than the ones made overseas. Then,, they all turned bad. I suppose its all in the supplies they use to make it and the talent. Both can vary.

Edited May 9, 2014 by IronMike

[billmac]

Also have a RSTD. Can you determine any difference in handling with the smaller front tire?

 

need to ride it more but did seem to respond quicker and made a U-turn easier.

[billmac]

got out Sunday for a 140 mile ride. Handled great no problems changing lanes with cracks, handled the rain grooves without a wobble. had it up to 87mpg with out a shimmer. easy to turn at slow speeds in parking lots and feels great on the road. did not go down any dirt roads so that will have to wait until I do.