Michelin Commander 2 tires in Rain?

[samklr650]

Last Month I installed a Michelin Commander II tire on the rear of my 2005 RSMV. It has roughly about 4K miles on it. Well Last weekend is the 1st time I got caught in the rain with this tire and several times, and on various types of pavement, when trying to stop the tire would break traction on wet pavement. I use my front brakes for most of my stopping and the back brake as only assist. I was fully loaded and I run 36psi on both front and rear. Of course this made me nervous when trying to corner on wet pavement.

 

Has anyone else had issues with these Michelin tires? They say this is a 20K tires, which to me means its a very hard compound. But if its so hard I can't ride in the rain, this tire is getting removed!

[BigLenny]

Thanks for asking that question because I have tossed around the idea of using that tire. I wanna see what the responses will be.

 

BTW, 36lbs on the front is okay, but 36lbs on the rear sounds way too low for any of the tires I've ran. Is that what Michelin recommends for that tire?

[Bert2006]

I installed them a few months ago and run 36 in front and 40 in rear. Ran them in light rain with no problems, but I usually slow down considerably under wet conditions anyway. Have to be extra carefull on any painted lines and when the rain just starts as the accumulation of oils and junk has not washed out yet.

 

[Kirby]

I only got the rear but no problems in the rain so far and I've been in some frog stranglers!

[Monty]

Sounds like too hard of a compound...or braking habits.

 

I only run Elite 3s on mine. Am on about my 5th set. Great tires, although a little noisy in the curves.

[Black wing]

got it on my rear and have ridden through some nasty stuff no slipping or squirrelenes

[jakester]

Tire dealer in Sturgis advised me (for what its worth) that the commander 2 was designed for the European market. With rain/ wet/ twisty roads in mind, this was his most popular road tire.

Bill

[cowpuc]

Last Month I installed a Michelin Commander II tire on the rear of my 2005 RSMV. It has roughly about 4K miles on it. Well Last weekend is the 1st time I got caught in the rain with this tire and several times, and on various types of pavement, when trying to stop the tire would break traction on wet pavement. I use my front brakes for most of my stopping and the back brake as only assist. I was fully loaded and I run 36psi on both front and rear. Of course this made me nervous when trying to corner on wet pavement.

 

Has anyone else had issues with these Michelin tires? They say this is a 20K tires, which to me means its a very hard compound. But if its so hard I can't ride in the rain, this tire is getting removed!

 

Sam, one of the tires I wore off my 83 last year was a Commander 2.. The last sentence of your post describes a warning that I received from a friend who owns the Tire Dealership where I purchased the tire from.. Worded something like this "this should help in your tire wear because these are much harder rubber BUT - be careful in the twisties and in rain cause I have had LOTS of complaints on loss of traction issues..

I did experience a few occasions in cornering where the tire spooked me pretty good, one of which was coming off a sandy corner where I was expecting the tire regain traction like a Dunny and it didnt do so .. In rain, I have a habit of actually speeding up to stay dry and also found the Commander had a different feel to it.. The tire did in fact handle the desert temps much better than most tires I have used though, IT LOVED GETTING HOT.. It was a MUCH stiffer tire to install - needed to get very warm (set in sunshine for a couple hours before fairly pliable) before spooning it on - I am sure due to a harder rubber compound..

All that said, it proved to be a good enough tire that I didnt hesitate installing another one just recently (got a good deal - 65 bucks) and will run it till its gone..

Bottom line though, if your rides are gonna be filled with worrys of "can I trust this tire" cause it did this or that I would change it in heart beat.. Biking is suppose to be about having fun and getting rid of worrys - not the other way around..

[samklr650]

Sam, one of the tires I wore off my 83 last year was a Commander 2.. The last sentence of your post describes a warning that I received from a friend who owns the Tire Dealership where I purchased the tire from.. Worded something like this "this should help in your tire wear because these are much harder rubber BUT - be careful in the twisties and in rain cause I have had LOTS of complaints on loss of traction issues..

I did experience a few occasions in cornering where the tire spooked me pretty good, one of which was coming off a sandy corner where I was expecting the tire regain traction like a Dunny and it didnt do so .. In rain, I have a habit of actually speeding up to stay dry and also found the Commander had a different feel to it.. The tire did in fact handle the desert temps much better than most tires I have used though, IT LOVED GETTING HOT.. It was a MUCH stiffer tire to install - needed to get very warm (set in sunshine for a couple hours before fairly pliable) before spooning it on - I am sure due to a harder rubber compound..

All that said, it proved to be a good enough tire that I didnt hesitate installing another one just recently (got a good deal - 65 bucks) and will run it till its gone..

Bottom line though, if your rides are gonna be filled with worrys of "can I trust this tire" cause it did this or that I would change it in heart beat.. Biking is suppose to be about having fun and getting rid of worrys - not the other way around..

 

Yeah, I agree with you there. Not sure if I want to keep running this tire or not.

 

Monty,as for braking habits. I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I have been riding on and off road for 36yrs, so I think I have that down. However, this is my first "Big" Bike, so you might be right. I always count on my front brake for most of my stopping power and only use back for assist. But with this bike I have notcied you need both in most situations.

[billmac]

no problems with my commander II's front and rear. rain, cool or hot almost 4000 on them.

[djh3]

I have had them on min e for over 17K. I like the rain traction better than the E-3. the E-3 would lock up in a NY second. No tread in center of tire to dissipate water was my recollection. I will tell you I had my fair share of rear lock ups in the wet, but was usually shortly after a rain storm started. As for cornering I have not noticed it being slippery or anything like that. I did just replace the rear with a Shinko as the rear was getting down @ 17,500 miles. Front still looking good. Your pressure is down from what was recommended to me by Michelin. they told me 40 front and rear one up or solo touring normal gear. And max press 2 up and gear.

[whiskers]

Okay so I am unable to find where to start a new post so I will ask here . Non of the tire suppliers that I find list a 150/80-16 Michelin Commander II as a front tire always as a rear. Is there a different compound for a front Commander II?

[Mike G in SC]

I have the MC II on rear of my two Royals (E3 fronts).

Probably got 30-40k miles that way,,,, no problems, dry or wet.

 

Disperses well in heavy rains.

And, never had cornering issue but,,, I ain't going to push it either.

[djh3]

No 150/80 or whatever the OEM size is. They have a 130/90 which is a tick taller and narrower. Some say it makes a bit quicker steering @ slower speeds. I dont notice it.

[friesman]

I run a 130 MC2 on the front of my RSV with about 4000 miles on it and looks new, I have the OEM size MC2 on the back with about 14000 miles on it and I really don't see any signs of wear yet. I have ridden the tires in cold and heat and they have performed very well, Ive ridden it thru an absolute downpour going to Calgary a couple of months ago and I felt like I was glued to the road at all times. I would definitely buy them again and I do like the narrower tire on the front for the lighter handling, but I have found that when my passenger is on I need to add some air to the shock or the front tire feels a bit light and seems to wander. When I make the shock more full of air the situation goes away and it handles fine for me.

 

Brian

[IronMike]

I have the tire only on the front. Ive had it slip a few times, but that does not mean I am changing it out, 99% of the time I am running straight on dry roads and I am looking for long wear, If I had a 600R I might be concerned. We don't have a sport bike. I have it on there so I am not changing tires on a Trip.

Mine is a rear on the front. 130. (The manufacture does not even recommend their tires for this bike. You have to go to the 130 on the front.)

 

Im in it for the long haul.

[MikeWa]

For me it depends on how long it has been raining. If it is a new rain the roads can become very slick with whatever tire I am using. But if it has been raining enough to flush the oil away my Bridgestones or Dunlops are just fine.

 

Mike

[samklr650]

Ok, I'm done with these tires. I rode home last night in the rain and these Michelin's broke traction again. I like the idea of long distance tires, but when you ride as much as I do and get caught in the rain, its not worth it. I've never had Dunlops, Kenda's, or Shinko's break traction as much as these tires do. If you ride in the rain, don't put Commander II's on your bike.

[djh3]

Hmm I had 17k + on mine here in "sunny" Fla and dont recall any problems. We do get quite a bit of rain at times.

[Bert2006]

Ok, I'm done with these tires. I rode home last night in the rain and these Michelin's broke traction again. I like the idea of long distance tires, but when you ride as much as I do and get caught in the rain, its not worth it. I've never had Dunlops, Kenda's, or Shinko's break traction as much as these tires do. If you ride in the rain, don't put Commander II's on your bike.

 

What pressure are you running them at?

[ragtop69gs]

I have the CII on the front and rode in an absolute gully washer on the way home from Don's last weekend, pulling a trailer and never felt it lose traction.

[samklr650]

What pressure are you running them at?

 

Hhhmmm...well after talking to some guys at work, they stated they lost traction driving their cars in that last rain. We've had rain recently, but maybe not enough to clean the roads. My problem is I have lost traction several times with this set of tires, more than any other bike or tires I've ridden on and I ride in the rain allot. To answer your question, I run 36psi front and rear for just casual riding. I air up the rear tire to 40psi when fully loaded with a passenger.

[djh3]

I ran mine @ 40 both ends. Well maybe 39 front. Thats what Michlen recomended when I contacted them.

[friesman]

I have had the back C2 on for 2 years and the front for one year and have never felt them move sideways in any rain. In fact a year ago I rode into Calgary in a downpour that set records and never had an issue with any lack of traction. As far as I am concerened they have been the best tire ive ever used. I am gonna have to replace the back tire sometime before I go to BC this summer, but it already has over 32000kms on it. I run close to max inflation on both tires all the time.

 

 

Brian

[samklr650]

I'll try to air up a bit. But, being and off road guy where you air down for traction, I would think a lower air pressure would provide better traction.