Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Changing tires again. On the fence....

I don't think there's any way to have a discussion about tires that doesn't turn out completely confusing. We've all got our opinions on this matter and they tend to diverge completely!

I replaced my OEMs with a set of Dunlops. The Dunny's were ok. Sufficient I could say. Maybe better than sufficient. No big incidents in the rain. In fact not much wet sliding at all. My biggest complaint about these tires is at high speeds (75-110), I tend to feel a little "floaty" or something. Like I couldn't get a feel for the road, which was a new sensation after 10 years or so of riding. But this was my first set of brand new tires on the first bike I ever owned from the showroom. I could be imagining. I tend to pay way too much attention to small details and lose the bigger picture.

I did actually like the Bridgestone OEMs a little better. Some people spit on those tires, but I felt pretty good about them. This could also be because they were what I drove outta the showroom and spent 4 years or so falling in love with my ride. A "romance" type thing...

Anyway, I'm about to pull the trigger and I can't decide. The Dunnys were good to me, and I wonder if I should just go with what worked well in the past. I've gotten about 8,000 Miles from them and I cannot complain about the handling, though I know it could probably be better.

The Bridgestones I liked but maybe my head was clouded by love. This tire gets good all around reviews. I feel like they had a slight edge over the Dunlops.

I'm looking at a rear Metzler 888 as well. Great LOOKING tire and has good reviews. But I have read a few reviews, including a few on these forums that they are terrible in the rain. But most reviews are pretty positive all around.

Venoms wear too quickly. I'd like to get more than 5,000 Miles before a change. I'm no racer, but I go through the gears when I have the chance.

I won't do Shinkos. People love 'em but I've heard too many bad things about them. I'll pay an extra 50 for a better reviewed tire.

I know full well what this discussion leads to!!! But I'm trying to decide what the best all round tire will be. Don't do a lot of wet riding, but I do it and I like the bike to grip in the rain. Duns have been good, I THINK the Bridgestones were better, and I love the look of the Metzlers, though I'm still not sure about the wet traction ratings. Little help??

Thanks everybody!

I like the Bridgestone Spitfires. I have ran them on my HD and my Triumph. A long lasting, affordable tire.

I have an 888 on the rear of the speedmaster. NEVER again! That thing is diabolical in the wet. I think it has to do with the size our bikes run. Have a mate with a Victory and he has one but on a 17" rim and has no problems, much much lower profile,also a much heavier bike, but whatever, I certainly wont use one again, will try a commander 2

The last two sets that I have ran have been the Kenda Kruzs. In my opinion they grip way better than the Metzler 880s . I got 16,000 miles out of the first set and have about 7000 on my current set. They are also half the price of the Metzlers. I think that 880s are junk, I would never put them on my bike again.

I like Dunlop tires in general and run one on the front, got a great deal at J&P on it. I run IRC Wild Flare on the rear, love them. They are cheap, hold the road very well wet and dry, on my 3rd or 4th now.

Anybody use the Michelin Commanders? They have almost perfect reveiws...

I've got the Commander II on the rear. I like it a lot, really good wet and dry traction and while I don't recall how many miles are on it at this point, it seems to be wearing very well

Also, if Michelin made a Commander II in a 190/20 for up front, I'd run it there too. As it is, I have an Avon RoadRider in front and like it very much too. It is my 4th different front tire brand out of five and seems to be the best thus far

I hate slippery-when-wet tyres. I had "Pirelli night dragon" and they are ok. Not good, just ok. Trying out "Michelin roadpilot 4" now. But only in front. There has been alot of raining this spring and the Michelin is, so far, really good. Really good reviews. So as soon my rear tyre is worned out, I'll buy one for the rearwheel aswell
I thought about why there's Bridgestone on the America and Metzeler on the Speedmaster. Same dimensions, same weight, same power. Hmm...

I am running a Cammander II on the rear. Have around 2k miles on it is far. No complaints.

Anyone have any pics of the Commander IIs on their bike?

JD13,
I ordered a commander II and I've got it in my living room. Haven't gotten to taking off the rear wheel yet, but when I get it mounted I'll post a pic.

Sounds like Michelin is making a good MC tire. I look forward to trying it out. I also just noticed the beginnings of rot on my front. So maybe I'll use the roadpilot IV up front. Anyone else use the roadpilot tires?

Thanks a bunch for your input guys. I might've gotten a crappy tire without it!

I can't find a 110/80-18 size in the pilot road 4 or 3. What alternate sizes might fit on the front?

You can go up to a 120/70 but you have to modify your fender bracket. Keith has a post in the Vault on how to go about that.

I've been running Dunnys for years now, in fact I got into them because of the WWW availability. They seem like a decent marriage between stickiness and wear-ability. I get caught in the rain on our mountain roads from time to time and have yet to report a problem. Meanwhile I get about 10,000km from them which I personally find acceptable.

I had not one problem with the Dunlops. If the Michelins don't work out I'll regret not just getting another set of them. I might put a new Dunny up front.

When I changed my rear tyre I noticed the huge difference in weight between my old Pirelli Night Dragon and my new Michelin Pilot Road 4! If I had a weight...I'll get back on this one!

I currently have a 120/90/18 up front. Its an Avon. No bracket mods...

I have found that different tire brands have different profiles for the same number values. I just retired a 120/70-18 Spitfire that gave me about .100" fender bracket clearance so I modded out my fender bracket as Keith did. Now I'm squeezing a 140/70-17 Avon on 17 x 4.25 rim in front. I can measure the clearance with a feeler gauge with my current setup. I may have to discreetly mill .030 thou off each of my lower fork tubes, if I find that the tire rubs. I've got this personal fetish thing for phat tires, front and back, as long as the bike stays safe and functional.

If you are still looking for pics...... <a href="" target="_blank">web page </a>
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Thanks.

Well I guess the verdict is in on this Michelin Commander II. It's right at 11,000 miles and while I could probably get another 500+ out of it, the Arkansas Rally is right around the corner and those roads are tire shredders! I'd like to say that they have had some easy miles, but that's not really the case at all, I accelerate as hard as possible as often as possible, so that probably takes a bit of the life off. I've ridden in plenty of rain with this tire on back, even did some mild fords (maybe axle deep water), and it holds the road quite well, until it's about worn down about smooth in the middle of the contact patch. Does fine on gravel roads too if you find yourself at the end of the pavement (it happens). I wish I could remember what I was getting on some of those other rear tires I ran, I don't recall any of them making it past 10,000 miles though. I see no reason why this tire wouldn't go closer to 15,000 miles with someone a little easier on the throttle. My new tire is at the shop waiting for me now, it will be on by the end of the week. Another Commander II of course.

I'm riding a 2010 Speedy home from Tennessee right now, new Michelins front and back. Rode 75 MPH through a bunch of thunderstorms and they are great tires in the wet.

I have roughly 10,000 on my commander IIs and they are wearing very well. They handle well in all conditions. I will continue to run them. I lean my bike alot, they corner smooth as silk. I highly recommend them, you will not be disapointed. I ride hard & fast, and the tires are wearing exceptionally well.

got mine changed out a couple weeks back...

You'll love those Michelins, I'm on my 3rd rear, second front. Previously had Metzlers, the Commander IIs are far superior. Hands down the best bang for the buck.

I have been race inning Pirelli Route 66 for 170,000 miles on both americas . Changed rear at about 28,000 miles fronts about 14,000 miles Use front brake alot . They did great for my old man riding style.

I am very happy with the Commanders so far. Bikes back on the road and I've been all over. Climbed mountains and blasted freeways. They just feel good to me. They look nice too.