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Last time I swapped that Metzler Lasertec original (hated it) for an Avon AM26 Roadrider (loved it) both were 110 80R 18 as per manufactures suggestion. I read in earlier posts that some had tried the Michelin Commander II and liked it but it only comes in a 110 90R 18. I seem to remember reading that that extra 10mm should not make a difference on my 07 Speedmaster but I can't find the reference to that conversation in the search. Any thoughts?

The Michelin Commander II bias, front or back is the best all around tire I have found in every area of criteria. They do need to expand their size options. You can run 120mm fronts on our forks, any wider and you may have to do some surgery on the fender bracket.

I wish the Commander II came in a 120/90, I'd be all over it for the front. As it stands, I run an Avon Roadrider up front and the Commander II on the rear, love that tire

I currently run a Metz 880 130/70 on the front of my 07 SM, I'm happy with it.

I concur. Commander IIs or Avons, Metzlers are a thing of the past.

I can only speak personally, but for what it's worth....
I've put a set of Metzler's 888 on my 2014 LT and theyre awful...feel every dead gnat in the road and I'm sure they're the cause of my current pulsing vibration in second( been too mean to change them as yet...but very soon)..
They're supposed to supersede the factory approved 880's ( which weren't great) but either I've got a set of duds or they just don't work in this bike

I had good experience with the 880's however I would not replace them with 888's...when my front 880 is done it will likely be replaced with a Commander II.

I have an 880 Metzler on the back which is same as the original, replaced as we were headed off on a trip and it was needed, don't know any different on the bike. So I gather the 110 90r aspect ratio will not make much of a difference other then the speedometer reading.

So what is with the term "Cruiser Tires" like the Lasertec? Straight lines blockish tread patterns is this some kind of a we should follow the path of Harley Davidson rather then what is best for our rides? The guy on the parts desk at the local dealer who has been there for at least a decade called up the info on my bike and recommended the Lasertech and when I suggested a different size and brand/model bached at the suggestion.

don't tell him what bike it's going on, just say order me a blah blah in whatever size and how much will that be please?

that is why I bought the Avon from a Yamaha dealer the Triumph guy kept insisting it should be the original and if I wanted to change I had to sign a release that I was changing against the specs. (Pensil Pushers keeping their job and limiting the liability of the dealership)

Lasertech s seem to follow or are affected by every nuance of the road s surface, I want the bike to go exactly where I aim it and it stays on track. Why Triumph is so married to that particular front tire is beyond any explanation I can conjure up.

I liked my Lasertech, got about 23,000 miles out of it too and it wasn't completely bald yet either. It also was worn evenly. I still have it, saw it yesterday when I was out working. Dunlop on there now that has also been good so far. Really isn't anything I can't ride though, I rode a hardtail with a long springer for most of my riding life. Switched off and on with my other bikes too but the hardtail saw most of the miles and all the long rides before my SM.

The latest tire I have installed after trying several others is the Michilin pilot and I can't believe the difference it made . Restored my confidence in my bike !! So far the best I've tried .

Laserwreck...

Commander II 110 90r 18 installed on Friday. I did a 150 km of easy driving in the country to scrub it in and 300 today at much higher speeds. Felt very comfortable with it I think even more then the Avon I took off. One of the guys on the ride today has the Lasertech on his Classic Bonneville (one of three motorcycles) and he likes it. I suggested perhaps its the front end geometry of our bikes that makes the difference.

I'm looking to find out what's the best front tyre to use in conjunction with a Metzler me880 I have in my shed which I'm about to fit on the rear.
Can't get hold of a front Me 880 any more and the replacement me888, s are not suiting my bike at all.
Any ideas?

I have the ME880 on the back of my Speedmaster it is about 3/4 way through its life. 3mm on tire gauge.

Ditto on the Commander II's. Fantastic tires. I have them front and back. The front is slightly fatter but it fits. In fact, I like the feel of the fatter tire up front. So far this is my new go to tire. Love em.

Two 300 km trips on consecutive weekends with Jane behind as passenger and I have to say I like that Commander II on the front

Glad you like the Commander's Paul, they will serve you well. Also, it was the best choice IMHO. I'm on my 3rd rear, second front. I average 15,000 on the rear, and my first front tire lasted 20,000, and still had good tread in the middle, I only changed it for GP. I ride daily,year round, and the tires wear extremely well and perform fantastic in wet conditions.

If you got 23,000 miles out of that tire, why on earth would you move to something else? I honestly can't believe that tire had that kind of longevity. Bringing me back to, why would you think of trying something else.

that's a good question, too bad all I hear is crickets...

I'm still using Bridgestone and I like them. L303 up front and G456 on the back. On my 3rd set at 45,000 miles.