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Tourer
Posts: 416
Prairie City, IA United States | This is a picture of my Vision with the Commander II rear tire I installed last Summer. It has 20,500 miles on it. I am changing it out Tuesday for another one only because the front tire is worn out and I want to have a new matched set of commanders. The last 15K or so I used Dyna beads and checked the pressure on a regular basis. This time around I will have Centramatic wheel balancers installed to the rims which should improve the ride and mileage even more.
For those who have never heard of the wheel balancers here is the website. I had them on a GW and they made a huge difference. Dyna beads were OK but not quite the same results in ride.
http://centramatic.com/Page.aspx?page=Motorcycle%20Balancers
(commander tire (Small).jpg)
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 commander tire (Small).jpg (95KB - 9 downloads)
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| For that kind of money they should buy you dinner
Half of what there say I think is BS.
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Tourer
Posts: 416
Prairie City, IA United States | johnnyvision - 2013-05-19 6:24 PM
For that kind of money they should buy you dinner
Half of what there say I think is BS.
I will be in Prairie Du Chien, WI next weekend if you want to ride my bike and see for yourself. Just PM me if you want to meet. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | looks great. Thanks for sharing, Larry. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | that is great mileage for a back tire! Is this tire American made? |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 30
Leighton, IA | That's awesome mileage from a rear tire. I thought the Commander II were only available in Bias Ply. Is that correct?
Centramatics sound interesting. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| I might have to try those next time I change tires. they're reusable so the price over the life of the bike isn't bad. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | I checked some reviews and they are mostly positive for price, dry grip, and the long life seems to be consistent. At least one reviewer said they are slippery in wet, another noted confidence inspiring ride over tar snakes. They are made in Thailand and also are noisy according to reviewers. I'll stick with E3's. |
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Tourer
Posts: 416
Prairie City, IA United States | jimtom - 2013-05-20 6:28 AM
I checked some reviews and they are mostly positive for price, dry grip, and the long life seems to be consistent. At least one reviewer said they are slippery in wet, another noted confidence inspiring ride over tar snakes. They are made in Thailand and also are noisy according to reviewers. I'll stick with E3's.
I can address the slippery when wet. I have not noticed anything different from the E3 and Commander riding in wet weather.
Noisy? Wow, that is a new one. The Avon Venom I had on the front is the noisy one. There is no more road noise from the Commander II than the E3. I always had howling on an E3 through the curves. Either way you can't go wrong with either tire. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | yea, my E3s are noisy in the turns. I can't personally speak on the C II's as I have no experience with them. Just relaying reviewer info. Thank you for sharing your experience. It's good to have options, I run E3's because they are made here but not everyone shares that conviction and that's ok. Again good to have options and get others experience. that's what forums are for. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 251
Mechanicsville, VA United States | I like the idea of this product, I don't like the price, I think I'll stick with the Beads! Thanks for the heads up though! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 42
Bella Vista, AR | lstayner, what size are you running front and rear. If different that stock size, can you give me some pro's and cons? |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | That price is insane!! If you need something like that to make you bike ride "smoother" then you have other more important issues.. 1) defective tire (s) 2) improperly installed tire 3) improperly balanced tire (s) .
This would mean that every tire on every motorcycle on the road that does Not use this would ride like $hit... I have dyna beads in my 2011 vision. I noticed no Improvement in ride... but that's not why I bought them. I also have not noticed any imperfections in handling or smoothness of my ride. How do 99.9999% of motorcyclists enjoy their ride with out these?? Give me the money, ill sale you magic marbles and give you the ultimate placebo effect...
Edited by Arkainzeye 2013-06-23 5:49 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | If you read their claims, there are sooooo many other determining factors that ALSO affect your ride.. Tire pressure, weight distribution, and the list goes on and on .. SOME (not all) of their claims are border line "snake oil". reminds me of back in the day of those products you saw on commercials (PROVING) they worked! Dura-lube, slick 50, Prolong, zmax,etc... drain your oil and let the engine run! They showed it on tv so it must be true!
keep in mind... on TV they showed these products doing amazing things !!! this is why i dont trust website "customer reviews"... I had a friend that swore he for 10-15% more power from his truck using those products now look years later..
Duralube - http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/03/motor.shtm
slick 50 - http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1996/07/slick.shtm
Prolong - http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/09/prolong.shtm
on the website bobsitheoilguy.com a person bought a new container of zmax and had it tested (unused) it came back 78% Mineral oil !!! and the rest were dyes.. but let tv commericals PROVED it was magic in a bottle! customers swore they got more power and their engines would last for ever! it has to be true, it was on TV and had customers testimonies ...
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Cruiser
Posts: 178
LaGrange, GA | Glad you posted this. What kind of miles did you get out of other tires? Any chance you could grab a couple more pics, maybe zoomed out a wee bit and/or with a wear bar in frame? I was pretty much already decided on this for my next set anyway, glad to see a positive review on the specific bike. |
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Tourer
Posts: 416
Prairie City, IA United States | BrandonM7 - 2013-06-23 5:36 PM
Glad you posted this. What kind of miles did you get out of other tires? Any chance you could grab a couple more pics, maybe zoomed out a wee bit and/or with a wear bar in frame? I was pretty much already decided on this for my next set anyway, glad to see a positive review on the specific bike.
Sorry I can't post any pictures of the tire. It went to tire heaven a few weeks back. I have about 4K on a new rear and front Commander already. I just rolled through a ride today in NE IA, MN & WI. rode through quite a few twisty roads at well above the limit and the tires just stick like glue. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 178
LaGrange, GA | lstayner - 2013-06-27 6:09 PM
BrandonM7 - 2013-06-23 5:36 PM
Glad you posted this. What kind of miles did you get out of other tires? Any chance you could grab a couple more pics, maybe zoomed out a wee bit and/or with a wear bar in frame? I was pretty much already decided on this for my next set anyway, glad to see a positive review on the specific bike.
Sorry I can't post any pictures of the tire. It went to tire heaven a few weeks back. I have about 4K on a new rear and front Commander already. I just rolled through a ride today in NE IA, MN & WI. rode through quite a few twisty roads at well above the limit and the tires just stick like glue.
No sweat - the review is good enough to convince me. The Michelin Pilot series tires I've run on my sportier bikes are fantastic - add your review of these, and I'm sold. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 42
Bella Vista, AR |
+1
Edited by fish51 2013-06-28 11:29 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | Michelin does NOT recommend any of their tires for the Vision.
http://michelinmotorcycle.com/tire-selector
The Commander comes in a 180-65-16 Bias configuration were the Vision is set up to use a 180-60-16 radial.
http://michelinmotorcycle.com/tires/michelin-commander-ii#dim |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 42
Bella Vista, AR | I think that not showing the Vision on their fitment list is not the same as saying it is NOT recommended. |
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Tourer
Posts: 416
Prairie City, IA United States | bigfoot - 2013-06-29 5:59 PM
Michelin does NOT recommend any of their tires for the Vision.
http://michelinmotorcycle.com/tire-selector
The Commander comes in a 180-65-16 Bias configuration were the Vision is set up to use a 180-60-16 radial.
http://michelinmotorcycle.com/tires/michelin-commander-ii#dim[/QUOT...
I have never seen a car tire mfg recommend their tire for the Vision either. Go figure.  |
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | When a company that makes tires to sell for a profit doesn't recommend their product for my motorcycle, I tend to pay attention and not argue with their reasoning.
They are willing to lose the sale, so there must be something troubling with their tires on my bike.
I've never pretended to know more about a company's product than they do.
I will say that I would never use a bias tire again if I can help it.
Radial tires tend to run cooler than bias ply tires, and since I ride from sun up to sun down when I'm traveling, I like the idea of cooler tires.
When first looking at the Vision I saw that it was clad with radials and that was a big selling point for me.
I've had blowouts on one front tire and 3 rear tires over my 44 years of riding and I hope I never experience another one.
I've had radial tires go flat and there was no drama at all.
I also "think" that radials offer a lower profile tire than bias tires offer and firmer sidewalls which "might" help keep the tire on the rim in the case of a blowout. |
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Tourer
Posts: 416
Prairie City, IA United States | bigfoot - 2013-07-01 6:32 PM
When a company that makes tires to sell for a profit doesn't recommend their product for my motorcycle, I tend to pay attention and not argue with their reasoning.
They are willing to lose the sale, so there must be something troubling with their tires on my bike.
I've never pretended to know more about a company's product than they do.
I will say that I would never use a bias tire again if I can help it.
Radial tires tend to run cooler than bias ply tires, and since I ride from sun up to sun down when I'm traveling, I like the idea of cooler tires.
When first looking at the Vision I saw that it was clad with radials and that was a big selling point for me.
I've had blowouts on one front tire and 3 rear tires over my 44 years of riding and I hope I never experience another one.
I've had radial tires go flat and there was no drama at all.
I also "think" that radials offer a lower profile tire than bias tires offer and firmer sidewalls which "might" help keep the tire on the rim in the case of a blowout.
I think the reason they don't have it on their website is because they don't make an exact tire size for the rear. I am sure this is for liability reasons.
The E3 is a great tire but they are my second choice. The Commander even though it is a Bias ply tire it handles as well as the E3. With the cords being much closer together than a standard bias tire I think the tire has very similar characteristics.
I have not had a blowout on a tire yet and hope to never have one. Been with 2 people who have when it happened though. |
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Tourer
Posts: 495
Carrollton, TX | bigfoot - 2013-06-29 5:59 PM Michelin does NOT recommend any of their tires for the Vision. http://michelinmotorcycle.com/tire-selector The Commander comes in a 180-65-16 Bias configuration were the Vision is set up to use a 180-60-16 radial. http://michelinmotorcycle.com/tires/michelin-commander-ii#dim[/QUOTE] Thanks for posting this bigfoot. Not to write a small book on this but when any bike manufacture designs a bike they largely build it around a set of tires to match the frame and suspension. While there is some room for options if the bike frame and suspension was designed for Radial tires you want to stay with Radial tires and not run Bias Ply tires like the Commander II's. There is a huge difference in how these different type of tires handle especially in cornering. A couple of years ago I had a long and educational talk with both Victory and Dunlop engineers on this subject. I have had similar discussions with Metzler, Avon and Bridgestone engineers as well. If you go to Sturgis or Daytona these tire manufacturers have some of their top engineers there and they will be happy to go into deep details with you. |
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | Spock, I couldn't agree with you more.
Living in what used to be the rubber capital of the world (Akron Ohio) I also have had the opportunity to discuss the complexities of tire building and the importance of proper fitment with engineers from the industry.
Asking them about fitting a car tire on a motorcycle is not something I would advise.
You are 100% correct in your statement about vehicle manufacturers building their vehicles around a tire.
From this site;
http://www.motorcycle.com/rider-safety/motorcycle-tires-101-91339.h...
"A fact too infrequently mentioned is that motorcycle manufacturers will go to great lengths to develop a motorcycle?s handling performance around a tire of particular construction.
Motorcycle companies will work directly with one, perhaps two, tire manufacturers to produce a tire set that will allow the motorcycle to perform exactly how the bike maker intended. Selecting a tire with different dimensions, even marginally different than the tire fitted as original equipment, can dramatically alter the way a motorcycle steers, stops or accelerates."
There's a lot more good information about motorcycle tires on that site.
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Commander II Tire wear
