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Michelin Commander 3 review

Old Mar 2, 2024 | 02:14 PM
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Time for new shoes for the RoadGlide. I put about 13K on these tires and I am sure I could have squeaked another 2K out of them but the front was to the wear bars and I always change tires in sets. I had no issues with these and I would be very comfortable purchasing them again. They handled very well in the twisties which is 80% of my riding as I live in the Sierra foothills. They were also very smooth on the open road and stable at Hwy. speed (80-90). It looks like I might have run them overinflated on the rear but oh well. I have already purchased Dunlop American Elites for my next set because I like the idea that they are made in America and I have not run Dunlops in years. My go to have been Commander 2s for a while and I figured why not. The Dunlops are 215.00 for the front and 300.00 for the rear so the price is about the same as the Commander 3s. I always replace the brake pads when I do tires. Seems like the OEM pads only last 13-15K as well.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2024 | 02:23 PM
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Which Commander III's?
Michelin makes two variants, the Cruiser and the Touring.
They are significantly different in their rubber compounds, and their characteristics.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2024 | 06:46 PM
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I doubt that the Cruiser version has the needed load rating so hopefully they were the touring version. I was very happy with Commander "something" on my 08 Road King. I plan on using the Michelins on my 23 Road King when the factory Dunlops are worn out. The Dunlops, can't tell if it is front or rear, have a speed related loud whine right at 45 mph, the Michelins were always smooth and quiet.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2024 | 07:17 PM
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Cruiser and touring versions have the same load ratings and are suitable for Harley touring bikes. That's part of what makes it such a challenge to figure out which ones various reviews about the Commander III's are talking about.

But, looking at the tread patterns of the ones you took off, I think those are the touring version of the Commander III.
 
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Old Mar 2, 2024 | 10:02 PM
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These are touring. The American Elite are supposed to be very different than the HD Dunlops. The HD Dunlops never last long and cup. They were trashed at 8K on both my RoadGlides. The Elites have gotten rave reviews. I look forward to trying them.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2024 | 05:09 AM
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I had two sets of Commander 111's on my front on my '18 Heritage. The second one was a replacement for the first one and did the same thing. Vibrated under 45mph, made ugly noise. No Mas for me and Michelin. I am now a committed Dunlop man.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2024 | 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Two Lane Tramp
These are touring. The American Elite are supposed to be very different than the HD Dunlops. The HD Dunlops never last long and cup. They were trashed at 8K on both my RoadGlides. The Elites have gotten rave reviews. I look forward to trying them.
They are, you have that to look forward to.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2024 | 12:18 PM
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I’ll never buy another Michelin tire after the crap quality issues they had with the early C3s that they refused to acknowledge. Much happier with Dunlop AE.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2024 | 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by TriGeezer
I’ll never buy another Michelin tire after the crap quality issues they had with the early C3s that they refused to acknowledge. Much happier with Dunlop AE.
Lots of us feel this way. I'm fortunate that I got a refund.
 
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Old Mar 5, 2024 | 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by btsom
I doubt that the Cruiser version has the needed load rating so hopefully they were the touring version. I was very happy with Commander "something" on my 08 Road King. I plan on using the Michelins on my 23 Road King when the factory Dunlops are worn out. The Dunlops, can't tell if it is front or rear, have a speed related loud whine right at 45 mph, the Michelins were always smooth and quiet.
The "cruiser" version isn't available for my '22 Road King (thus none of the M8 Touring framed bikes) so I had to get the Touring Commander III's. I like them very much. Though I had plenty of tread left on the OEM tires (2mm to the wear bars front and rear after 17k miles), they whining in turns once I got to about 15k miles. That started driving me a bit nuts so I figured 17,000 miles was enough and bought the Michelins.
 
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