Michelin Commander III - New Tire Review
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 416
Likes: 148
From: BC
I can not figure out, how you guys with baggers that ride "fast & hard" can get 15,000+ miles out of a rear tire, when I use the same brand/model tire.
I'm on a bike that's 150 lbs lighter than a bagger, with no passenger, and I'm conscious of tire pressure (41PSI.) And yet, I'm almost on cords at 11,000 miles. And I don't ride "hard nor fast."
I don't do "jack rabbit" starts nor burn-outs. (Unless I enter a burn-out contest.) But that hasn't happened since 2002.
So, what is the secret, here?
(And no, I don't scale 400lbs, either.) I'm barely half that.
I'm on a bike that's 150 lbs lighter than a bagger, with no passenger, and I'm conscious of tire pressure (41PSI.) And yet, I'm almost on cords at 11,000 miles. And I don't ride "hard nor fast."
I don't do "jack rabbit" starts nor burn-outs. (Unless I enter a burn-out contest.) But that hasn't happened since 2002.
So, what is the secret, here?
(And no, I don't scale 400lbs, either.) I'm barely half that.
More meat lasts longer.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
I have a local motorcycle parts store that has the IIIs at competitive prices that will be replacing the 888s that are beyond their “use by” dates this weekend.
Haven’t been real happy with the 888s.
Haven’t been real happy with the 888s.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 428
Likes: 153
From: Raleigh NC
I was the Metzeler guy. I ride a Harley Streetglide like a sport bike, and many people came to me for recommendation. I was a big fan of the Metzeler 800 series. Ran two or three sets. Dunlops and Avons are good tires. Metzeler are better. Everyone with Avons took some talking to get to Metzeler - and then comes back and says "wow". But this is a Michelin review, right?
Metzeler 888 is a decent tire. The Cruise Tec was where I wanted to go but no 18 inch tire and the Street Glide runs 18 on the rear. Multiple calls to Metzeler (owned by Pirelli) and no one would commit. How do you make a line of tires with no 18"?. The Pirelli Night Dragons came into consideration. Great handling, but lower mileage. Older design. And essentially two different tires, The initial Pirelli didn't handle Street Glide size loads. So Pirelli Dragons on my front and redesigned for load Dragons Max (don't remember exact name) on the back. So I'm mixing two tires? I couldn't wrap my arms around that. So after MUCH research I decided the best tires on the market were the Michelin Commander II. But I took the plunge and went with the Michelin Commander III. The tires are new, the Commander II"s are highly regarded. Good handling, due to my need to hang with Ducatis on my Glide is my #1 requirement. The ads about the III were they were designed to add more mileage and wet handling to the excellent Commander II. It took time to dig intot he Commander II reviews to figure out that there was great handling as a given. Ad great mileage to that - can you sent those III's overnight please?
So I did my first long ride.
1) Great handling. Even. My but is sensitive enought that I can tell when the Metzeler on my Deuce are gripping harder in front than back or vice versa. These provide exceptional deep into a turn handling.
2) A tremendous surprise out of these tires with stiff carcases for long mileage, they #$%^& ride awesome.
3) We did Jersey to PA. Best tires ever on Metal bridges.
4) They track well on the road.
5) They are great on my pet peave they don't follow road imperections or tar strips.
The only thing I didn't get to try is tar strips in the heat. The one thing I really hated on the OE Dunlops is that if you tried to handle across those strips in 95 degree weather you'd feel like the bike was slipping out from under you.
If these tire come close to the prediction of 15-20,000 miles Michelin says they can reach they should be a 7 on a scale of 1-5. Highly recommended.
Metzeler 888 is a decent tire. The Cruise Tec was where I wanted to go but no 18 inch tire and the Street Glide runs 18 on the rear. Multiple calls to Metzeler (owned by Pirelli) and no one would commit. How do you make a line of tires with no 18"?. The Pirelli Night Dragons came into consideration. Great handling, but lower mileage. Older design. And essentially two different tires, The initial Pirelli didn't handle Street Glide size loads. So Pirelli Dragons on my front and redesigned for load Dragons Max (don't remember exact name) on the back. So I'm mixing two tires? I couldn't wrap my arms around that. So after MUCH research I decided the best tires on the market were the Michelin Commander II. But I took the plunge and went with the Michelin Commander III. The tires are new, the Commander II"s are highly regarded. Good handling, due to my need to hang with Ducatis on my Glide is my #1 requirement. The ads about the III were they were designed to add more mileage and wet handling to the excellent Commander II. It took time to dig intot he Commander II reviews to figure out that there was great handling as a given. Ad great mileage to that - can you sent those III's overnight please?
So I did my first long ride.
1) Great handling. Even. My but is sensitive enought that I can tell when the Metzeler on my Deuce are gripping harder in front than back or vice versa. These provide exceptional deep into a turn handling.
2) A tremendous surprise out of these tires with stiff carcases for long mileage, they #$%^& ride awesome.
3) We did Jersey to PA. Best tires ever on Metal bridges.
4) They track well on the road.
5) They are great on my pet peave they don't follow road imperections or tar strips.
The only thing I didn't get to try is tar strips in the heat. The one thing I really hated on the OE Dunlops is that if you tried to handle across those strips in 95 degree weather you'd feel like the bike was slipping out from under you.
If these tire come close to the prediction of 15-20,000 miles Michelin says they can reach they should be a 7 on a scale of 1-5. Highly recommended.
GREAT Review!! Like you, I was a Metz guy...which is RARE in these parts as far as I can tell. I rode sportbikes for a LOT of years and a LOT of miles....and LOVED the MEZ3's and the MEZ Sportech's. Metz tires never got the most miles but they gave GREAT traction and feedback in the twisties...truly inspired confidence at full lean....WAY more than the Dunlops (Pirelli and MEZ are actually made at the same factory, so they are VERY similar). However, on my SG the ME880's the mileage was just HORRIBLE compared to guys I rode with and they are extremely finicky on tire pressure...they like to be harder (42 lbs is what my mechanic suggests if you are running them and you need to be religious about it or you will chew them up quickly! I was getting 6k or so out of a rear and thats ZERO hooligan crap while otehrs were gettign a LOT more from Dunlops) so I ended up going to Dunlop Elites. I have literally just gone through 2 rears/1 front and just this last week put my final full set of Dunlops on it and almost cant wait to wear them out so I can switch to Michelins... I run 17/21's with a 200/55R17 in the rear on my bike so you sometimes have hard times finding tires in stock and scored my last set at closeout prices last summer and tossed them on a shelf til this spring...I almost said screw it and had Michelins put on while at Biketoberfest last year, but couldnt bring myself to bin 300 bucks worth of tires and would have had a hard time selling them since none of my friends run a 17 rear other than me. Thanks for the great review and cant wait to finish this riding season and possibly go for the switch this fall.... I usually got 7-8k on my Dunlop rears and am hoping to put that on them this summer and will move over to the Commander III's when in Daytona if I am close to that mileage
Last edited by RedRider0151; Apr 8, 2020 at 07:20 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 15,967
Likes: 7,068
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
I just picked myself up, off of the floor.
I had no idea that WALMART.COM HAD Michy Commander III's in stock!
The front 90/90-21's are $148.99, btw...
After looking at the WallyWorld website, they have lots of motorcycle tires!
Who knew?
I had no idea that WALMART.COM HAD Michy Commander III's in stock!
The front 90/90-21's are $148.99, btw...
After looking at the WallyWorld website, they have lots of motorcycle tires!
Who knew?
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 539
Likes: 284
From: Coldstream B.C. CA.
Ok Canucks,don't get excited. As per so often,this is only available in the U.S. and not at walmart.ca
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5,456
Likes: 6,309
From: pacific northwest
have a new commander 3 on the rear, replaced a commander 2 of 22k miles. have a pirelli night dragon on the front but is wearing horribly with only 7k, will soon be replaced with a commander 3 also.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 237
Likes: 25
From: St Louis
I thought the Metz was a nice improvement over the stock Dunlop tire on my 2000 Fatboy. Then went to Avon which was much better. Love the grip. The Fat Boy doesn't get many miles on it since I got the 2017 SG. About to put Cobra Chrome on the SG. Rear tire on back order so wont happen for over a month but I will share my experience once I get a chance to beat on them some.