Tar Snakes and Commander 2's
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 130
From: Now Western TN
Ill start ..
quote
My message to the NC DOT
Ill try to be brief. I am a 54 year old who rides a motorcycle. The DOT is creating a road hazard by using tar snakes to repair roadways. This puts motorcyclists at risk of crashing.The "snakes" actually move when hot causing our tires to slip on the roadway thus causing us to loose the contact patch between the tire and roadway (traction). You wouldnt intentionally lay down substances that would cause cars and trucks to slip off the road. It makes sense to apply the same thinking to bikes.
Thanks Best Regards
Chris xxxx
Unquote
https://apps.dot.state.nc.us/contactus/
quote
My message to the NC DOT
Ill try to be brief. I am a 54 year old who rides a motorcycle. The DOT is creating a road hazard by using tar snakes to repair roadways. This puts motorcyclists at risk of crashing.The "snakes" actually move when hot causing our tires to slip on the roadway thus causing us to loose the contact patch between the tire and roadway (traction). You wouldnt intentionally lay down substances that would cause cars and trucks to slip off the road. It makes sense to apply the same thinking to bikes.
Thanks Best Regards
Chris xxxx
Unquote
https://apps.dot.state.nc.us/contactus/
How many motorcycles crashes have been caused by this?
Hell, pose the question here. I bet you will be hard pressed to find someone who has laid down a bike due to hitting tar snakes.
Common sense...when you see them on a corner, slow down and let the bike track thru the corner.
Hell I am more worried about the knee deep potholes here in PA than I am the tar snakes
Last edited by Bowhunter61; Jun 5, 2017 at 04:19 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 373
Likes: 84
From: FL East Coast /Western NC
the harder compound tires ..thus higher mileage....will feel more of the road ..i have always opted for the softer stickier tires on my cars and my bikes because of the ride....that is usually the oems...think about it...tested over and over....some will disagree i know.... it really never bothered me to replace tires a little more often because i prefer the smoothest , softest ride possible... michelin tires are very hard thus last longer than the dunlops , metzlers and others... however u will feel more of the road because of this hardness.. harley uses the dunlops on most of their big bikes for a reason... i like them..
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 307
From: Salem IN
I don't buy that your buddy did not experience anything. I led a group of 13 bikes on a 250 mile ride through NC and Virginia. Coming down US 21 out of Sparta we encountered several miles in warm temperatures. Every single bike in our group commented at our next stop how scary they were.
I can not argue about the low tire pressure. That was my bad.....
But this is the second time with these tires. The first time was back in march a cool day. I came into a big sweeper been down this road many many times. I hit one and man it was big pucker!!!!!
So these tires get one more chance, I will bump up the pressure and see how they perform.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 726
Likes: 12
From: Eugene, OR
So I am on my second set of CII's and love them and feel compared to my three sets of Dunlop's they perform much better and track way better on the road even over the tar snakes on my 2009 Streetglide, with one exception! Tire pressure, mainly the front tire pressure, if I get lazy and leave my house without checking the pressure it only takes me a couple of miles to realize the front is low as it handles horrible. Never an issue when properly inflated. I run the front around 39 to 40 PSI and rear about 42 psi and for me they work great. My last original wheel front tire seemed to loose pressure and I have know idea why, I even had it remounted and replaced the valve stem. I have since put a 2016 19" enforcer on with a CII tire and has not been an issue. Keep the pressure up and I think you will be fine. Mine wear much better than the Dunlop's did as well. Mind you I am talking about the original Dunlop's not the elite 3's!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 4,889
From: Missouri City,TX
I'm another happy camper with the CII's...I keep mine at 38 front and 42 rear and that is COLD pressure, makes a big difference. I ride 100% solo and without any extra weight other than my 200 lb. fat ***. 
The bike handles real well and does ok with the tar snakes too. My favorite route that has 4 or 5 curvy sections and is covered with tar snakes...I think the county does it on purpose to mess with riders or maybe tar has an expiration date so they have to use it or lose it, I dunno.
The bike handles real well and does ok with the tar snakes too. My favorite route that has 4 or 5 curvy sections and is covered with tar snakes...I think the county does it on purpose to mess with riders or maybe tar has an expiration date so they have to use it or lose it, I dunno.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 4,889
From: Missouri City,TX
My 2014 Low Rider had Michelin Scorcher II tires from the factory and they handled real well too.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 20
From: Greater St Louis, MO
You were quite low. MC II's like 40lbs of pressure.