Tar Snakes and Commander 2's
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 307
From: Salem IN
Tar Snakes and Commander 2's
So my commander 2's now have around 5k miles on them. While riding yesterday a lot of the tar snakes were plum scary, even in a straight line.
My buddy on a soft tail with new dunlops did not experience any thing.
I could feel and my wife on the back could feel the front end sliding around.
I am 57 and have ridden different bikes all my life, this a new one for me.
When we got the first thing I did was check the tire pressure. It was 32 a little low I try to keep it around 38.
I had no issues at all when the tires were new.
My buddy on a soft tail with new dunlops did not experience any thing.
I could feel and my wife on the back could feel the front end sliding around.
I am 57 and have ridden different bikes all my life, this a new one for me.
When we got the first thing I did was check the tire pressure. It was 32 a little low I try to keep it around 38.
I had no issues at all when the tires were new.
Last edited by Tarkus60; Jun 4, 2017 at 11:28 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 217
From: Puyallup Wa.
To me this is a variable issue for example my bike dunlop's if it's hot and greasy out it seems worse other times doesn't bother the bike at all. I personally think it's worse on my Street Glide than it was on my Dyna Wide Glide.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 610
Likes: 82
From: Indiana
We feel their wiggle all the time on our Road King w/ Dunlops, particularly on warmer days. Disconcerting for sure, never had a problem though. Do corner a bit more cautiously however when they are abundant.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 2,896
From: Oklahoma
Without realizing it, you have answered your own question. "NEW" almost any tire is better on road irregularities than "older" almost any tire. The difference between one tire and another is how many miles you get before the unpleasant reactions start. My own experience was about 10,000 miles on a set Dunlop Elite IIIs. I am still waiting on my Commander IIs with around 6000 miles.
The second factor specifically on tar strips is they genuinely do soften and become "gummy" in summer heat. With any side load (in a turn) you will definitely feel them yield giving that slippery feel. Even when several seasons old, the tar strips still become uncomfortably flexible. No motorcycle tire will "fix" that.
My own experience with the same tires at different times shows that higher tire pressure minimizes the unpleasant reactions. On the same interstate with the rain grooves cut in the direction of travel I experienced a very unpleasant wander or wobble (definitely NOT the tank slapper type) on one trip. The next time I had raised my tire pressure to the max shown on the sidewall and the wander/wobble was considerably milder. I now always run my tires at or slightly above the max sidewall listed pressure. Many people have heart burn with that but there are several reasons that the highest pressure allowed is better. It is your bike, your decision.
The second factor specifically on tar strips is they genuinely do soften and become "gummy" in summer heat. With any side load (in a turn) you will definitely feel them yield giving that slippery feel. Even when several seasons old, the tar strips still become uncomfortably flexible. No motorcycle tire will "fix" that.
My own experience with the same tires at different times shows that higher tire pressure minimizes the unpleasant reactions. On the same interstate with the rain grooves cut in the direction of travel I experienced a very unpleasant wander or wobble (definitely NOT the tank slapper type) on one trip. The next time I had raised my tire pressure to the max shown on the sidewall and the wander/wobble was considerably milder. I now always run my tires at or slightly above the max sidewall listed pressure. Many people have heart burn with that but there are several reasons that the highest pressure allowed is better. It is your bike, your decision.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 307
From: Salem IN
I have no problem raising the pressure. I will try that next time out.
I should clarify these were tar snakes on straight highway. I get it in a turn......
Yes it was very warm 88....
I should clarify these were tar snakes on straight highway. I get it in a turn......
Yes it was very warm 88....
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 6,066
Likes: 1,282
From: OH, USA
I hit an exit ramp at 55. Not too fast at all. Big sweeper. What i didn't know was it was a freaking snake pit. I just rolled off the throttle and let it slow down. Was a unnerving event at best. I couldn't move in or out to avoid them. I just wiggled my *** around it best I could. I did relax on the bars and let the tires right them selves. I've found if you force things the wiggle gets worse. This was on stock tires with 11k on them. I don't k ow if the E3 I usually run when the stock tires wear out would have fared any better.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 310
From: coastal sc
So my commander 2's now have around 5k miles on them. While riding yesterday a lot of the tar snakes were plum scary, even in a straight line.
My buddy on a soft tail with new dunlops did not experience any thing.
I could feel and my wife on the back could feel the front end sliding around.
I am 57 and have ridden different bikes all my life, this a new one for me.
When we got the first thing I did was check the tire pressure. It was 32 a little low I try to keep it around 38.
I had no issues at all when the tires were new.
My buddy on a soft tail with new dunlops did not experience any thing.
I could feel and my wife on the back could feel the front end sliding around.
I am 57 and have ridden different bikes all my life, this a new one for me.
When we got the first thing I did was check the tire pressure. It was 32 a little low I try to keep it around 38.
I had no issues at all when the tires were new.
Last edited by svarnster; Jun 4, 2017 at 11:47 AM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 610
Likes: 82
From: Indiana
We get the little wobbles on the straight lines too. When this happens, I have wondered if the tar snakes aren't raised slightly above the rest of the road surface and you are essentially sliding off of them a little bit. I have never actually stopped to examine them closely.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 130
From: Now Western TN
Even without tar snakes if I run the C II's that low handling in corners is terrible