Tire review at 2500 miles — Bias/Radial Combo

[allhans4]

I installed new tires in June. I now have 2500 miles on these, including a 500 mile road trip. Perhaps my evaluation will assist you in your next tire purchase.

MICHELIN COMMANDER 2 130/60B-19 61H, $127.42
MICHELIN PILOT ROAD 4 GT 180/55ZR-17 73W, $190.26
(Tires purchased at American Motorcycle Tire, free shipping, no sales tax)

I will not discuss the rear tire choice, as many of you know this is the best tire available.

I did choose to go with the Michelin Commander 2 bias ply tire on front, primarily to keep the tire geometry intact. I am aware of the concerns about combining bias and radial tires.

The Commander 2 is far superior over the stock tire. For me, the stock tire wandered on roads with mild imperfections, and required constant correction during turns. The Commander 2 is superior in both of these areas. It is rock steady on grooved and otherwise inferior road surfaces — even after trying to make it wander on sections I knew were bad. Also, tracking on turns is superb with no mid-turn correction required.

I observed no adverse bias-radial interaction.

Bottom line:  These are two great tires, and combining the two is just fine.

[bscrive]

Thanks for the info Allhans4.  I was running an Avon 3D on the back this summer.  I got 12000kms on it before I decided to change it.  I only paid $75 for it, so I think it was a good deal.
I now have a Dunlop Roadsmart 2 on the rear and my Avon Cobra front tire is still like new.  I picked up the Dunlop for $100 and rode it in the rain for 4 hrs the first day and it handled the wet roads like a champ.  I checked the reviews on it and they are pretty good.  It seems a lot of the GT1600 riders use them.  I have about 1000 miles on it and it looks good.

[Robert]

Harleys do the same, bias/radial, please let us know the mileage you got also.

[turboyoshi]

MICHELIN COMMANDER 2 130/60B-19 61H, $127.42
MICHELIN PILOT ROAD 4 GT 180/55ZR-17 73W, $190.26
(Tires purchased at American Motorcycle Tire, free shipping, no sales tax)

The Commander 2 is far superior over the stock tire. For me, the stock tire wandered on roads with mild imperfections, and required constant correction during turns. The Commander 2 is superior in both of these areas. It is rock steady on grooved and otherwise inferior road surfaces — even after trying to make it wander on sections I knew were bad. Also, tracking on turns is superb with no mid-turn correction required.

I observed no adverse bias-radial interaction.

Bottom line:  These are two great tires, and combining the two is just fine.

I have the same front tire but the pilot 2 on my rear. Over 5500 miles so far and no problems and still look great. I always hated the OEM tires for how squirrely they felt on roads with lots of tar snakes. And only getting 6600 miles out of them didn't improve my opinion of them at all.

[postoak]

Hmm, I just looked on American Motorcycle Tires and they don't have listed the Michelin Commander II in 130 60R 19 size.  Guess I've have to look elsewhere.

Edit: Okay I was able to order both from Rocky Mountain ATV.  $330 total.

[idcrewdawg]

I put the commander on the front of mine. Went through the dealership to purchase and got it for less than what you guys are reporting. Not by much mind you, but it was less. I did it in conjunction with my 12K mile oil change.

Had it on just two days and just over a hundred miles for my daily commute. I concur with it feeling more solid on the road over the OEM tire. I've not yet had it on wet roads yet, but for sure better on grooved highway and roads with fairly good sized cracks that like to make a tire track the crack. I ride about a 100 miles a day, so I'll accumulate the wear information rather quickly.

[98valk]

There is never a problem with a bias tire on the front and radial on the rear. In fact there have been a few motorcycles from the factory with that combo over the yrs.  In reverse order is the unsafe combo and should never be done on the street.

[Shrubbo]

I am running the same combo and I was very pleased with the handling of the commader 2 compared to the PR4T on the front. The only question of have now is how long it will last. Apart from that question it is good stuff.

[postoak]

I had mine installed to day and the mechanic asked me about the combo -- he actually asked if I had read about it on a forum because I was mixing brands.

I have to say front tires have never caused me problems -- maybe I don't drive hard enough.  It's only the rears that start sliding on me around turns that cause me concerns.