I can say without hesitation that every car tire purchase I have made has been done reluctantly, with safety and practicality as the primary concern. When it comes to new motorcycle tires, the returns feel more than worth the investment. The Michelin Commander III tires demonstrate this clearly.
In a word: Giddyap!
When asked to review the Commander III tires on my Harley‑Davidson Heritage Softail Classic, I was a little nervous, but not because I doubted the quality. Michelin has been my car tire brand of choice for many years, but that’s mainly due to their reliability in the snow and ice conditions where I live. But I don’t ride my bike on snow and ice. I’d assume many of the same attractive attributes of grip and grip would apply on a motorcycle, but am I in tune enough with my bike to tell the difference between the tires? These new tires and my old tires?
Advertisement
The immediate answer is “Yes”.
There are two versions of the Michelin Commander III: Cruiser or Touring. Given the weight of my bike, I chose the Touring, which wears less than the Cruiser for better stability. However, Michelin says 100% silica-reinforced rubber in the tire compound will solve this problem. I’ve yet to take my bike out in a major flood to test this claim, but on a winding road leading to a nearby ski resort, I got caught in a pretty big storm and didn’t Feel any slippage in speed.
Another feature of the Commander III is the aramid tread on the rear tire, which is also said to contribute to stability. The tires also have a more rounded profile than the previous Commander II model for better handling when the vehicle is tilted. This is where “giddyap” comes from.
After installing them, when I hit countless sweepers on the 45-mile trip home, I had difficulty following the conventional wisdom of driving cautiously on the new tires. It’s almost like Commander III is pushing me – dare I say boasting a little. But I refused the temptation. I promise…um.
Besides performance, another thing I was looking for in my new tire was longevity. At 2 bucks heavier, I’m not exactly slim, but I’m also not one of those giant Guinness World Records twins that many of us remember seeing sitting on motorbikes in image. I’m also not an aggressive rider and I’m diligent about checking my tire pressures, so I was disappointed when my previous rear tire had less than 4,000 miles on it.
Michelin claims a 25% longer tread life than its competitors. I can’t confirm this as I’ve only logged about 1,200 miles so far. But so far, they still look new, and with many riders reporting nearly 20,000 miles on their Commander III, I’m expecting similar results.
Michelin Commander III tires are available at online retailers or your local dealer in 11 different sizes, starting at $180.99 front and $210.99 rear.
See all Horsemantire review here.
