When the MICHELIN Commander II tire was released it set the standard in terms of tire life, almost doubling the life that consumers would see from its competitors. In addition to long tire life, Michelin has incorporated MICHELIN Amplified Density Technology (ADT) which increases responsiveness. *Commissioned third party tests conducted in 2011 on public roads comparing MICHELIN Commander II tires, Metzeler ME880, and Dunlop D407/D408 tires in sizes 130/80B17 and 180/65B16. Individual results may vary depending on motorcycle type and operating conditions.
When the MICHELIN Commander II tire was released it set the standard in terms of tire life, almost doubling the life that consumers would see from its competitors. In addition to long tire life, Michelin has incorporated MICHELIN Amplified Density Technology (ADT) which increases responsiveness. *Commissioned third party tests conducted in 2011 on public roads comparing MICHELIN Commander II tires, Metzeler ME880, and Dunlop D407/D408 tires in sizes 130/80B17 and 180/65B16. Individual results may vary depending on motorcycle type and operating conditions.
When the MICHELIN Commander II tire was released it set the standard in terms of tire life, almost doubling the life that consumers would see from its competitors. In addition to long tire life, Michelin has incorporated MICHELIN Amplified Density Technology (ADT) which increases responsiveness. *Commissioned third party tests conducted in 2011 on public roads comparing MICHELIN Commander II tires, Metzeler ME880, and Dunlop D407/D408 tires in sizes 130/80B17 and 180/65B16. Individual results may vary depending on motorcycle type and operating conditions.
When the MICHELIN Commander II tire was released it set the standard in terms of tire life, almost doubling the life that consumers would see from its competitors. In addition to long tire life, Michelin has incorporated MICHELIN Amplified Density Technology (ADT) which increases responsiveness. *Commissioned third party tests conducted in 2011 on public roads comparing MICHELIN Commander II tires, Metzeler ME880, and Dunlop D407/D408 tires in sizes 130/80B17 and 180/65B16. Individual results may vary depending on motorcycle type and operating conditions.
Last updated at 03/21/2026 15:48:12
Michelin Commander II 130/80B17 Front
Michelin Commander II 130/80 -17 65H Front TL/TT
Michelin Commander II Tire - Front ,130/80-B17 Load-Speed Rating,65 H
originally posted on revzilla.com
There are a lot of opinions when it comes to tires and I think many of them are based on a name rather than value. But there are also a lot of honest reports with good info as well.My 1200c Sportster came with the Dunlop tires and they worked just fine, but the weather hardened them after a couple of years and I started to get some "wheel-Hop" during aggressive braking and I was looking for a bit more grip.I read just about every review about which tires would suit me best that I could find and landed on these for several reasons.The tread design works well, but I only rode in a very light rain so not enough to give a detail report about wet weather.On dry pavement they are awesome ! They grip very well. Cracks in the pavement and small dips and holes don't ... MoreThere are a lot of opinions when it comes to tires and I think many of them are based on a name rather than value. But there are also a lot of honest reports with good info as well.My 1200c Sportster came with the Dunlop tires and they worked just fine, but the weather hardened them after a couple of years and I started to get some "wheel-Hop" during aggressive braking and I was looking for a bit more grip.I read just about every review about which tires would suit me best that I could find and landed on these for several reasons.The tread design works well, but I only rode in a very light rain so not enough to give a detail report about wet weather.On dry pavement they are awesome ! They grip very well. Cracks in the pavement and small dips and holes don't effect these tires at all.What really stood out for me was how well these traversed the painted lines on the road. Even when the Dunlop's were new I always got a slight "wriggle" when passing over the center lines. Nothing dangerous, but a concern. These Michelin's don't even flinch crossing the paint.The compound seems nice and soft and they are better on dirt roads as well.Michelin claims some pretty optimistic mileage on these also, like twice what just about any other tires, but I couldn't find any reviews for people that have gone the extra miles on these yet because they are a fairly new tire.Overall I am very happy with the tires performance and can only hope I get close to the mileage they claim is possible.
originally posted on revzilla.com
Advertised 7mm tread depth for my rear size. I measured 6.75mm with a micrometer. With 20k on it so far, my math shows 23.6k miles at min legal tread depth, 26.6k when slick in the center. This is a modified Vulcan 900 Classic with extra load from hard bags, luggage sometimes, windshield air resistance, etc. Some touring 2 up. moderate riding and avg 55 to 65 mph. It's a little slick in the wet but very manageable, and FAR better than competitors 880 and 888, which also tend to have sudden, zero warning, catastrophic tread separation from the carcass (yes, again, after they "fixed" it). I hear these are better than the Commander 3 but haven't tried those yet. I've only had a bit of sliding out when pulling out around a corner hard from a stop or hitting the rear ... MoreAdvertised 7mm tread depth for my rear size. I measured 6.75mm with a micrometer. With 20k on it so far, my math shows 23.6k miles at min legal tread depth, 26.6k when slick in the center. This is a modified Vulcan 900 Classic with extra load from hard bags, luggage sometimes, windshield air resistance, etc. Some touring 2 up. moderate riding and avg 55 to 65 mph. It's a little slick in the wet but very manageable, and FAR better than competitors 880 and 888, which also tend to have sudden, zero warning, catastrophic tread separation from the carcass (yes, again, after they "fixed" it). I hear these are better than the Commander 3 but haven't tried those yet. I've only had a bit of sliding out when pulling out around a corner hard from a stop or hitting the rear brake a bit too hard compared to the front because I'm use to drums, not hydraulic rears.
originally posted on michelinman.com
Purchased my 2007 yamaha roadstar 1700 silverado in march of 2019 with a set of the comander 2 tires on them. Tire mileage was unknown upon purchase. I put 5k on it the first year and had to replace the front. Put an additional 5k on that same rear tire and plan to change the rear for the new season, New comander 2 in already ordered. Really impressed with the tire brand. Bike week i went on a 1200 mile trip with a group, All where amazed in how well the big bike would stick like glue for the turns we were taking at the speeds we were going. i could ride the cruiser in the twisties quicker than i could my 250 ninja and i am fairly confident its in the performance of the tires and near endless grip in dry conditions. Hit a few dirt roads through vermont and didnt ... MorePurchased my 2007 yamaha roadstar 1700 silverado in march of 2019 with a set of the comander 2 tires on them. Tire mileage was unknown upon purchase. I put 5k on it the first year and had to replace the front. Put an additional 5k on that same rear tire and plan to change the rear for the new season, New comander 2 in already ordered. Really impressed with the tire brand. Bike week i went on a 1200 mile trip with a group, All where amazed in how well the big bike would stick like glue for the turns we were taking at the speeds we were going. i could ride the cruiser in the twisties quicker than i could my 250 ninja and i am fairly confident its in the performance of the tires and near endless grip in dry conditions. Hit a few dirt roads through vermont and didnt feel a differance in grip. I have had a few lock ups with both the front and rear wheels and both times the bike stayed true and straight. I went from a ninja 250 up to a 1700 cruiser and was rather nervous about jumping to a big heavy bike, i weight 145lbs. The tires have added so much confidence in me as a rider in both rain or shine. The rear only would break loose in the rain if i gave more than 1/8th throttle but the rear was already worn when i purchesed. After seeing how deep the tread is on my new rear tire and how 10k hardly wore out the rear, more than it already was, i am confident that i can get many more seasons out of these tires. Looking forward to see how many miles i can actually put on the tires before needing to change again with new tires. I will absolutley always use Michelin tires on my Cruisers. I highly recomend these for anyone with a big criuser that puts on miles rain or shine. Michilen man has your back. Hes had mine.
Michelin Commander II 130/80B17 Front
Michelin Commander II 130/80 -17 65H Front TL/TT
Michelin Commander II Tire - Front ,130/80-B17 Load-Speed Rating,65 H
There are a lot of opinions when it comes to tires and I think many of them are based on a name rather than value. But there are also a lot of honest reports with good info as well.My 1200c Sportster came with the Dunlop tires and they worked just fine, but the weather hardened them after a couple of years and I started to get some "wheel-Hop" during aggressive braking and I was looking for a bit more grip.I read just about every review about which tires would suit me best that I could find and landed on these for several reasons.The tread design works well, but I only rode in a very light rain so not enough to give a detail report about wet weather.On dry pavement they are awesome ! They grip very well. Cracks in the pavement and small dips and holes don't ... MoreThere are a lot of opinions when it comes to tires and I think many of them are based on a name rather than value. But there are also a lot of honest reports with good info as well.My 1200c Sportster came with the Dunlop tires and they worked just fine, but the weather hardened them after a couple of years and I started to get some "wheel-Hop" during aggressive braking and I was looking for a bit more grip.I read just about every review about which tires would suit me best that I could find and landed on these for several reasons.The tread design works well, but I only rode in a very light rain so not enough to give a detail report about wet weather.On dry pavement they are awesome ! They grip very well. Cracks in the pavement and small dips and holes don't effect these tires at all.What really stood out for me was how well these traversed the painted lines on the road. Even when the Dunlop's were new I always got a slight "wriggle" when passing over the center lines. Nothing dangerous, but a concern. These Michelin's don't even flinch crossing the paint.The compound seems nice and soft and they are better on dirt roads as well.Michelin claims some pretty optimistic mileage on these also, like twice what just about any other tires, but I couldn't find any reviews for people that have gone the extra miles on these yet because they are a fairly new tire.Overall I am very happy with the tires performance and can only hope I get close to the mileage they claim is possible.
Advertised 7mm tread depth for my rear size. I measured 6.75mm with a micrometer. With 20k on it so far, my math shows 23.6k miles at min legal tread depth, 26.6k when slick in the center. This is a modified Vulcan 900 Classic with extra load from hard bags, luggage sometimes, windshield air resistance, etc. Some touring 2 up. moderate riding and avg 55 to 65 mph. It's a little slick in the wet but very manageable, and FAR better than competitors 880 and 888, which also tend to have sudden, zero warning, catastrophic tread separation from the carcass (yes, again, after they "fixed" it). I hear these are better than the Commander 3 but haven't tried those yet. I've only had a bit of sliding out when pulling out around a corner hard from a stop or hitting the rear ... MoreAdvertised 7mm tread depth for my rear size. I measured 6.75mm with a micrometer. With 20k on it so far, my math shows 23.6k miles at min legal tread depth, 26.6k when slick in the center. This is a modified Vulcan 900 Classic with extra load from hard bags, luggage sometimes, windshield air resistance, etc. Some touring 2 up. moderate riding and avg 55 to 65 mph. It's a little slick in the wet but very manageable, and FAR better than competitors 880 and 888, which also tend to have sudden, zero warning, catastrophic tread separation from the carcass (yes, again, after they "fixed" it). I hear these are better than the Commander 3 but haven't tried those yet. I've only had a bit of sliding out when pulling out around a corner hard from a stop or hitting the rear brake a bit too hard compared to the front because I'm use to drums, not hydraulic rears.
Purchased my 2007 yamaha roadstar 1700 silverado in march of 2019 with a set of the comander 2 tires on them. Tire mileage was unknown upon purchase. I put 5k on it the first year and had to replace the front. Put an additional 5k on that same rear tire and plan to change the rear for the new season, New comander 2 in already ordered. Really impressed with the tire brand. Bike week i went on a 1200 mile trip with a group, All where amazed in how well the big bike would stick like glue for the turns we were taking at the speeds we were going. i could ride the cruiser in the twisties quicker than i could my 250 ninja and i am fairly confident its in the performance of the tires and near endless grip in dry conditions. Hit a few dirt roads through vermont and didnt ... MorePurchased my 2007 yamaha roadstar 1700 silverado in march of 2019 with a set of the comander 2 tires on them. Tire mileage was unknown upon purchase. I put 5k on it the first year and had to replace the front. Put an additional 5k on that same rear tire and plan to change the rear for the new season, New comander 2 in already ordered. Really impressed with the tire brand. Bike week i went on a 1200 mile trip with a group, All where amazed in how well the big bike would stick like glue for the turns we were taking at the speeds we were going. i could ride the cruiser in the twisties quicker than i could my 250 ninja and i am fairly confident its in the performance of the tires and near endless grip in dry conditions. Hit a few dirt roads through vermont and didnt feel a differance in grip. I have had a few lock ups with both the front and rear wheels and both times the bike stayed true and straight. I went from a ninja 250 up to a 1700 cruiser and was rather nervous about jumping to a big heavy bike, i weight 145lbs. The tires have added so much confidence in me as a rider in both rain or shine. The rear only would break loose in the rain if i gave more than 1/8th throttle but the rear was already worn when i purchesed. After seeing how deep the tread is on my new rear tire and how 10k hardly wore out the rear, more than it already was, i am confident that i can get many more seasons out of these tires. Looking forward to see how many miles i can actually put on the tires before needing to change again with new tires. I will absolutley always use Michelin tires on my Cruisers. I highly recomend these for anyone with a big criuser that puts on miles rain or shine. Michilen man has your back. Hes had mine.
Best Tires I have Rode on to date. Full disclosure, I work for Michelin. The Commander 2,s I purchased a couple years prior to employment. Traction in wet/dry is superb. we rode countless hours in storms on road trips in 2020-2021 and no issues were had. Changed them out at just over 22,000mi due to cupping, That was my fault, I was not one to check my pressure very often. Went with Metzelers after that due to Covid/Backorder issues. Those were sketchy to say thye least in the rain. But I wore them out and am back on Commander 3,s now. Hoping they hold up as well as the 2,s.
I purchased my bike in 2019. Front tires were a bit old but had these tires. Was excited to see what I can get out of these tires from new. So purchased a new set. These tires made some noise in the turns but was washed out by the pipes until recently. Currently at 16k plus on my front tire. Plenty of tread left. But… I have a lot of wheel cupping on the left side. I did go a whole season never checking pressure and at beginning of the next season I was down 10psi on both so could be self inflicted. Makes for quite a howl when I turn left and at excessive speeds tends to wobble. However these tires have been amazing. Great traction great handling. When they had a few thousand miles I rode thru some really tight twisties and left a lot of other bikes in the dust. The ... MoreI purchased my bike in 2019. Front tires were a bit old but had these tires. Was excited to see what I can get out of these tires from new. So purchased a new set. These tires made some noise in the turns but was washed out by the pipes until recently. Currently at 16k plus on my front tire. Plenty of tread left. But… I have a lot of wheel cupping on the left side. I did go a whole season never checking pressure and at beginning of the next season I was down 10psi on both so could be self inflicted. Makes for quite a howl when I turn left and at excessive speeds tends to wobble. However these tires have been amazing. Great traction great handling. When they had a few thousand miles I rode thru some really tight twisties and left a lot of other bikes in the dust. The guy on the gold wing I was tail gating looked at my tires when we stopped because he was impressed with the grip I was making. The wet traction is ok once I’m moving but where I’m a light rider on a powerful bike when I’m alone it wiggles it’s tail if I breathe near the throttle. With a passenger the take off and pulls in the rain are just like dry roads. Even on wet paint it grips with a hard pull. All in all very well done tire. I am going to upgrade to the commander 3s to see how these preform and last and will gladly write a review on those when the time comes.
The RevZilla product specialists are down to earth and extremely helpful. The cat I spoke with owns a Yamaha. I believe his name was Ben? I own a Harley, but it's a huge plus to be asking questions to a fellow rider, regardless of brand. I was not in love initially with the tread pattern. However, after installation, I not only love how they look, the smooth ride and cornering is amazing! I got educated on the spoke wheels I have, by learning of the rim wraps an innertubes that I needed by the RevZilla Specialist. I was in the tires an parts for around $300 bucks! $132 for installation, so $432 total! A local shop I was directed to in my area quoted me $663.44 tax and all out the door, exact same tires an parts!! I understand businesses have to make a profit, ... MoreThe RevZilla product specialists are down to earth and extremely helpful. The cat I spoke with owns a Yamaha. I believe his name was Ben? I own a Harley, but it's a huge plus to be asking questions to a fellow rider, regardless of brand. I was not in love initially with the tread pattern. However, after installation, I not only love how they look, the smooth ride and cornering is amazing! I got educated on the spoke wheels I have, by learning of the rim wraps an innertubes that I needed by the RevZilla Specialist. I was in the tires an parts for around $300 bucks! $132 for installation, so $432 total! A local shop I was directed to in my area quoted me $663.44 tax and all out the door, exact same tires an parts!! I understand businesses have to make a profit, however, treating customers right is the backbone for growing an operating a successful business!! Do a man right and out of loyalty you'll do business with his friends an family and acquire life long customers! I have rode the lops, good performance and styling, Harley pushes em hard, but I wouldn't take 2 sets of the lops', for 1 set of the Michelin Commander 2's. I can not assess tread life because I've only had em less than a month. I already knew a man never goes wrong purchasing a Michelin tire. And the company to acquire the Michelins from is most definitely RevZilla!!!!
First discovered these in 2010 while looking for something that will last longer than 8000 miles. A fixed income disability check can't afford to buy tires every 6 months...and that's with me putting them on myself! Found these Commander II's and read some fine reviews about them for longevity and decided to 'splurge' and got some for my '09 Super Glide. Those tires went 25,000 miles on the front and 15,000 on the rear, pretty much *twice* what the Dunlops were giving me! I've been using these since. I put 87,000 miles on that '09 FXD in 4 years and was easily able to afford these tires because of their longevity. Not just the longevity I found out too, since the bike is the only transportation I own, I have to often ride in bad weather conditions during all times ... MoreFirst discovered these in 2010 while looking for something that will last longer than 8000 miles. A fixed income disability check can't afford to buy tires every 6 months...and that's with me putting them on myself! Found these Commander II's and read some fine reviews about them for longevity and decided to 'splurge' and got some for my '09 Super Glide. Those tires went 25,000 miles on the front and 15,000 on the rear, pretty much *twice* what the Dunlops were giving me! I've been using these since. I put 87,000 miles on that '09 FXD in 4 years and was easily able to afford these tires because of their longevity. Not just the longevity I found out too, since the bike is the only transportation I own, I have to often ride in bad weather conditions during all times of the year. My next bike was a '98 Super Glide and yep, the tires from the '09 went on the '98, because they're that good. Unfortunately a cager t-boned me and now I have a wrecked bike with two brand new tires I can't use because I replaced that '98 FXD with a '97 Heritage Softtail Classic, so I can't use the same sizes of tires. Anyway, I got the FLSTC and first thing I did was take the old tires off and put these Commander II's on and the bike rides like a dream compared to the Dunlops. They don't track in cracks on the road or metal bridges, they don't make me sweat a load during the summer when taking turns on fast roads that have lots of tar snakes, and rain doesn't even phase them a bit.
Beware of Dennis Kirk sending you old tires. I just ordered a set of Commander II tires for my '13 Ultra Limited and the tires I received are two years old. I called to speak about it and they said they can ship tires up to five years old. Not a great policy considering the mfg recommends replacement after 6 years. They told me I can return them but that I have to pay the shipping. This is unacceptable. I had been a loyal customer of Dennis Kirk, but no more.
I installed these in late 2021, and then due to circumstances out of my control I did not ride much in 2022. This year I was back in my pattern of riding about 9-10K/yr and noticed these tires had some quirkiness to them.First off, my ride to work is 30 miles each way, exactly 50% back roads and 50% highway. Within this year, these tires cupped significantly and have become horrible in turns. Second, there are times when they developed a wobble at highway speeds. I removed the tires and checked balance, but the intermittent wobble remained.Overall, they performed well when they were new, and they may perform well for others throughout their life cycle, but they are not suitable for my riding style. As a former riding instructor, I can at times ride a little ... MoreI installed these in late 2021, and then due to circumstances out of my control I did not ride much in 2022. This year I was back in my pattern of riding about 9-10K/yr and noticed these tires had some quirkiness to them.First off, my ride to work is 30 miles each way, exactly 50% back roads and 50% highway. Within this year, these tires cupped significantly and have become horrible in turns. Second, there are times when they developed a wobble at highway speeds. I removed the tires and checked balance, but the intermittent wobble remained.Overall, they performed well when they were new, and they may perform well for others throughout their life cycle, but they are not suitable for my riding style. As a former riding instructor, I can at times ride a little spirited, and these tires did not meet my expectations.
Previous to these tires, I was running Metzeler Cruisetrc which weren't bad. But since those were unavailable to order from anywhere when I needed new tires, I decide to try the Michelin COMMANDER II. I had heard good things from other people who have ran them. I HONESTLY have to say...I will no longer being going back to the Metzelers. Not that those are bad, but because the Michelin are WAY better. I ride Mtn twisties...roads that hug the cliff side. So far these tires, the way they grip the curves (especially when the curves are in the middle of elevation changes in the road), the control I have is far more superior. The confidence to take these turns at speed...we'll done Michelin. I'll just have to wait & see how many miles I can get out of them. The Metzelers ... MorePrevious to these tires, I was running Metzeler Cruisetrc which weren't bad. But since those were unavailable to order from anywhere when I needed new tires, I decide to try the Michelin COMMANDER II. I had heard good things from other people who have ran them. I HONESTLY have to say...I will no longer being going back to the Metzelers. Not that those are bad, but because the Michelin are WAY better. I ride Mtn twisties...roads that hug the cliff side. So far these tires, the way they grip the curves (especially when the curves are in the middle of elevation changes in the road), the control I have is far more superior. The confidence to take these turns at speed...we'll done Michelin. I'll just have to wait & see how many miles I can get out of them. The Metzelers would go about 10K mi. These Michelin are rate to surpass that...but time will tell. The like I said the performance of these tires are Very Impressive.
