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[wnogood]

I installed a new rear tire about 1500 miles ago, Michelin commander II. Had a mostly worn out Dunlop on the front. Bike handled fine. Installed a new Michelin commander II on the front, now the bike is all over the road. If you change your mind, you change lanes. Very unstable. Any ideas?

[2018_FLTRXSE]

Tire pressure?

[Gettinold]

I'd be looking at something left or come loose. Alignment would be another possible or bad wheel bearing. Did you do the work or have it done.

[Twolanerider]

Bad belt in the tire?  Jack the bike up and spin the front wheel.  Watch the tire and feel it with your hand as it rotates.

Bad wheel bearings, axle not tightened well at installation, tire on the wheel backwards.  That's about all other I can think of.  Though the wheel bearings wouldn't show just because of the tire change. 

[Gettinold]

Bad belt in the tire?  Jack the bike up and spin the front wheel.  Watch the tire and feel it with your hand as it rotates.

Bad wheel bearings, axle not tightened well at installation, tire on the wheel backwards.  That's about all other I can think of.  Though the wheel bearings wouldn't show just because of the tire change. 

Don look at our post times....2 sec difference and we were thinking the same! 

[Twolanerider]

Don look at our post times....2 sec difference and we were thinking the same! 

If I'd not stopped to shift seating position so the boys were more comfortable it'd been a dead heat!

[wnogood]

Actually, the wheel bearings were changed with the tire. I installed the wheel back on the bike myself. I started at 40psi front and rear. Dropped to 36 front and 38 rear. Made a little difference but not much. The biggest difference happened when I dropped off my passenger. Bike handled much better! Another forum said that raising the rear with air in the shocks would make it more light steering. My experience says the opposite. Maybe I need a bit more air in the shocks due to the front tire having a noticeably taller profile than the one I took off?

[Puzzled]

Odd as it may sound, is the tire mounted in the correct direction? 

[wnogood]

That was the first thing I checked. Yes. Even though the tread seems to be backwards

[wnogood]

Just wanted to share an update. I replaced that commander 2 on the front with an Avon venom and all is right with the world again. Thanks for the replies!

[sadunbar]

Just wanted to share an update. I replaced that commander 2 on the front with an Avon venom and all is right with the world again. Thanks for the replies!

Then I suspect you had a bad tire...  Maybe not seated correctly on the wheel, as the Commander's can be difficult to mount.  Or perhaos a bad belt or other tire construction flaw...

[ozrider]

Actually, the wheel bearings were changed with the tire. I installed the wheel back on the bike myself. I started at 40psi front and rear. Dropped to 36 front and 38 rear. Made a little difference but not much. The biggest difference happened when I dropped off my passenger. Bike handled much better! Another forum said that raising the rear with air in the shocks would make it more light steering. My experience says the opposite. Maybe I need a bit more air in the shocks due to the front tire having a noticeably taller profile than the one I took off?

was it the correct size ?