Shear theological data for a wide range of nearly monodisperse linear polyisoprene melts are reported herein using the results of linear and nonlinear measurements. The number of entanglements per chain ranges from about 0.5 to 230. In order to extend the range of available frequencies and shear rates the procedure of time-temperature superposition is improved and validated in both the linear and the nonlinear regime. In the linear flow regime a detailed comparison with the tube theory by Likhtman and McLeish [Macromolecules 35, 6332-6343 (2002)] was performed. The overall agreement was found to be satisfactory but several minor disagreements, e.g., at the crossover regime and for the steady-state compliance, were observed and have been discussed. Until now, most nonlinear models for entangled polymers were compared with shear data on solutions. However, the equivalence between solutions and melts is not well established. In this paper the results of a series of nonlinear start-up shear experiments are compared with those predicted by the tube model [Graham et al., J. Rheol. 47, 1117-1200 (2003)] and with several literature datasets on entangled solutions having similar numbers of entanglements. The melts were found to behave in a very similar manner to the previously studied solutions and agree well with the tube theory. Disagreements are observed when the shear rate exceeds the Rouse time of one entanglement and also for chains with very small number of entanglements. For the high molecular weight samples possible instabilities and edge fracture can occur at high strains and the results are discussed in light of these effects. The extensive dataset presented here could serve as a test for future theories and models of entangled melts. (C) 2008 The Society of Rheology.