Tires

whitGSR07 · #1 12-07-2004, 06:18 PM

Hey...I just bought Riken Raptor VR tires for my 2000 GSR. Originally I had Dunlop SP sport ultra high performance summer tires (which didn't last long but handled great). The Riken's were recommended by a big 10 tires guy over what I had originally ha come to buy, Yoko AVS ES100's. He said the Riken's would last longer, perform just as well, and were cheaper. So I went with the Riken's even tho I have never heard of them. The Riken's are all season UHP tires and the dunlops were summer UHP tires. Should I be feeling any difference in handiling? The Riken's are louder and seem to not handle the road as well. Did I just buy some shit tires or do they just need some breaking in/alignment? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Anyone else own Riken's or even heard of them? Thanks guys.

Igovert500 · #2 12-07-2004, 06:36 PM

Well the added noise and reduced handling are expected...you went from summer tires to all-season...meaning more tread, less of a contact patch. The extra tread means more road noise..
And the all-season means better wet and snow traction...meaning the focus wasn't all on dry handling...so it wont stack up as well to summer tires.
Give them some time, and make sure you get the pressure correct and see how it goes...you'll appreciate them when it snows.

whitGSR07 · #3 12-07-2004, 06:51 PM

Thanks igovert...I live in GA so we hardly get any snow maybe like an inch if we are lucky. I told the guy at big 10 about the Rikens and he said he would swap them out if I wanted. Do u think I will be more satisfied with the Yoko's?

whtteg · #4 12-07-2004, 07:22 PM

Yea I live in GA as well and you won't have to worry about snow all that often. I have never heard of those tires before. I mostly stick with Michelin tires for touring and all season. They are a little more expensive but they are great tires.

Igovert500 · #5 12-07-2004, 11:11 PM

Well, the best advice I can give you, is go to the wheels and tires sub-forum...in the main menu. Post your question there, and wait to hear from a few people like [email protected] He is very knowledgable and wont steer you wrong.

sameintheend01 · #6 12-08-2004, 03:54 AM

i love my yokos...they were $$$ though.

genkichild · #7 12-09-2004, 05:32 PM

You gotta be careful about guys at tire stores. I had a similar experience last winter when I was talked into buying a different snow tire than I had intended. Turns out a lot of tire stores buy in bulk to save costs, then try to sell off the tires to the unsuspecting. Combine that with a comission and incentive policy and you are pretty much gaurenteed to get ripped off.
Tire Rack seems pretty good though. Their web site has a cool user-based rating system too.
I have heard a lot of good things about the Yokos, though I think my next tire will be the Falken Azenis Sport or Kuhmo MX, both of which all the autocross guys seem to like.

genkichild · #8 12-09-2004, 05:40 PM

After looking at my post I realised I totally sound like a rep. for Tirerack or something. heh. I'm not.
^_^

whitGSR07 · #9 12-09-2004, 10:03 PM

Thanks for all the input guys...I went ahead and returned the tires and bought some BF goodrich G-force sport tires. The reviews on tire rack were great for them and they have been rated has the best handling v/z rated tire. They havn't come into the shop yet but i am sure I will be more satisfied with them.

whitGSR07 · #10 12-09-2004, 10:06 PM

And you tire rack reps. need to stay out of our forums.

integdummy · #11 12-10-2004, 12:05 AM

pep boyshas great tires

whtteg · #12 12-10-2004, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitGSR07

Thanks for all the input guys...I went ahead and returned the tires and bought some BF goodrich G-force sport tires. The reviews on tire rack were great for them and they have been rated has the best handling v/z rated tire. They havn't come into the shop yet but i am sure I will be more satisfied with them.

Let us know how you like the BFG's I am going to need to get new tires in about a month or two. I am tring to decide if I want to try a different tire than Michelin.

Igovert500 · #13 12-11-2004, 03:38 PM

FYI, those letter ratings are speed ratings, not handling ratings. I've posted a few full explanations of the speed rating system. Tirerack also has an article somewhere on thier site explaining them. So if you do some searching, I'm sure you'll find it.

whitGSR07 · #14 12-12-2004, 03:11 PM

yeah I know the v/z is speed rating...but it's saying it's the best handling tire in the v/z speed rated tire catagory.

whitGSR07 · #15 12-14-2004, 05:10 PM

got the tires on today...my alignment was screwed to hell and all I have done to the suspension is put an eibach pro kit on it (1.25 drop!!) But yeah they got all that fixed and put the bf goodrich g-sports on. They feel awesome. Very tight handling, alot better then the Rikens.

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD