GBC Grim Reaper Review:
I only got a chance to put about 40 miles on them but did enough testing to give a small review.
Ride:
I was concerned that as with my previous 8-ply tires, the ride would be hard and beating as the Bajas were not very flexible. This is not the case with the GRs even on 14” wheels. The sidewalls and thread areas are very flexible and the ride was increasable. I found I could sit over rough sections of trail and feel like I was on a whole new machine…almost like a Polaris. Unreal for a Brute to feel this way. Keep in mind I am running all at 4.5psi.
Steering Ease:
This is a big issue for me. In short-out of this world compared to all the previous tires I have had. Even sitting still it feels a little like having power steering. Rode the whole day had no negative effect on my bad shoulder.. in fact, it actually felt better.
High Speed:
Took it out on the open road to see where it would start to get that front end wobble as most aftermarket tires have. Opened it on the straight and gave it a few seconds before looking down at the speedometer. To my shock and surprise it already showed 60mph and climbing and there was no shake or wobble from any tire. In a knee-jerk reaction I backed-off the throttle for a second and cursed at 62. Then decided to see what she had so on up to the rev limiter we went. 66mph was it. This was the fastest I have been with this Brute sense it was new with the stock tires. It was like I was on a set of balanced Michelins. This was very unexpected so a big bonus for me.
Traction:
I started out at the bottom of some sand hills that I usually have to have a bit of a run at yet not too steep that it wouldn’t be a problem to back down if I didn’t make it. Wanted to see where the limits were in 2 and 4 wheel drive before taking on real hills that you either made it..or you were F’ed. So in 2wd I started taking average slow runs to see where too slow would be. I found that point to be under 3mph with a start already with the noise pointing up hill. This was actually far better then the XTRs. Backed it back down to the same spot and put it in 4wd and did the same run. Went over the top without hardly slipping a wheel. So, in short, these climb better in 2wd then any other tire I have had in 4wd. This clip from later that day was of one of the hills you better make. I hit it like I used to with the old tires which was overkill.
On the trails- with the center rib I expected to loose some of the power-sliding that the others let me have and yes, I did…at least it takes quite a bit more power to slide as it likes to stay straighter. I also found that with other tires, when I pinned it, the tires would just spin-up. Not these so much. They do hook-up better and you feel the engine load and the pull on your hand as it accelerates in the trail and the hills. A welcome feel for any Brute owner but be careful, you will find yourself going fast sooner then you did before. A few times I almost got myself in trouble flying down the arroyos and almost had an issue when I needed to make a fast hard corner. But these do have good bi-directional traction so stopping is quicker then with most other tires too. I also found that the center rib design helped a lot in the soft bottoms of the arroyos as it acts like a rudder and helps steering react quicker in turns. Something my XTRs failed me several years ago and caused me to clip a wall flipping my Brute on its side. I also think the 100% constant contact with the ground the center design has is a big factor. Also I think the non-smooth, stagered bars and tread design helps hold the bite better as well.
Have not had them in the mud or snow yet but I feel they will perform well beyond my needs here in NM.
We did a a few inches of snow on the west masa. Not enough for a real test but a chance to see how they climbed on packed snow and broke-trail on about 3". No complaints. They stayed on top when you wanted them to and tore-in when you needed them to. Cleaned out well too.
In summary, so far these tires have not presented anything I have not liked or not welcomed. It’s only been 40 miles, but I think it’s safe to say if they keep doing what they are doing, these well be the first set of tires I actually wear out and replace with exactly the same thing again.
Here's some photos and a walk a round video:
Grim Reaper Photos
More Photos Cleaned up
Grim Reaper Walk Around Video
3/6/12 Update: Not realy a tire issue but I have been noticing the rear tires loosing a pound of air every two weeks but not the fronts....wierd. Though it has to be beed leaks so today I pulled one off and tested it, Sure enough there was several so small you had to look with a magnifying glass to see the bubbles. Marked them on the tire and broke it down. There I found slight scratches my tire machine had made on the rim across the beed area in those locations. Cleaned them up again and sealed both sides with beed sealer. Leaks gone. So...the beeds are a little fussy. Make sure you don't have any scratches or at least have some beed sealer on hand and take them to 30psi first even though the beed has poped just to make sure its seated all the way. DO NOT exceed 35psi. Then take them back to 4-5psi.
120 miles so far now. Still love these tires!
Here is a little video from the people I bought them from - Pure Off Road
GBC Grim Reaper ATV Tires - YouTube
I only got a chance to put about 40 miles on them but did enough testing to give a small review.
Ride:
I was concerned that as with my previous 8-ply tires, the ride would be hard and beating as the Bajas were not very flexible. This is not the case with the GRs even on 14” wheels. The sidewalls and thread areas are very flexible and the ride was increasable. I found I could sit over rough sections of trail and feel like I was on a whole new machine…almost like a Polaris. Unreal for a Brute to feel this way. Keep in mind I am running all at 4.5psi.
Steering Ease:
This is a big issue for me. In short-out of this world compared to all the previous tires I have had. Even sitting still it feels a little like having power steering. Rode the whole day had no negative effect on my bad shoulder.. in fact, it actually felt better.
High Speed:
Took it out on the open road to see where it would start to get that front end wobble as most aftermarket tires have. Opened it on the straight and gave it a few seconds before looking down at the speedometer. To my shock and surprise it already showed 60mph and climbing and there was no shake or wobble from any tire. In a knee-jerk reaction I backed-off the throttle for a second and cursed at 62. Then decided to see what she had so on up to the rev limiter we went. 66mph was it. This was the fastest I have been with this Brute sense it was new with the stock tires. It was like I was on a set of balanced Michelins. This was very unexpected so a big bonus for me.
Traction:
I started out at the bottom of some sand hills that I usually have to have a bit of a run at yet not too steep that it wouldn’t be a problem to back down if I didn’t make it. Wanted to see where the limits were in 2 and 4 wheel drive before taking on real hills that you either made it..or you were F’ed. So in 2wd I started taking average slow runs to see where too slow would be. I found that point to be under 3mph with a start already with the noise pointing up hill. This was actually far better then the XTRs. Backed it back down to the same spot and put it in 4wd and did the same run. Went over the top without hardly slipping a wheel. So, in short, these climb better in 2wd then any other tire I have had in 4wd. This clip from later that day was of one of the hills you better make. I hit it like I used to with the old tires which was overkill.
On the trails- with the center rib I expected to loose some of the power-sliding that the others let me have and yes, I did…at least it takes quite a bit more power to slide as it likes to stay straighter. I also found that with other tires, when I pinned it, the tires would just spin-up. Not these so much. They do hook-up better and you feel the engine load and the pull on your hand as it accelerates in the trail and the hills. A welcome feel for any Brute owner but be careful, you will find yourself going fast sooner then you did before. A few times I almost got myself in trouble flying down the arroyos and almost had an issue when I needed to make a fast hard corner. But these do have good bi-directional traction so stopping is quicker then with most other tires too. I also found that the center rib design helped a lot in the soft bottoms of the arroyos as it acts like a rudder and helps steering react quicker in turns. Something my XTRs failed me several years ago and caused me to clip a wall flipping my Brute on its side. I also think the 100% constant contact with the ground the center design has is a big factor. Also I think the non-smooth, stagered bars and tread design helps hold the bite better as well.
Have not had them in the mud or snow yet but I feel they will perform well beyond my needs here in NM.
We did a a few inches of snow on the west masa. Not enough for a real test but a chance to see how they climbed on packed snow and broke-trail on about 3". No complaints. They stayed on top when you wanted them to and tore-in when you needed them to. Cleaned out well too.
In summary, so far these tires have not presented anything I have not liked or not welcomed. It’s only been 40 miles, but I think it’s safe to say if they keep doing what they are doing, these well be the first set of tires I actually wear out and replace with exactly the same thing again.
Here's some photos and a walk a round video:
Grim Reaper Photos
More Photos Cleaned up
Grim Reaper Walk Around Video
3/6/12 Update: Not realy a tire issue but I have been noticing the rear tires loosing a pound of air every two weeks but not the fronts....wierd. Though it has to be beed leaks so today I pulled one off and tested it, Sure enough there was several so small you had to look with a magnifying glass to see the bubbles. Marked them on the tire and broke it down. There I found slight scratches my tire machine had made on the rim across the beed area in those locations. Cleaned them up again and sealed both sides with beed sealer. Leaks gone. So...the beeds are a little fussy. Make sure you don't have any scratches or at least have some beed sealer on hand and take them to 30psi first even though the beed has poped just to make sure its seated all the way. DO NOT exceed 35psi. Then take them back to 4-5psi.
120 miles so far now. Still love these tires!
Here is a little video from the people I bought them from - Pure Off Road
GBC Grim Reaper ATV Tires - YouTube