I want to start off by saying, I haven’t read any negative feedback or talked to anybody that had something bad to say about the GBC Grim Reaper tires. Everyone is very happy they made the purchase and even after putting more then 1000 miles on a set they are still bragging about how good they perform and how well they are holding up. Read on for a more in depth GBC Grim Reaper ATV/UTV tire review.
Of course these types of reports are expected since Greenball Corporation is working hard to build a premier brand in the powersports market. Both their Grim Reaper and Dirt Commander tires were used by the 2008 Baja 1000 championship UTV racing teams that finished first and second.
Now let’s break down this tire and show you why it’s a top contender.
First off, it’s an 8ply tire. The large percentage of ATV tires are 6ply and the more economical models are 3ply such as the Carlisle AT489. With Grim Reaper’s 8ply design it’s very puncture resistant. Some riders will say that the 8ply design is a negative in the rock climbing category because the tire is stiffer and it won’t grapple the rocks efficiently. But this tire is also a radial tire, so the foot print of the tire will be able to stay square to the surface while the sidewalls flex against the faces of the rocks and provide maximum contact. If the type of rocks you’re riding over are slippery decrease the air pressure 1-2lbs (only do this if you plan on going long distances over lots of rocks at a low speed, like in a crick bed). The 8ply design really shines on high speed rocky trails in instances where the tire hits a couple of sharper rocks sticking 5-6 inches out of the ground and you’re going 40mph. The rock it’s self is one obstacle, but the rock pushing the sidewall clear back to the edge of the rim and pinching the tire is the killer. It’s so easy to puncture a sidewall like this; I did it twice in one hour with Maxxis 6ply tires. So in this case 8ply tires would be a huge plus.
As mentioned before, the Grim Reaper is a radial tire. With the radial design it enables this tire to offset the stiffness of the 8ply rubber and allows the tire to still run smooth, even at high speeds. The radial design eliminates roll under in hard cornering and keeps the tread of the tire square to the ground while riding on uneven surfaces.
Notice the way the tread runs down the middle of the tire. The center tread was not only designed that way to look “cool”, but it serves a great purpose. If you run your eyes directly down the center of the tire you’ll notice there is always a piece of tread, no major gaps. This enables the tire to be very smooth on hard pack surfaces. You won’t have that “tractor tire” feeling. It also eliminates the body of the tire being exposed to sharp objects that could cause punctures to the climax of the tire. It’s an important feature that allowed this tire to come in first place at the Baja 1000 in 2008.
The lugs all have good size cut outs in them and this allows them to clean out more efficiently. These also provide added traction in the mud and on dirt surfaces. The cut outs are also good for climbing over rocks because it allows the tops of the lugs to flex and help grab onto the edge of those rocks.
And of course, the well stated “DEEP WRAP-AROUND SHOULDER LUGS” which I think should be a staple with these types of ATV/UTV tires. It’s a feature we’ve come to expect and GBC made sure they delivered. These shoulder lugs provide extra traction when the quad gets down into those deep ruts.
The out side treads offer a traditional mud tire pattern with long horizontal lugs and large gaps between each lug which we all know is essential for wading through those deep mud pits or paddling across deep sections of water. If you’re newer to the ATV/UTV market and you like to ride in the mud, when purchasing new tires stay away from tires with tight lugs. Tires with tight lugs become packed with mud and the mud can’t fall out of the tight spaces between the lugs and the tire becomes a big chocolate covered donut. The large spacing between lugs found on tires designed for mud have large gaps between the lugs so when the tire is in high speed rotation it can throw the mud out and provide more traction on the next revolution.
These tires also boast an aggressive tread depth of 28/32 & 30/32 (32 NDS inch) depending on what size you get. It’s a good all-around tread depth that offers benefits to aggressive riders and relaxed riding styles. The treads are deep enough to take on serious mud and sand, but not to tall to create an uncomfortable ride and premature wear.
In conclusion, the GBC Grim Reaper is a premium tire offered at a middle of the road price tag. This tire offers one of the heaviest ply’s in the industry and is exceedingly puncture resistant. The radial design delivers a smooth ride and added control. The well designed tread pattern offers the best of both worlds by featuring the famous zigzag bone looking design that creates added protection and smooth riding qualities, coupled with an aggressive mud tread design and tall lugs to take on big mud pits.
Manufactures recommended tire pressure is 7 lbs.
Grim Reaper combines an aggressive tread pattern with deep wrap-around shoulder lugs to give you uncompromising performance and traction. This new 8-ply rated all-terrain radial is constructed with a zigzag center ridgeline, for superior puncture resistance and enhanced rider comfort. GBC Motorsports carries a wide line of performance ATV tires for all types of terrains and riders.
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Tire sizes available:
26X10-12
26X12-12
27X9-14
27X11-14
23X8-12
23X10-12