Hercules Raptis WR1 tires

[mazda2010]

Anybody heard of these or had experience? They have decent pricing and are really close to the tread pattern on the Falken 912. I cant find that much info on the net though?

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

[dj_chinaman2097]

I've been using them for a few weeks. Got them at Simply Tire

The ride is smooth and comfortable with low road noise.

No complaints so far.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f100/djchinaman/mazda3/04_26_2009/DSC_0702_600.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f100/djchinaman/mazda3/04_26_2009/DSC_0705_600.jpg

[Hives]

have you noticed fast tire wear on them?

[mazda2010]

no not so bad, They seem to be alright so far.

Why have you experienced bad tread wear?

[hhusada]

how big is your rims?

[cy88]

how big is your rims?

Those are RX8's, 18"

[dj_chinaman2097]

Four month update:

~8000km, 80% highway driving on the QEW/427/DVP/404 and 401

Pros:
1. Got my 56k km oil change and dealership indicates tire wear is fine and normal
2. Ride is still smooth and quiet
3. Dry grip is good, but not as good as the Bridgestone Potenza RE01 (which is ~$300 more)

Cons:
1. Sometimes it feels like the car is sliding when turning in rainy conditions
2. Tires squeal at a lower speed threshold than the Potenzas (~60km/hr on a right-hand turn)

[dj_chinaman2097]

Warning: If you have these tires drive with extreme caution when its raining

As mentioned in my previous post I tend to get the feeling the car is sliding when turning in wet conditions. Now I can confirm that these tires aren't very good in (barely) wet conditions.

Today on the way home from work I narrowly missed slamming into the 6" tall curb on South Service Road where it meets Cawthra.

Around 6pm it wasn't raining in the area, the road at this point wasn't soaked. It had the matte glow to it, so you know it was wet/had rained, but there wasn't a thick layer of water.

I let go of the gas (at 60km) at the point where the SS Rd stops being parallel to the QEW and was coasting to the Cawthra intersection turn.

Now I'm was at 40km, still decelerating, and turned the steering wheel to follow the easy left curve and the car immediately slid diagonally towards the curb.

I kept my cool and just kept the wheel pointed in the direction I wanted the car to go and just before I slammed into the curb the tires caught and I drove through the intersection as if nothing happened.

Good thing I drive slow anyway or else my car and I may have been seriously injured.

So if you have these tires drive really slow and cautiously when it sprinkles, spits, and rains.

I will probably go back to Bridgestone UHPs next time for the added safety.

[evik]

Damn... dude i had the same experience yesterday

i've never heard my tires so much in one day... they just kept sliding on me!

They are not exactly "Quiet" either... though i wouldn't call them loud... they are cheap but i think next time i will spend the extra bill or so to get something a little better... perhaps falkens...


Warning: If you have these tires drive with extreme caution when its raining

As mentioned in my previous post I tend to get the feeling the car is sliding when turning in wet conditions. Now I can confirm that these tires aren't very good in (barely) wet conditions.

Today on the way home from work I narrowly missed slamming into the 6" tall curb on South Service Road where it meets Cawthra.

Around 6pm it wasn't raining in the area, the road at this point wasn't soaked. It had the matte glow to it, so you know it was wet/had rained, but there wasn't a thick layer of water.

I let go of the gas (at 60km) at the point where the SS Rd stops being parallel to the QEW and was coasting to the Cawthra intersection turn.

Now I'm was at 40km, still decelerating, and turned the steering wheel to follow the easy left curve and the car immediately slid diagonally towards the curb.

I kept my cool and just kept the wheel pointed in the direction I wanted the car to go and just before I slammed into the curb the tires caught and I drove through the intersection as if nothing happened.

Good thing I drive slow anyway or else my car and I may have been seriously injured.

So if you have these tires drive really slow and cautiously when it sprinkles, spits, and rains.

I will probably go back to Bridgestone UHPs next time for the added safety.

[marvin24k]

That's some scary sh!t. Thanks for letting us know guys. I was considering these tires, but now they are out.

[thebasement]

I have a set of raptis. Its crazy what happened to u but so far my raptis are performing well 205/40/17's at 35psi for my Jetta 1998

In the rain they pretty well. Its a good tire for the price maybe u had the wrong tire pressure

[Hives]

I experience the same problems. These tires suck in the rain. I slide when its wet when I corner hard/drive aggressive. Also, if I am at a red light going up hill, the tires spin as if it were on ice. Other then the crappy handling in the rain, they are good. Plus, the price is amazing. I guess you get what you pay for.

Would I buy these again? Probably, I would just have to drive careful in the rain and not too aggressive.

[dj_chinaman2097]

Update: For the past two months I've had the front tires at 36 psi and the rears at 34 psi. They handle the wet better than before but I'm still not confident in them.

[against the grain]

i used these wheels the last 2 summers on my 18"s..as quoted above.."you get what you pay for"..i am pretty hard on tires and they lasted 2 summers..as for the rain issues..common sense should tell you that you shouldn't drive so aggressive in the rain. I personally didn't find them that bad. I drove alot of backroad condition w potholes and rainy conditions also. But again for the price i'm prolly gonna put them on my new wheels.

[santana87]

i had the Hercules Raptis WR1 tires for 3yrs now i hav got to say they were ok for the first yr or so but last yr man
i slipp here and thier when i jump from 0-60 overall its ok in wet weather i dont drive stupid obviously :D

will not buy these anymore will be looking into getting Potenza RE-11 or yokohoma