Riken Tires Review - Brand Guide

‍‍‍Riken Tires Review - A Quick Rundown

Riken's goal switched from satisfying local demand to serving European and American markets in the early 1970s. Michelin purchased Riken in 1992, and Michelin continues to manufacture Riken tires in Europe.

Michelin now owns Riken as a brand, using it as a cost-effective alternative to Michelin's premier tires at premier prices. Riken tires are available for all sorts of passenger automobiles and SUVs, as well as commercial vehicles. The brand is purposefully positioned in the low-cost tire market, allowing Michelin to expand its market reach without dumping down or diluting its core products.

Why Should You Purchase Riken Tires?

Quality at a Reasonable Cost

The brand focuses on creating tires that provide above-average performance at extremely low pricing. The tires aren't made using the same high-quality material and manufacturing resources as premium tire designs. However, if you're on a budget, Riken Tires are adequate substitutes.

An average Riken tire costs around $80, a reasonable price for a full set. Ideally, Riken tires should be considered by drivers who are not too focused on world-class or premium performance.

A Fantastic Selection

Riken expanded its market share by offering multiple designs in each tire category. It manufactures a wide range of tires, including off-road, winter, and specialty tires. For example, the Raptor series is a remarkable selection of ultra-high performance tires.

These designs are thought to deliver exceptional handling and braking performance comparable to premium tires at a lower cost. Thanks to their wide range of options, Riken tires will always meet the needs of their consumers.

So, whether you want to travel to the mountains or you're looking for tires that'll go easy on the pockets, Riken tires will never disappoint you.

Design Features

Handling

Riken's ultra-high performance tires have asymmetric tread patterns, which improve vehicle stability at high speeds and allow drivers to maintain control. Plus, the tires provide better handling regardless of the terrain type by including special elements, such as sipes.

These design components keep the tire footprint dry, giving drivers the ability to brake quickly. Performance tires are designed for high-speed cornering and feature stiff sidewalls for accurate steering response.

Comfort

Every driver expects their tires to provide a certain level of comfort regardless of the surface the car is driven on. Fortunately, Riken Tires provide high comfort and ease of driving.

Riken tires include a robust center rib that provides stability when the tire is driven over bumps and cracks. The tread compound is carefully intended to reduce tire squeal, which is a common problem with budget tires. However, with Riken's recent tire innovations, drivers can have peace of mind knowing that they will confidently be able to enjoy long-distance trips.

Overall Review of Riken Tires

Michelin may have acquired Riken, but their pricing strategies are vastly different. Riken is all about providing above-average performance at an affordable price for budget-conscious consumers. They aren't as high-end as Michelin's, but they are extremely dependable.

Riken tires are designed for drivers who aren't concerned with high performance or luxury. You can get a full set of Riken tires for about $400 and be totally content with their handling and performance.

Quality

Despite the fact that Michelin has acquired Riken, the brand does not have the same quality build, which is acceptable given the business's goal of providing trustworthy tires to budget-conscious consumers. Riken tires are built to last, so you won't have to worry about them giving out after a few short-distance hauls.

Range

Riken manufactures a wide range of tires, including off-road tires, specialized tires, summer tires, and high-performance tires. Furthermore, the firm features a Raptor line of ultra-high-performance tires.

Riken offers various tire designs within a single class, which gives you a lot of customization options. All of its designs have excellent braking and cornering performance, comparable to some of the most expensive tires on the market.

Efficacy of Fuel

Many of Riken's tires have compounds made with silica for tread patterns to save money on gas. They're not quite as fuel-efficient as Michelin's Energy Saver or Goodyear's Assurance Gasoline Max, but they do a commendable job of lowering the fuel bills.

Durability

Riken tires are extremely durable, but even the most durable tires require care from time to time. Despite their low price, Riken tires are designed with a high level of integrity, ensuring long-term performance. Not convinced? The Raptor HR, Riken's most popular tire, comes with a 6-year, 55,000-mile tread life warranty.

Handling

Asymmetrical tread designs are found on the majority of Riken tires, ensuring maximum stability and traction on wet and dry terrain, even at high speeds. Riken also uses sipes and other design characteristics to maintain consistent handling all year.

Riken tires also have firm sidewalls that aid in providing sensitive steering for quick corners. The tires have circumferential grooves that help keep water out, which reduces the risk of hydroplaning and enhances handling.

Other features that Make Riken Tires Appealing

Riken Tires uses an impressive branding and positioning strategy. The company has positioned itself as a high-performance brand at accessible pricing, so it's difficult not to let some of that Michelin sheen rub off on them.

Riken tires are not developed or manufactured to the same specifications as Michelin tires or the major competitor brands; nonetheless, they still represent good value for money and a sound, cost-effective purchase.

In the value tire market, one of the significant differences with Riken is that they are manufactured in Europe rather than Asia. Riken offers a diverse range of tires in different categories, each with several designs.

Even though Riken produces inexpensive tires, there is a high-performance end to the Raptor series range. The goal is to deliver performance comparable to that of a premium tire without the cost.

Riken's high-performance versions feature a variety of asymmetric tread pattern designs to improve vehicle stability at high speeds. Sipes ensure optimum handling on any terrain and keep the footprint dry, allowing for fast braking even in wet or snowy conditions. Riken tires have firm sidewalls to provide precise steering control that is comparable to that of a high-performance tire designed to undertake moves like high-speed cornering.

Most motorists demand comfort and a smooth ride as usual, regardless of the road surface conditions, and they are very much independent of price. Riken Tires provides better comfort thanks to a robust center rib that keeps the tire stable as it goes over cracks and bumps on the road. Tire squeal is also reduced, which is good news for budget tire fans that have to put up with screaming and high-pitched sounds while hitting the brakes or making sharp turns.

Do Riken Tires Make Noise?

If there's one thing that low-cost tires aren't good at, it's noise reduction. Therefore, their tires don't typically have noise reduction technology and are ineffective in reducing the effects of road noise. Riken does, however, offer tires with tolerable noise levels.

Premium brands, such as Goodyear, Michelin, and others, are quieter and feature more advanced noise suppression technology.

However, because quality tires are more expensive, comparing a Riken to a Goodyear that is likely twice as expensive is unfair. As a result, we can say that Riken tires are noisier than premium brand tires.

In terms of performance, Riken performs better when compared to other budget tire brands. For example, computer phasing is used in some Riken tires, such as the Allstar 2, to reduce tread noise. This feature reduces noise by matching the tread patterns on the tires.

How Is Riken Tires Noise Tested?

Riken tests their tire designs to see how much noise they make before going into mass production. The testing involves both internal and external noise to ensure that buyers are comfortable all around.

External Noise Test

The noise made when the tire tread contacts the road is referred to as external noise. This noise eventually permeates into the atmosphere, resulting in noise pollution.

Engineers must perform the Pass-by Test on Riken tires in order to test for external noise. This easy test determines sound pressure levels by measuring pass-by sounds from a vehicle (SPL). The Coast Test, Cruise Test, and Wide-Open Throttle Test are the three types of Pass-by Tests.

These tests are conducted in the same way, with only minor changes in execution:

Pass-By Test Procedure

• It takes place in a 20-meter-by-20-meter.
• Engineers deploy two microphones in the middle of the track before the test to assess the vehicle's pass-by noise.
• The center track is 7.5 meters away from these microphones.
• The driver must travel across the track in the way specified in the exam.
• Pass-by noise is picked up by the microphones, and the sound pressure level is measured.
• Black sound waves (1-3) or decibels are the units of measurement (dB).

The Coast Test

• The coast test involves the driver entering the racecourse at a set pace.
• They shift the car to neutral and turn off the engine, allowing them to "coast" through the circuit.
• They can do this up to eight times, each time entering the zone at a different speed.

The Cruise Test

• The cruise test requires the driver to enter and depart the test zone at a consistent speed.
• As a result, while on the course, the driver does not accelerate or decelerate.

The Acceleration Test

• The Acceleration Test, also known as the Wide-Open Throttle Test, requires the driver to enter the circuit at a speed of roughly 31 mph while in second or third gear.
• When the driver enters the test zone, he or she must accelerate and run across the course.

Interior (Internal) Noise Test

• Tire noise that permeates into the cabin and affects passengers is known as interior noise.
• Test drivers go across a variety of surfaces in the outside test, utilizing tires with different tread patterns. After that, they go through how common tire-induced cabin noise is in the vehicle.
• The goal of experimenting with different tread patterns is to figure out which tread creates the least amount of noise on a given surface.
• The preparation of the practice road to imitate regular roads is a noteworthy pre-test operation. This entails putting obstacles on the test track that contribute to tire noise, such as expansion joints, speed bumps, and manhole covers.
• Engineers may utilize sound sensors installed in the car during test rides to detect interior noise in some circumstances. These sound sensors track changes in in-cabin noise caused by tire functioning, providing engineers with further information.

Quietest Riken Tires

Some of Riken's tires are quieter than others, although they don't exactly provide the most comfortable riding experience. Here is a list of the quietest Riken Tires currently available:

Riken Raptor Virtual Reality

Riken Raptor VR is a high-performance tire designed specifically for today's compact automobiles, sedans, and coupes. The Raptor VR is known for its affordability, and it delivers the same level of performance and handling as other competitors, even though the latter costs twice as much.

An all-season tread compound is combined with a directed tread pattern on this tire for improved handling and cornering. The tire's sidewall has a high modulus content, which improves steering response.

The Raptor VR excels on both wet and dry roads. In addition, it features broader tread channels and many sipes, so it has exceptional traction on slick, water-covered terrain.

The model is highly durable and has an above-average tread life. This is because it employs double nylon-reinforced belts, which provide additional strength.

The Raptor VR is one of the few Riken tires with a somewhat quiet ride. The company used a computer-phased tread pattern to reduce road noise when designing this tire. This improves the quality of the ride and overall comfort.

HR Riken Raptor

The Riken Raptor HR is a high-performance all-season tire with excellent grip, handling, and cornering characteristics.

The Raptor HR, like all Riken tires, provides excellent performance at an affordable price. In fact, this type is one of the most affordable performance tires available.

The tire has a directional tread pattern and an optimized tread design with an enhanced tread compound. These traits combine to give the tire exceptional traction and handling in both summer and winter. The tire's sidewalls have a high modulus content, which improves cornering responsiveness.

You can drive with confidence in wet weather with this tire. It has a series of circumferential grooves that prevent water from building up in the tread while driving on wet roads. This reduces the risk of a hydroplaning mishap, which frequently occurs on slick roads.

Riken used computer-phasing tread design technology to create this tire. As a result, the tire has a low noise level and excellent ride quality.

What Riken Tires Make the Most Noise?

Since we've gone over some of Riken's quietest tires, it's only fair that we also go over some of the noisier ones. The following is a list of the noisiest Riken tires:

Riken Raptor ZR

This is a high-performance summer tire made for sport coupes and compact sedans. The Raptor ZR provides excellent traction on dry ground. The tire has a bold appearance that makes it both appealing and long-lasting. It has excellent grip on dry roads and is also quite stable in corners.

Similarly, the tire boasts excellent wet-weather traction and longer-than-average tread life. These amazing characteristics explain why it is regarded as one of the top low-cost performance tire varieties.

However, the Raptor ZR's strong track record is marred by its raucous performance. The tire is prone to excessive road noise, especially as it wears down. As a result, the rider experiences discomfort, and the quality suffers.

The Raptor ZR tires' vulnerability to high levels of road noise has been validated by real-world users. One user complained that despite the fact that the tires had only traveled 1,000 miles, the noise was so awful that people could barely relax while driving.

Similar reviews on the internet confirm the Raptor ZR's tendency for making a lot of noise. Given this, we recommend that you carefully consider your alternatives before purchasing this tire.

How to Reduce Tire Noise – Riken Tires

Extreme tire noise causes pain throughout the ride and lowers the quality of your riding experience. Tire noise can sometimes indicate that the tires are damaged and need to be replaced. However, if your tires still have a lot of tread life left, a simple series of techniques can help you reduce tire noise.

The following is a step-by-step method to making your Riken tires as quiet as possible:

Stick to the Care Schedule

Regular tire rotations at the repair shop are the most common form of tire maintenance. Tire rotations help to eliminate uneven tread wear, which is a primary source of tire noise. If your tires are very noisy, you may need to rotate them regularly.

Wheel Alignment and Balance

Unbalanced and misaligned wheels lead to tire noise. If you notice that your Riken tires are making more noise than usual, have them re-balanced/realigned as soon as possible.

Replacement of Worn or Defective Suspension Parts and Wheel Bearings

Increased tire noise is caused by worn or defective suspension parts or wheel bearings. In both setups, changing the worn-out or faulty component will dramatically reduce road noise.

Best Selling Riken Tires

The Riken Raptor HR

The Riken Raptor HR is a high-quality tire with excellent road grip and cornering, as well as a smooth, pleasant ride. The Riken Raptor HR defies the tradition of having to spend a fortune to get a tire with an H-speed rating, which is odd given that Riken is owned by Michelin, which is known for selling high-end tires at high-end prices.

This is one of Riken's most popular tires, as it provides dependable traction on both dry and wet surfaces. Due to the use of twin strip-wound nylon, the Raptor HR can maintain its shape and integrity at faster speeds.

The Riken Raptor HR is an all-season tire with a high-tech compound and a unique directional pattern that improves traction on both dry and wet roads, making it an excellent choice for year-round driving.

A twin strip-wound nylon overlay keeps the tire in shape even at high speeds, keeping that all-important tread contact with the tarmac. Wet weather concerns are met by four circumferential grooves and a continuous center rib, which reduces the possibility of aquaplaning.

Two steel belts run through the tire, which helps with stability at high speeds as well as tread life and durability. A useful rim protector guards against curb damage and scratches. This tire is ideal for individuals who seek performance and handling without breaking the bank. This model also comes with a 55,000-mile warranty.

The Riken Raptor VR

The Riken Raptor VR is another high-performance tire that was created with compact sedans and sporty coupes in mind. The tire features a directed tread pattern that enables safe cornering and handling.

The Riken Raptor VR combines exceptional traction and handling with a price tag that is roughly half that of competitors in this class. A sophisticated tread compound with a directional tread pattern increases cornering and handling stability even under pressure, with a crisp and precise steering response ensured by the high modulus composition sidewall.

A multi-sipe design and extra-wide tread channels remove the maximum amount of water from the tire and reduce the risk of hydroplaning. The computer-phased tread design reduces road noise and provides a smooth ride. Two steel belts and a double strip-wound overlay are used in the Raptor VR to provide stability at faster speeds as well as durability to ensure even tire wear and long life.

This tire also comes with a tread guarantee of 50,000 miles. With 37 various versions and sizes ranging from 15" to 18", the Riken Snow (Winter Tire) will keep you safe this winter. With a C wet grip rating, the Riken Snow tire can stay softer in low temperatures, maintain steady and accurate handling, optimize braking, and boost grip, no matter the road conditions.