VIKING CITY TECH 5
Allow me to share my exp on Viking tyre, the City Tech 5 to be exact.
I just change 1 whole set on my BLM stock size of 185/60/14. Price is RM130 per pc.
Actually i was targeting for an upgrade to 15 inch and Michelin PS3 but decide not to as wife is pregnant and dunno why i just lost interest in the 15 inch upgrade and PS3. Its funny how certain happening makes others does not happen.
The info below is base on 1 week usage only.
I will be comparing it with my previous Michelin XM2 and the Bridgestone EP200 ( different size ) used on my Waja.
One thing i cant ignore is not that the tyre is very cheap but its very2 noisy compared to my XM2 and EP200. In this noise factor, the XM2 is the quietest and CT5 ranked last. Its unacceptable to me, well maybe i am to used to the XM2. The EP200 is noisy but i can still take it.
Ride comfort, this Viking has very soft side wall compared to both the XM2 and EP200. Therefore i had a bit more comfort. XM2 is the hardest here but not uncomfortable.
Dry performance, the CT5 is way off the XM2 and EP200. I cant push as hard as i am on the EP200 and XM2. I know all are entry tyre but the gap is very huge. Maybe the tyre is still new. I also notices that the noise increases during corner. The CT5 is really not surefooted in dry. Same goes in the wet during corner.
However, braking performance rival the EP200. XM2 wins in dry and ties with EP200 in wet.
I know this is an overkill at the highest level but last Sat i took the car to Bukit Putus to see what am i really getting for RM130 a piece. I was going at moderate pace as i know its off the XM2 capability. I dunno how to explain this but the CT5 character changed abit, at times it mimicks the XM2 capability.
On of camber downhill corner under braking, nervy feeling reminded me that the sidewall is soft. Upon reaching the restaurant at the bottom of the hill i realize one thing, the CT5 really hates long sweeping corner.
VIKING PRO TECH PT5
Tyre is shod on an Exora bold, size is 206/55/16. Forgot the price already. This tyre is definitely better that CT5 and the Champiro BAX2 it replaces. The noise level is like the BS EP200.
Dry performance is same as EP200, grip is there but pushed harder and it will loses traction but be very careful as just like the EP200 it is silent during the initial moment it loses traction. I personally like tyre to squeal when it started to lose traction so i can play with the limit.XM2 wins again in dry.
Wet performance, a bit better than CT5.
So, which one to choose?
If one don't mind spending more ( abt Rm50 a pc more ) then go for XM2. However if you know that you are just driving to get from point A to point B in a relaxed, law obedient, considerate manner, then go for the cheaper option.
Does the XM2 or EP200 worth the higher pricing? I would say yes. It last longer than EP200 and most of the time the tyre becomes hard before the thread runs out. My previous set on the BLM was change as its already hard and losing grip. still got abt 40% left and wet performance is still there.