Does Size Really Matter?
Putting the 33-Inch GBC Kanati Terra Master to the test!
Story and Photos By: Brandon Bunch
After having great results in our 30-inch and 32-inch tire tests, the unique asymmetrical – non directional GBC Kanati Terra Master tires have been a favorite of the UTV Sports Magazine staff for a while now. Whether it was the 30x10R14’s mounted on a RZR XP Turbo Dynamix, or the 32x10R15’s mounted on the Can-Am Maverick X3 X rs Turbo R, these tires have always delivered a high level of traction in all conditions with good predictability. This allows you to push the limit seeking those faster lap times, or just throw the car into massive smile-inducing drifts knowing the UTV will react exactly how you think it will, making for a superior all-around tire.
GBC has now released the 33x10R15’s to better fit the huge, high horsepower UTVs that are becoming so popular today, and we mounted up a set of 33’s (Side A out on the front, Side B out on the rear – this is our favorite orientation) on the stock wheels of our 2019 Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo S to see if that extra inch makes a difference.
The 33’s look right at home on the big 4-seat Turbo S, and while that inch may not seem like much, it definitely translated to a better ride over the 32’s when traversing rocky terrain, stutter-bump-filled washes, and small washouts due to the higher “attack angle” of the bigger tires. This allows the tires to easily roll over obstacles in the trail with less impact to the suspension, and less feedback through the steering wheel. In addition to this, the bigger size nets a slightly larger contact patch on the ground, but without testing the 32’s and 33’s back to back on the same machine, we couldn’t say if the 33’s deliver noticeably more grip than the 32’s or not.
Whether we were pushing hard in the sand dunes, on hard-packed rocky trails, or in rutted gravel washes, the 33-inch Terra Masters always delivered balanced and predictable grip on the Turbo S. In 4-wheel drive the big RZR felt like it was on rails, allowing you to push deep into corners and get into the throttle early with the front tires biting hard to pull the UTV through the turn, with little to no oversteer or understeer; point and shoot handling at its best. With the S in 2-wheel drive, the handling became far more playful; on trails that were wide enough to fit a sideways XP 4 Turbo S, we could pitch the car into a drift under hard braking and keep it sliding all the way through the corner with a bit of aggressive throttle control.
The 32” Terra Masters provided consistent great high-speed stability, none of which was lost in the added 0.5” of sidewall height and 1.35 lbs of weight. Weighing in at just 41.15 lbs., the 33-inch platform is still lighter than several of the tires that we tested back in our 32-inch tire test, and we think that’s an acceptable amount of weight to gain for the extra height, assuming you can fit the bigger tire on your machine.
At the end of the day, we can honestly say that the GBC Kanati Terra Master tire is one of the best all around tires you can buy. They provide good predictable traction on every terrain we’ve tested them on, the ride quality is great and made even better with the taller 33-inch size, they are lightweight, and these steel belted radials have proven to be durable over many hard-driving desert miles. MSRP is set at $284.50 per tire, and be on the lookout for the 33x10R15 Kanati Terra Masters to hit dealerships soon!