Implicit style doesn't apply on RadRibbonTabs which are added via PRISM.

UPDATE: An implicit style can not be applied on derived controls as their TargetType is different than the one defined in the implicit style. Basically if you set the style implicitly, the style is applied only on the types that match the TargetType exactly and not on elements derived from the TargetType value. You can find more information on the topic in the remarks section of the Style property definition: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.style%28VS.95%29.aspx

This is why in order to apply a Telerik predefined style on a UserControl deriving from RadRibbonTab, you  need to add a Style targeting the UserControl type in the Resources of the application. It is best to define that style after merging the Telerik ResourseDictionaries so that you can base the UserControl Style on the predefined "RadRibbonTabStyle".