General Grabber A/TX Review: One of the Best All-Terrain Tires Around

When crossovers started taking over the world, it was thought that real SUVs would decline in sales. However, the opposite has happened in the last few years – the demand for real off-roaders has risen to astonishing levels. The reason might be that the off-road driving lifestyle started to gain popularity once again – just look at all the “sporty” off-road versions of trucks and SUVs like Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner (TRD) and Ford Ranger (Raptor), and the plethora of hardcore options from Jeep. Right now, there’s really no shortage of real off-roaders on the market, which is something that enthusiasts like me always welcome with open arms.

With the rise of off-road-focused SUVs and trucks, the tire industry also saw an increase in sales of all-terrain and mud-terrain tires. These tires wouldn’t normally be used for driving on the road due to worse performance and comfort, which means that they aren’t the best choice for most people. Nonetheless, off-road driving enthusiasts are ready to accept that in return for extra traction and capability for off-road driving. All-terrain tires seem to be the most interesting type because they offer a combination of good on-road manners and advanced off-road ability. A great example of that is the General Grabber A/TX, an all-terrain tire that promises traction on almost every surface.

This tire is part of the very popular Grabber lineup of off-road focused tires from General Tire. It is specifically designed to offer drivers of pickup trucks, work vans, and SUVs confident traction in a variety of conditions. Vehicles that first come to mind are Toyota 4Runner, Tundra, and Tacoma (especially the TRD versions), Ford Ranger, F-150 and Raptor, Jeep Wrangler and Cherokee, RAM 1500, etc. In other words, if you own a car that has AWD capability and body-on-frame chassis, chances are you’ll need a set of General Grabber A/TX tires.

This tire is available in many different sizes starting from 14-inch models and then onto large 20-inch models. Also, most of the models are LT-rated, which means that they’re capable of towing or hauling heavy cargos.

The Grabber competes in a tightly contested sector with popular models such as BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2, Goodyear Wrangler AT/S and TrailRunner AT, Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3, Continental TerrainContact, Cooper Discoverer A/T3, Falken Wildpeak A/T3W, Toyo Open Country AT II, Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015. Let’s see how it compares with all of these in our detailed General Grabber A/TX review!

What are the features of the General Grabber A/TX?

The Grabber A/TX is one of the newest additions to the all-terrain category – it was introduced in March 2018. Because of that, it is one of the most advanced all-terrain tires to date with technologies that make it more usable on the road, and even better for off-road driving. According to General Tire, the Grabber A/TX provides exceptional off-road capability and durability, balanced with impressive on-road performance. Interestingly, the tire also has the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake Symbol, which means that it offers better snow and ice traction than all-terrain tires that have the inferior M+S symbol.

To achieve all those things, the Grabber A/TX has several advanced technologies that were introduced for this model. The first one is the StabiliTread Technology that balances street performance with excellent off-road durability, additionally helped by DuraGen Technology, that makes the Grabber one of the toughest all-terrain tires around. On-road comfort is covered with Comfort Balance Technology that not only improves ride quality, but it also makes the tire quieter on the highway. This technology consists of an absorption layer under the tread that isolates the car from road disturbances and vibrations.

The Five Row Tread Pattern of the Grabber A/TX is pretty aggressive and includes high-density multi-angle traction edges for better off-road traction and grip in every direction. Additionally, the traction notches provide additional grip in dirt, snow, and other loose surfaces. On top of that, the Alternating Shoulder Scoops allow for an open and large gripping area for additional grip on rocks and extreme off-roading.

The body of the Grabber A/TX consists of ultra-high-strength steel belts, a robust, two-ply polyester casing, and two polyamide reinforcement plies, all of which work together for a combination of ride comfort, off-road toughness, and high-speed stability.

What are the maintenance indicators?

Unlike other tires from General Tire, the Grabber ATX isn’t equipped with the Replacement Tire Monitor technology. It seems that the tread design of this all-terrain tire doesn’t allow for the use of that technology, which is why General only makes it available on their touring and grand-touring models. This tire also lacks the VAI (Visual Alignment Indicators), that help you see if the tread wears down unevenly.

That said, you can still use the penny test. Just stick a penny in the tire tread grooves. If the tire tread is at least touching Abraham Lincoln’s upside-down head, the tire tread depth is at least 2/32”. General Tire also gives uniformity warranty of 1 Year / first 2/32″ of wear and 45-Day or 1st 2/32″ Customer Satisfaction Trial. This is not uncommon in this category, but surely welcomed considering the price of this tire.

The Grabber A/TX has one of the longest tread warranties for an all-terrain tire – 6 Years / 60,000 Miles Metric Sizes and 6 Years / 50,000 Miles LT & Flotation Sizes. That’s better than most of its competitors and certainly better than tires that are in its price range. And even though the tire is relatively new on the market, users seem to be very satisfied with the treadlife and don’t report any problems with wear, even after the tires were used on very harsh off-road surfaces.

Is it good for off-road driving?

You bet it is! Despite the all-terrain moniker, the Grabber A/TX is almost as capable as a multi-terrain tire. If you didn’t already know, multi-terrain tires are a more aggressive version of all-terrain tires that offer better traction for serious off-roading. In other words, the Grabber A/TX performs like a multi-terrain tire in most conditions.

Due to the aggressive tread pattern that has all the design choices for real off-roading, the Grabber A/TX is a great addition to any SUV or truck, even for serious off-road enthusiasts. It provides the driver with ample traction and grip on loose-rock surfaces, very good traction in mud, and it is even usable in the sand. This is one of the few all-terrain tires that can really handle any type of surface. On top of that, the tread and sidewalls were designed to resist punctures, while the stone ejectors will keep your tire last for longer.

Overall, the Grabber A/TX is one of the best all-terrain tires for off-road driving right now.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

Even though the main focus of General was on the off-road side of things with the Grabber A/TX, it is still very usable on the road. The tire has sufficient grip for fast cornering and very good traction, even on more powerful vehicles. Braking is very strong, while high-speed stability is probably the best part about the Grabber A/TX. That said, this tire is not the best choice for drivers who drive regularly on the highway. If you do that often, we suggest going for the slightly more road-focused Continental TerrainContact, or the Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3. Still, for the off-road performance it offers, the Grabber A/TX is very good for highway driving.

How is it over wet and slippery roads?

It’s the same story as with dry grip and traction. The Grabber A/TX is a very capable tire when it rains and provides ample grip and traction for a safe driving experience, but it trails behind all-terrain tires that are more focuses for on-road driving. Overall, though, the average truck and SUV driver will be completely satisfied with the performance.

With that being said, how is it in snowy roads?

Pretty good, actually. Even though it is not a winter tire, the Grabber A/TX performs admirably in deep snow, and good on packed snow and ice. Of course, if you live in areas with very harsh winter weather, a set of winter tires will still do a much better job, but for areas where it snows only a few times a year, the Grabber A/TX might be the only tire you need.

Is it comfortable and refined?

Surprisingly, this is one of the quietest and most comfortable tires in the all-terrain category, especially when you compare it to tires with a more aggressive tread pattern. Noise isn’t an issue on the highway – the tires can be heard, but the noise isn’t overpowering conversations in the vehicle. Also, the ride quality is excellent over smaller and bigger bumps.

You can see more General Grabber A/TX Review here: videos created by Thrifty Garage

Should I buy the General Grabber A/TX?

You will not make a mistake if you just go out and buy it, honestly. The Grabber A/TX is one of the best all-terrain tires overall at this moment, thanks to its excellent off-road capabilities, long treadlife and tough construction, very good on-road capabilities, and fair price. Highly recommended for sure!