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Home » Comparisons & Reviews » General Grabber ATX vs General Grabber AT2 vs General Grabber AT3

General Grabber ATX vs General Grabber AT2 vs General Grabber AT3

April 25, 2023 by Emrecan Gurkan Leave a Comment

  • A short note here: As a former Bridgestone engineer, I strongly recommend checking Discount Tire - Treadwell out. Now, you can effortlessly get recommendations based on value, performance, and local favorites without going to the Discount Tire store.
    TRIED & TRUSTED!

General Grabber ATX, AT2, and AT3 are all-terrain tires that can perform every month of the year. While Grabber ATX is mostly built for heavy-duty usage, AT2 has a wide product range and can be used on almost any application. On the other hand, AT3 offers satisfying on-road manners but has some issues in severe conditions.

Due to its wide product range, General Grabber AT2 is a safe side pick. Yet, it's discontinued

At a Glance

General Grabber AT3General Grabber ATXGeneral Grabber AT2
Better forMostly highway driving
Aggressive appearance for SUV
Off-road lovers, 3/4 ton or above light-truck owners, working trucks, hauling and towingDiscontinued
ProsInsane wet and snow traction,
mild off-road traction,
responsiveness
Insane wet and snow traction,
mild & severe off-road traction,
responsiveness
Discontinued
ConsCan’t handle severe off-roadA bit noisyDiscontinued
Available onTireRack:
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SimpleTire:
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DiscountTire:
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TireRack:
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SimpleTire:
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Amazon:
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Discontinued

As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, General decided to discontinue AT2 (still available for a couple of sizes here) due to their marketing strategy. It was an all-around tire that could perform equally well on and off-road conditions. Instead of General Grabber AT2, they’ve released two different tires. While General Grabber AT3 is a more smooth and quiet tire that primarily focuses on satisfying on-road manners, General Grabber ATX is a more durable and tough tire that offers extreme and mild off-road performance. Hence, it might feel a bit stiff if you’re not an overlander.

All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet

Finding the most suitable one for you among thousands of tires is very difficult.

My team & I have analyzed 100 different tires and generated this ‘Quick Answer Sheet‘ for those who don’t wanna spend too much time during tire selection.

Before we start, here are the incredibly helpful articles I highly recommend to take a look at;

  • How to keep tire noise down?
    https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise
  • Is it time to change your tires?
    https://simpletire.com/learn/tire-news-information/tire-wear-bar
  • How do all-terrain tires do in the snow?
    https://www.discounttire.com/learn/all-terrain-mud-tires-in-snow
  • Tire rating charts & reviews
    https://www.tirerack.com/tires/rating-chart&reviews
  • Tire test report
    https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests

Below the table, you can find my favorite tires that I have classified according to your needs.

All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet
NameBest forWorks Best onArticles3PMSFRoad NoiseMileageFuel EconomyRiding ComfortResponsivenessWet PerformanceMild WinterSevere WinterMild Off-RoadSevere Off-RoadCommercial Usage
Toyo Open Country AT3
(Test Report – Check Price)
Treadlife focused all-round performanceCUV, SUV, 1/2 ton trucks, 3/4 ton trucks, 1-ton trucksReviewYesAverageElegantDecentDecentDecentDecentElegantElegantElegantDecentMedium-Duty

Falken Wildpeak AT3W
(Test Report – Check Price)

Winter driving and mild off-road performanceCUV, SUV, 1/2 ton trucks, 3/4 ton trucksReviewYesAverageAveragePoorDecentDecentDecentElegantElegantDecentAverageLight-Duty
BF Goodrich KO2
(Test Report – Check Price)
Off-road adventureCUV, SUV, 1/2 ton trucks, 3/4 ton trucks, 1-ton trucksReviewYesAverageAverageDecentDecentElegantAverageDecentDecentElegantElegantMedium-Duty
Nitto Ridge Grappler
(Check Price)
Off-road driven all-round performanceSUV, 1/2 ton trucks, 3/4 ton trucks, 1-ton trucksReviewNoDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentElegantDecentDecentElegantElegantElegant
Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S
(Test Report – Check Price)
Daily driving, moderate off-roadCUV, SUV, 1/2 ton pickupsReviewYesDecentDecentDecentElegantElegantElegantElegantDecentDecentFairy WellMedium-Duty
Vredestein Pinza AT
(Test Report – Check Price)
Quiet & smooth highway driving and mild off-road performance3/4 ton or below Light Truck, SUV, Jeep, CUVReviewYesElegantDecentDecentElegantDecentDecentElegantDecentElegantAverageLight-Duty
Falken Wildpeak AT Trail
(Test Report – Check Price)
CUV & SUV off-road loversCUV, SUVReviewYesDecentDecentAverageDecentDecentElegantDecentDecentElegantAverageLight-Duty
Sumitomo Encounter AT
(Test Report – Check Price)
Winter-driven all-round performance, medium-duty off-roadCUV, SUV, 1/2 ton trucks, 3/4 ton trucksReviewYesDecentAverageAverageDecentDecentElegantElegantDecentElegantDecentMedium-Duty
Firestone Destination AT2
(Test Report – Check Price)
Weekend overlandersCUV, SUV, 1/2 ton pickupsReviewYesDecentElegantElegantElegantElegantDecentElegantAverageDecentDecentMedium-Duty
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT
(Test Report – Check Price)
Heavy duty work trucks3/4 ton trucks, 1-ton pickup trucks, body-on-frame SUVs, Jeepsvs Cooper Discoverer ATWNoDecentDecentFairy WellDecentElegantDecentAverageFairy WellElegantDecentHeavy-Duty
Firestone Destination XT
(Test Report – Check Price)
Fuel economy on 3/4 ton or above light trucks3/4 ton trucks, 1-ton pickup trucks, body-on-frame SUVs, JeepsReviewYesAverageDecentElegantDecentElegantDecentDecentAverageDecentDecentHeavy-Duty
General Grabber ATX
(Test Report – Check Price)
Handling focused all-round performanceCUV, SUV, 1/2 ton trucks, 3/4 ton trucks, 1-ton trucksvs BFG KO2YesAverageDecentFairy WellDecentDecentDecentDecentDecentElegantDecentMedium-Duty
General Grabber APT
(Test Report – Check Price)
Mild winter and mild off-road combinationSUV, 1/2 ton trucks, 3/4 ton trucksReviewYesDecentExcellentAverageDecentDecentDecentDecentAverageDecentAverageMedium-Duty
Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus
(Test Report – Check Price)
Well-balance on/off road tireCUV, SUV, 1/2 ton trucks, 3/4 ton trucks, 1-ton trucksNoAverageDecentFairy WellDecentElegantElegantDecentDecentElegantDecentMedium-Duty
Continental TerrainContact AT
(Test Report – Check Price)
Premium on-road manners, dry regionsCUV, SUV, 1/2 ton trucks, 3/4 ton trucksNoElegantDecentElegantElegantElegantElegantAverageFairy WellDecentFairy WellLight-Duty

If you’re in a hurry, here are the tires worth every penny;

  • Toyo Open Country AT3 – Best All-Round & Longevity
  • Falken Wildpeak AT3W – Best All-Round & Squishy Regions
  • BF Goodrich KO2 – Best All-Round & Off-Road Adventure
  • Falken Wildpeak AT Trail – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Severe Off-Road
  • Nitto Recon Grappler – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
  • General Grabber ATX – Best All-Round for 3/4-ton or above trucks
  • Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac – Best On/Off Road tire for 3/4-ton or above trucks
  • Cooper Discoverer 4S XLT – Best Commercial All-Terrain Tire & Hauling and Towing

If you’re looking for something at a bargain price;

  • Vredestein Pinza AT – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
  • Kenda Klever A/T2 – Best All-Round for Medium & Light Duty Usage
  • Kenda Klever R/T – Best All-Round for Heavy-Duty Usage

Depending on your needs, also the below articles might help;

  • https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
  • https://tireterrain.com/best-3-4-ton-truck-tires/
  • https://tireterrain.com/best-mud-terrain-tires/
  • https://tireterrain.com/best-rt-tires/
  • https://tireterrain.com/best-tires-for-snow-plowing/

I highly recommend checking the below pages out before making any purchase:

  • DiscountTire Deals:
    https://www.discounttire.com/promotions
  • TireRack Deals:
    https://www.tirerack.com/specialoffers
  • SimpleTire Deals:
    https://simpletire.com/tire-deals

Table of Contents

On-Road Comparison

Evaluating on-road performance due to traction is kinda pointless. These tires have the ability to grip loose grounds. For sure, they will grip smooth surfaces. In that case; cornering, stopping, and starting performance is more valuable.

          Ranking

  1. General Grabber AT3
  2. General Grabber AT2
  3. General Grabber ATX

Starting

The void area ratio is the main decision-maker on starting.

General Grabber ATX’s void area ratio is higher than AT2 and AT3. So, AT3 might spin on harsh starting movements. Though worth remembering, it is a chance in a million scenario.

Between AT3 and AT2 battle is tight. They have almost even void areas. In that case, our second indicator sipe density is steps ahead. AT3 has a bit more sipes through to the pattern. So, AT3 is the best for on-road starting.

Cornering

Cornering is the combination of steering response and cornering stability.

In that case, all three are trustworthy and perform very well.

AT3 steps ahead again with a tire bar between the center block and shoulder lugs. It stays more stable than others.

Stopping

Softer compounds stop at lower distances.

Well, the winner is AT3 again. ATX and AT2 have stiffer compounds.

Comfort and Road Noise

General Grabber AT3 can handle occasional off-road. Yet, it's not a tire for a severe off-roading

Most people think that comfort and road noise is related. Totally, wrong.

Road noise is all about the center block void area. If the distance is more, it is louder.

Comfort is a bit more complicated. It is related to compound stiffness as well as tire construction. Moreover, bigger lugs mean more vibration most of the time.

The battle is between AT2 and AT3. I think the low road noise and comfort are not what you have to expect from ATXs.

AT2 and AT3 have equally low road noise. They are both quiet as church mice. 

In the case of comfort, AT3 is a slightly more smooth tire due to the softer compound selection.

That one is my favorite tire for this section.

          Ranking

  1. General Grabber AT3
  2. General Grabber AT2
  3. General Grabber ATX

A side note here: Even though some tires tend to make noise because of their tread patterns, it’s still possible to keep your tire noise down.

I’m leaving a perfect explanation below from DiscountTire for those who need it;

How to Keep Tire Noise Down? –>
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise

Durability and Tread Life

Well, the table turned in that section as expected.

Let’s start with durability.

ATX is the more durable tire due to stronger sidewalls and construction. AT2 follows it up closely. Sidewall durability is slightly less than ATX. Yet, it is reliable. AT3 is taking the last place but it is all about design intention. I believe that these tires serve different ranges of applications.

About tread life,

This part is cheeky. Depending on your application, rankings might change. Therefore, I want to give the first-place seat to AT2. It has an elegant tread life no matter what application.

Note: I do not recommend any of these tires for hauling or heavy diesel trucks like RAM 2500 or F250. 

Getting maximum wear life from a tire is related to you as well as your tire,

If you’d like to learn how to get maximum tread life:

https://tireterrain.com/how-to-make-tires-last-longer/

Warranty

General Grabber ATX has 60000 miles treadwear warranty.

General Grabber AT2 has 60000 miles treadwear warranty. It is not shown on any retailer websites. Yet, the manufacturer’s customer services say that it is available. AT2 is discontinued. The company might use it as a marketing strategy. Be careful, anyway.

Unfortunately, General Grabber AT3 does not have a treadwear warranty.

Wet Performance

All-terrain tires generally fail on wet grounds. Surprisingly, none of these tires has a traction problem on wet.

General focused on siping really well and made a great job. It is expected for AT2 and AT3 but ATX. This kind of pattern design is a hard one to reach good wet performance. I can just say well done.

All of them are trustworthy options. I personally prefer AT3 on wet. It got A-grade on EU labeling.

Note: Hydroplaning is vital for a safe ride under the pouring rain. However, it might occur even with the best tire. Maybe you can’t prevent it but if you know what it is and how to deal with it, you can easily stay on the safe side.

Here is an extremely efficient guide about ‘How to Deal with Hydroplaning?‘ –> https://www.discounttire.com/learn/hydroplaning

Winter Performance

M+S grade is easy to get. But 3 severe snow-rated tires on the same segment… General engineers deserve respect. 

Again all three options are dependable. I individually prefer ATX. Bigger lugs are working better on deep snow.

Note: If you are living in icy conditions, you should go with AT2. AT2 is the only studdable one among these three.

You can also check this article out for a solid winter tire!

Off-Road Comparison

General Grabber ATX is my favorite among these three

I prefer to separate the off-road section into 3 different dimensions. Dirt and gravel, rock and mud. Sand is all about your tire’s footprint. A filled footprint always works better on sand which is AT3 in this comparison.

  • A side note here: If you’d like to see the best all-terrain tires by vehicle or usage, this article is GOOOOLD –> https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/

Dirt and Gravel Traction

General Grapper AT3 has one of the best traction on gravel. Due to South African magazine, it is leading this category with Continental CrossContact AT(Discontinued).

In fact, AT2 can perform as well as AT3 on gravel. The only difference is AT3 is able to grip smaller gravels a bit better. On the other hand, ATX is good on gravel but wider grooves can’t grip small stones from time to time.

About dirt, none of them will let you down. They have great traction. They are like magnets to the road. Yet, due to less aggressive tread design and more siping, AT3 is leading this section too.

           Ranking

  1. General Grabber AT3
  2. General Grabber AT2
  3. General Grabber ATX
As you can see Grabber AT3 is an expert on mild off-road

Rock Traction

Air-down performance is mainly about durability and sidewall design. Well, I am sorry to say that but I don’t recommend cheap brands for rock crawling. These brands have weak construction. They have to decrease prices. The easiest way to do it is by using slim construction elements.

Among the General Grabber Tires, Grabber A/TX is the superior one regarding rock crawling. However, my favorite rock crawling tire is BF Goodrich KO2. If you would like to see how it stands against General Grabber A/TX –> https://tireterrain.com/general-grabber-atx-vs-ko2/

Mud Traction

This section is between ATX and AT2. AT3 has a satisfying performance on light mud. Its design promises a lot of evacuation I have to admit that. Yet, these narrow block gaps can not throw the mud out easily when faced with compact mud.

You can choose either AT2 or ATX for better mud performances.

Specs

General Grabber ATXGeneral Grabber AT2General Grabber AT3
CategoryAll-Terrain TireAll-Terrain TireAll-Terrain Tire
VehicleLight Truck, SUVLight Truck, SUVLight Truck, SUV
Available Sizes (Rim)14”, 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”14”, 15”, 16”, 17” 18”, 20”15”,16”,17”, 18”, 19”, 20”, 21”, 22”
Weight28 – 75 lbs27 – 65 lbs–
Made InMt. Vernon, Illinois, USAMt. Vernon, Illinois, USAMt. Vernon, Illinois, USA
Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF)YesYesYes
Warranty (P-metric)50,000 Miles60,000 MilesN/A
Warranty (LT Sizes)50,000 MilesN/AN/A
PricesCheck price section to see best possible pricesCheck price section to see best possible pricesCheck price section to see best possible prices

Price

The tire market has a dynamic price policy. Hence, in my point of view, sharing tire price is pointless.

Though, I’ve analyzed the top 10 brands of most popular tire brands.

Here are the dealers with a reasonable price range,

TireRack

  • Fast and Free shipping
  • Usually delivered in 1 day
  • Joint venture with DiscountTire(their installers and dealers are on your service)
  • Tons of installer options, they also help you to choose the best one
  • Mobile installers in many areas, your tires will be replaced while you’re working in the office
  • Tire test results and comparisons can be found on the most product page
  • 4.6/5 points on Google rate

General Grabber ATX: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/general-grabber-a-tx

General Grabber AT2: Not available

General Grabber AT3: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/general-grabber-at3

DiscountTire

  • Biggest dealer in the US. Founded in 1960
  • 1000 stores in 35 states. You most probably find one on your parallel street
  • Free rotation and balancing
  • 5% off for DiscountTire cardholders on online purchase
  • Highest rated online tire dealer in Consumer Affairs
  • Almost all brands are available
  • Delivery takes 2-4 days (30% shorter average waiting time when you book online)
  • Frequent discounts and promotions

General Grabber ATX: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/general-grabber-atx

General Grabber AT2: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/general-grabber-at2

General Grabber AT3: Not available

SimpleTire

  • Free shipping
  • Delivered in 2 days
  • Verified shops near you(for mount and balance)
  • Mobile installation option
  • 7 million customers since 2021
  • 4.7/5 points on Google rate
  • Top-notch customer service, you may even request a price match

General Grabber ATX: https://simpletire.com/brands/general-tires/grabber-a-tx

General Grabber AT2: Not available

General Grabber AT3: https://simpletire.com/brands/general-tires/grabber-at3

While choosing dealers, I especially pay attention to reliability. All of the dealers on this list have 15-20 years of experience in the online tire business. Therefore, I can guarantee a smooth and fast tire buying process.

What does Artificial Intelligence Say?

Most of the articles on the internet are written by artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is now an important part of our lives, and we need to learn to live with it. That’s why I wrote a short article on the ‘ChatGPT’ bot to find out what artificial intelligence has to say about this topic. Here is the result,

When it comes to all-terrain tires, the General Grabber line from General Tire is a popular choice for drivers who want reliable traction on a variety of surfaces. The General Grabber ATX, AT2, and AT3 are all excellent options, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

The General Grabber ATX is the newest addition to the Grabber lineup, and it is designed to provide exceptional traction both on and off-road. Its rugged construction features an aggressive tread pattern with large, interlocking blocks that deliver maximum grip in wet or dry conditions. The ATX is also engineered to deliver excellent handling and stability on the highway, making it a great choice for daily drivers who occasionally venture off-road.

The General Grabber AT2 is an older model that still holds up well against newer competitors. Its tread pattern is less aggressive than the ATX, but it still provides good traction on dirt, gravel, and other loose surfaces. The AT2 also has a longer tread life than many all-terrain tires, thanks to its durable construction and reinforced sidewalls.

The General Grabber AT3 is a newer model that has quickly gained a reputation for being one of the best all-terrain tires on the market. It features a more aggressive tread pattern than the AT2, with larger blocks and deeper grooves that provide superior grip on mud, snow, and other slippery surfaces. The AT3 is also designed to be extremely durable, with a tough, three-ply construction that can withstand punishment from rocks, debris, and other hazards.

In terms of user feedback, the General Grabber AT3 has received the most positive reviews for its all-around performance and durability, particularly in challenging off-road conditions. However, both the ATX and AT2 are still solid options for drivers who want reliable all-terrain traction at a more affordable price point.

In conclusion, if you’re in the market for an all-terrain tire, the General Grabber lineup from General Tire is a great place to start your search. The ATX, AT2, and AT3 are all excellent options, and your choice will ultimately depend on your specific driving needs and budget.

Conclusion

I hope this article will help you to pick the best option due to your application range.

In summary, General Grabber AT2 has a wider application range in all aspects. Yet, it is discontinued. For better on-road manners, I recommend General Grabber AT3. For better off-road manners, I recommend General Grabber ATX.

General Grabber AT3General Grabber ATXGeneral Grabber AT2
Better forMostly highway driving
Aggressive appearance for SUV
Off-road lovers, 3/4 ton or above light-truck owners, working trucks, hauling and towingDiscontinued
ProsInsane wet and snow traction,
mild off-road traction,
responsiveness
Insane wet and snow traction,
mild & severe off-road traction,
responsiveness
Discontinued
ConsCan’t handle severe off-roadA bit noisyDiscontinued
Available onTireRack:
Check Price

SimpleTire:
Check Price
DiscountTire:
Check Price

TireRack:
Check Price

SimpleTire:
Check Price

Amazon:
Check Price
Discontinued

Take-Home Points,

  • LT sizes have stronger sidewalls. That feature makes them more durable. Yet, these tires offer a rougher ride. (LT vs P-Metric tires)
  • XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, if you’ll go with p-metric sizes, they might be a better pick for hauling and towing( XL vs SL tires)
  • Please pay attention to the load range and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
  • There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires

A side note here: If you’d like to get local advice and find the best fit for your driving habits, location, and road conditions DiscountTire – Treadwell Tire Guide can give you masterpiece recommendations.

If you have any further questions, please indicate your operation in the below section. I will do my best to choose the right one for you.

Guide Me Bruh!

This section contains my research and top picks. Depending on your need, you may choose a category and easily find the best fit for yourself. Remember, nobody knows your driving conditions and requirements better than yourself. You’re in the charge out here.

Start Here:

Top-Notch All-Terrain Tires

  • Toyo Open Country AT3 Review
  • BF Goodrich KO2 Review
  • Falken Wildpeak AT3W Review
  • Firestone Destination XT Review
  • Firestone Destination AT2 Review

Real Bargain All-Terrain Tires

  • Kenda Klever AT2 Review
  • Patriot RT Tires Review
  • Kenda Klever R/T Review
  • Atturo Trail Blade ATS Review

High-End Tires by Category

  • Best All-Terrain Tires
  • Best Rugged-Terrain Tires
  • Best Mud-Terrain Tires
  • Best All-Season Tires for Snow
  • Best Tires for Snow Plowing
  • Best Semi-Truck Tires

Blue-Ribbon Tires by Vehicles

  • Best Tires for SUV
  • Best Tires for 3/4-ton Trucks
  • Best Tires for Range Rover Sport
  • Best Tires for Tesla Model 3
  • Best Tires for Chevy Suburban
  • Best Tires for Mercedes ML350

Be a Professional

  • Get the Longest Life from Your Tires
  • Can I Replace Just One Tire?
  • How to Read Tire Size?
  • How Long Can You Drive on a Spare Tire?
  • Tire Wear Patterns
  • How to Check Tire Tread Depth with Penny?

Filed Under: All Terrain Tires Tagged With: comparison, general, general grabber at2, general grabber at3, general grabber atx

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Hey, It's Emre. Industrial and Civil Engineer, former Bridgestone field test inspector. In love with being an overlander. Bigger is better moonie! Read More…

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