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Home » Comparisons & Reviews » General Grabber ATX vs KO2

General Grabber ATX vs KO2

March 10, 2023 by Emrecan Gurkan Leave a Comment

  • A side note here: As a former Bridgestone engineer, I strongly recommend checking DiscountTire - Treadwell out. This is a tool that DiscountTire dealers use in the store. You can get recommendations based on value, performance, and local favorites.
    TRIED & TESTED!

General Grabber ATX and BF Goodrich KO2 are unquestionable stars of the all-terrain tire segment. Both are made in the U.S and offer above-average features in every aspect. Yet, BFG KO2 doesn’t dominate the industry as it did before. Well, we might have a new star in the town! Let me explain what I mean.

BFG KO2 looks extremly good on Jeep!
BFG KO2 looks extremly good on Jeep!
But I prefer General Grabber A/TX
But I prefer General Grabber A/TX
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At a Glance

BF Goodrich KO2General Grabber AT/X
Better forDry regions,
rock crawling,
beach driving
Squishy and snowy regions,
camping and hunting,
highway driving
ProsResponsiveness,
off-road traction
Insane wet and snow traction,
long-lasting rubber,
off-road traction,
P-metric size option for a smoother ride
ConsWet and winter traction is questionable,
doesn’t last long as its competitors,
a bit noisy
A bit noisy if you don’t used to drive all-terrain tires
Available onDiscountTire:
Check Price

TireRack:
Check Price

SimpleTire:
Check Price

Amazon:
Check Price
DiscountTire:
Check Price

TireRack:
Check Price

SimpleTire:
Check Price

Amazon:
Check Price

As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, BF Goodrich KO2  promotes its aggressive look with slightly more durable sidewalls. Hence, it’s a superior pick if you driving in severe off-road conditions. While General Grabber ATX handles wet ground and light snow slightly better, BF Goodrich’s responsiveness is unquestionable. Though worth reminding, both can make some noise due to their aggressive tread designs. However, these designs make them one of the best all-terrain tires in winter conditions.

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
  • How do all-terrain tires do in the snow?
    https://www.discounttire.com/learn/all-terrain-mud-tires-in-snow
  • Correct tire inflation pressure  improves fuel economy
    https://www.discounttire.com/learn/air-pressure-fuel-economy
  • Tire Safety Practices
    https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-safety

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

Off-Road Performance

As we’ve mentioned in our previous articles, BF Goodrich KO2 is a beast for off-road. Yet, General Grabber ATX can easily compete even can beat BF Goodrich KO2.

  • General Grabber ATX is a better tire on mud, thanks to alternating shoulders
  • BF Goodrich is a slightly better tire on sand
  • BF Goodrich KO2 is a significantly better tire on rocks, that does not mean General Grabber ATX is bad. 

General Grabber ATX and BF Goodrich KO2 have very similar pattern designs. Therefore, their off-road performance is quite similar. In that case, your driving conditions and behaviors will be a decider.

  • 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/

Mud Driving

Can BF Goodrich KO2 handle mud? Yes, but it has slight self-cleaning issues. General Grabber ATX is better in that case

Despite the fact that your driving skills and right inflation pressure are starring characters. Mud driving can be suffering from bad all-terrain tires.

Out both tires have a perfect design for mud. Serrated shoulders increase mud evacuation and traction dramatically. Though worth mentioning that mud driving is strongly related to wet performance. We would recommend you to read the wet performance title for better understanding.

  • General Grabber ATX has slightly better mud traction and evacuation
  • BF Goodrich KO2 has slightly better handling on dirt 

These rivals are too close in this section. These little differences can not be a game-changer. You can go either way.

Sand Driving

All-terrain tires performances are mainly dependable on loose surfaces. You will not face slack sand ground so often. Yet, we can confidently say that either General Grabber ATX or BF Goodrich KO2 will satisfy you on the sand.

Both tires have a specific and aggressive shoulder design which is going to help you a lot on traction.

BF Goodrich KO2 takes a lead with a lot of sipes on the shoulder in this section. These sipes exceed your gripping area and increase your traction on loose grounds.

  • BF Goodrich KO2 is a slightly better tire on sand

The difference is insignificant in this section. You can go both ways without a doubt. We want to remind you one more time, right inflation pressure is a key for smooth sand driving.

 

Rock Driving

BF Goodrich KO2 is unstoppable on the rock. BF Goodrich proved their sidewall resistance and extraordinary gripping ability on Baja Race when it takes to take first place.

  • BF Goodrich KO2 has a stronger sidewall with a 3-ply design. 
  • BF Goodrich KO2 has a more gripping ability

Even though General Grabber ATX has less ply on sidewalls, their sidewall thickness is almost the same as BFG KO2 (9.5 for KO2, 8.5 for ATX). Both will meet your expectations. Yet, we prefer to stay on the safe side. BF Goodrich KO2 is the winner in this section.

Highway Performance

In this picture, you can clearly see that General Grabbet ATX wear evenly. This feature improve its tread life dramatically.

On-road performance is a separator for all-terrain tires. These tires are made with off-road intent. This feature sometimes causes a problem on highways. No worries, both tires perform very well on the road. 

General Grabber ATX(vs AT2 vs AT3) is a better on-road tire in general. Compare with the BF Goodrich KO2, these tires are very quiet. In addition to that, they have a better response time which gives you full control of your vehicle. Lastly, a specific sipe design on tread provides so much evacuation. That ensures a better wet ground experience.

  • General Grabber ATX is a less vocal tire. 
  • General Grabber ATX has slightly better steering and cornering ability
  • General Grabber ATX has significantly superior wet performance

As a result, General Grabber ATX steps ahead in this section. Though worth remembering, these tires are leading their segment. Both will satisfy you and do not let you down. 

Noise Comparison

Road noise on the pavement is a common problem for all-terrain tires. Manufacturers mostly try to solve problems with uneven shoulder sections. If you look closely, each section of serrated shoulders of different sizes. That helps it to create acoustic balance. 

Both tires have the above feature. In that case, we should look at pattern design. If you look closely, you can clearly see that BF Goodrich KO2 has more close shoulders. Close shoulder always increases noise. So, General Grabber ATX steps ahead.

  • General Grabber ATX has less road noise
  • BF Goodrich KO2 sometimes has a balance problem. That will increase your road noise.

BF Goodrich KO2 is making some noise for sure. But the level of noise is acceptable for all-terrain tires. Yet, General Grabber ATX is a winner in this section.

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

Wet Performance

Wet performance is crucial for on-road driving. Special off-road compounds are mainly failed on wet ground. Due to avoid this problem, manufacturers are adding additional sipes on the pattern surface. In that case, the depth of sipes is a game-changer.

We’ve detailly analyzed both patterns. General Grabber ATX has full-depth sipes that are guaranteed wet traction and stability.

  • General Grabber ATX has a significantly better grip and biting on wet
  • General Grabber ATX has significantly better handling and cornering

BF Goodrich KO2 is not a bad tire for wet surfaces. Yet, General Grabber ATX is known for wet and winter performance. We recommend you to go with General Grabber ATX in splashy regions.

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

Riding Comfort

Riding comfort is the hardest challenge for tire makers. Due to increase traction in severe conditions, tire manufacturers use big lugs and aggressive pattern designs.

Both tires look the same at the beginning. If you look sharp, you can see General Grabber ATX has smaller lugs. Lessened lugs and softener compounds significantly increase comfort. Therefore, General Grabber ATX is a true winner in this section.

For all-terrain tire newbies: All-terrain tires wear well. We all know this. Yet, compared to the all-season tires these tires offer a rough ride. If your interest in all-terrain tires is fresh, I highly recommend reading the linked article before making any purchase.

Winter Performance

These fellow have similar winter performance. Though, General Grabber ATX is slighly better on icy grounds

Winter performance is an important indicator for all-terrain tires. Due to the lug pattern, most all-terrain tires can get the M+S mark easily. Yet, 3-peak mountain snowflake marking is hard to get.

General Grabber ATX and BF Goodrich KO2 both are trustworthy options with a  3-peak mountain snowflake marking. Another feature that makes them unique is evacuation capability. These tires can evacuate snow from grooves smoothly. That will bring consistency on traction.

You can go either way with confidence.

You can also click here to see my best pick for severe winter conditions!

Durability, Wear Life, Fuel Efficiency

General Grabber ATX has lower rolling resistance

Durability for all-terrain tires mainly depends on sidewall structure. As we’ve mentioned before, General Grabber ATX does not have a 3-ply sidewall. That is a huge handicap for them. At the same time, it has a direct effect on load range. Compare with BF Goodrich KO2, General Grabber ATX has a limited commercial application range.

Wear life is directly related to even wearing. If you will decide to use BF Goodrich KO2 you must pay attention to your rotation timing. These tires can be affected by uneven wearing and that will decrease your wear life significantly. 

General Grabber ATX has transparently better wear life. General also gives you 60000 Miles tread warranty to prove their performance. BF Goodrich does not have any warranty qualification.

Lastly, fuel efficiency. That feature is strongly related to tire weight. General Grabber ATX is lighter than BF Goodrich KO2. That means it will affect your gas mileage less than BF Goodrich KO2.

Specs

General Grabber ATXBF Goodrich KO2
CategoryAll-Terrain TireAll-Terrain Tire
VehicleLight Truck, SUVLight Truck, SUV
Available Sizes (Rim)14”, 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’
Weight28 – 75 lbs34 – 78 lbs
Made InMt. Vernon, Illinois, USAOpelika, AL, USA
Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF)YesYes
Warranty (P-metric)50,000 Miles50,000 Miles
Warranty (LT Sizes)50,000 Miles50,000 Miles
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,

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

BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2

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

BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2

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

BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2: https://simpletire.com/brands/bfgoodrich-tires/all-terrain-t-a-ko2

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.

Conclusion

We’ve detailly analyzed both tires in every approach. General Grabber ATX and BF Goodrich KO2 are reliable and well-rounded tires. You will be overjoyed with them. 

Verdict,

  • General Grabber ATX has weaker sidewalls than BF Goodrich KO2. BF Goodrich is a better choice for severe applications.
  • General Grabber ATX has huge wet and dry ground performance. If you spend most of your time on the highway and pavement, it is your tire
  • BF Goodrich KO2 is a heroic all-terrain tire. Off-road is its expertise. Yet, General Grabber ATX will meet your expectations on mild and severe applications Both are incredibly trustworthy.
  • Both have equally good choices for severe winter conditions.
  • General Grabber ATX has better wear life than BF Goodrich KO2. You will not face balance problems like BF Goodrich KO2.

BF Goodrich KO2General Grabber AT/X
Better forDry regions,
rock crawling,
beach driving
Squishy and snowy regions,
camping and hunting,
highway driving
ProsResponsiveness,
off-road traction
Insane wet and snow traction,
long-lasting rubber,
off-road traction,
P-metric size option for a smoother ride
ConsWet and winter traction is questionable,
doesn’t last long as its competitors,
a bit noisy
A bit noisy if you don’t used to drive all-terrain tires
Available onDiscountTire:
Check Price

TireRack:
Check Price

SimpleTire:
Check Price

Amazon:
Check Price
DiscountTire:
Check Price

TireRack:
Check Price

SimpleTire:
Check Price

Amazon:
Check Price

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.

Hope you guys enjoy this article. If you have any further questions, please write them below. We will answer it ASAP!

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: bf goodrich ko2, comparison, 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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