Real test data, off-road insights, and daily-driving impact — from a former Bridgestone engineer.
The General Grabber APT is a versatile On-Road A/T tire designed for CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks. Unlike heavier-duty Off-Road A/Ts, it focuses on light-duty all-terrain use and dependable year-round comfort, making it especially appealing for drivers who see more highway than trail. As the newest member of General’s Grabber family, it combines a refined ride with just enough off-road capability to handle dirt, gravel, and light winter conditions.
From testing and driver feedback, the Grabber APT earns solid marks for its quiet highway manners, balanced wet traction, and everyday usability. The trade-off is limited ruggedness — it’s not designed for severe off-road use or heavy towing.
In the sections ahead, we’ll break down how the Grabber APT performs across dry, wet, winter, and light off-road testing — and if you want to see how it stacks up against other General options for your exact vehicle, our All-Terrain Tire Decision Tool makes it easy.
From my standpoint as a former Bridgestone engineer, the General Grabber APT isn’t a well-optimized tire. While it’s designed for smooth highway driving, its heavy inner structure can lead to balance issues and even increase fuel consumption (MPG). That said, I do appreciate its loose-ground traction, which makes it more capable than many highway-leaning A/Ts. In winter, it’s a solid performer on packed snow, though it struggles in slush and deep powder. In short: if you live in severe winter conditions and want both an aggressive look and reliable packed-snow traction, the Grabber APT can be your tire—but it’s not the most refined choice for fuel efficiency or balance.
General Grabber APT
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Dry Traction
Unlike winter and wet traction, Dry traction needs different requirements.
Most all-terrain tires don’t have any issues with dry traction due to their tons of biting edges. These edges (the frame of lugs and sipes) help tires to hold their ground in slippery conditions.
However, sometimes, starting with this amount of edges could cause a bit of delay in dry conditions. Regarding General Grabber APT, things are a bit different.
Unlike most all-terrain tires, the amount of notches for this tire is lower. Besides that its rubber is slightly softer than other all-terrain tires on the market.
This well-balanced compound & sipe density provides sporty driving on dry surfaces.
General Grabber APT provides sporty dry traction. I strongly recommend it for aggressive drivers.
Handling
If you’re changing from all-season tires, handling is the most important feature you should pay attention to.
All-Terrain tires are traction-focused tires. Hence, their highway features are behind the all-season tires.
Since these tires have less rubber on the road, they’re less responsive than all-season tires in the market.
In that case, balancing the void area, compound stiffness, and sidewall stiffness is crucial.
So, there are two metrics out here that you should definitely pay attention to.
Let’s analye them one by one.
Steering Response
Steering responsive is basically the time between your steering input and your tire’s action.
So, all-terrain tires are wide and heavy tires. For this reason, of course, their steering response is slower than all-season tires.
In a word, it doesn’t make sense to compare this with all-season tires. Hence, this analysis will cover only all-terrain tires.
General Grabber APT design is a combination of Nitto Ridge Grappler and Continental Terrain Contact AT. Both tires are known for their responsiveness.
So, how generally achieve quick steering response with these tires?
Simple, unlike most all-terrain tires, General Grabber APT has 3 sections. Two shoulders and one center section.
General Grabber APT’s shoulders are wide and robust. Hence, it has more rubber on the surface. Moreover, the center section of the General Grabber APT consists of interlocking blocks. These blocks work as one while wheeling and decrease the center section void area as much as they can. As a result, General Grabber APT can touch the ground from all angles and become one of the most responsive and highway-oriented tires in the market.
General Grabber APT offers a quick steering response.
Cornering Stability
Unlike steering response, cornering stability is related to the inner structure.
In that case, General Grabber APT’s DuraGen™Technology gets into the game.
Here are my outputs about this technology,
- The technology even makes the p-metric sizes a bit heavy
- It’s great for cornering stability and durability
- I’m not sure but it might cause balance issues on LT sizes
As a result, General Grabber APT provides great cornering stability. Yet, I still recommend observing the vibration level of these tires at least for the first 45 days of the trial for pickup owners. You may need replacements for some of them. No worries, the warranty will cover it.
Wet Performance
Similar to handling, wet performance has two different metrics.
- Wet Traction: Important for starting, stopping, and accelerating
- Hydroplaning Resistance: Ensures that you don’t lose control of your vehicle in a downpour
Both are related to different features. Let’s dig into them!
Wet Traction
Wet traction is related to compound stiffness and the sipe ratio.
So, General Grabber APT is a compact all-terrain tire. Hence, it has more rubber to touch the ground. It’s a huge advantage. Especially, if you wanna decrease the sipe amount on the shoulders.
General Graber APT has a 540 AB UTQG rating which means that its compound is slightly fluffier than the average. Why? Because General wants fewer sipes and they have enough rubber on the ground for decent traction.
I’m not going to say it’s gonna be best-wet tire, though, I like the idea behind it. Keeping the wet performance at the optimum level for a better MPG.
General Grabber APT offers decent wet traction.
Hydroplaning Resistance
While going through the puddles, if you put on the brakes, you may feel the floating feeling. This feeling is called hydroplaning resistance and it’s vital.
Due to their wide patterns, all-terrain tires tend to hydroplane more than all-season tires.
In this case, there are two features that are highly important. Open shoulder blocks and circumferential grooves.
General Grabber APT is great in both cases. Maybe that’s the reason people love to drive it on squishy regions.
Due to its two wide circumferential grooves and open shoulder blocks, General Grabber APT throws the water out with ease. Hence, it provides decent hydroplaning resistance.
Note from the Expert: When it comes to rain, I always emphasize two things: compound grip and water evacuation. You can see the full details in my analysis, but if you take just one thing away, remember that an AT tire’s stiff nature makes achieving top-tier wet performance a constant battle. This is why the question, Are All-Terrain Tires Good in Rain?, requires a nuanced answer that balances tread design against rubber stiffness.
Winter Traction
Winter traction of all-terrain tires can be tricky.
Because of their nature, all-terrain tires have stiffer compounds than other tire categories.
Since winter traction requires slippery surface traction, the fluffy compound and blocky pattern work best.
In this case, the real issue is light-snow, deep-snow, and ice traction should be separated because all of them need different features to provide decent traction.
Before starting to analyze them separately, I would like to state that General Grabber APT is branded with 3PMSF which means its compound can still work properly in the below 7 Celcius degrees (at or below 40º F).
Note from the Expert: Our discussions often boil down to the core tradeoff. On one hand, you must understand why all-terrain tires are truly effective in deep snow, but not on ice. On the other hand, you face the 3PMSF Paradox—the hidden cost of that badge. The short answer is: The 3PMSF badge certifies traction, but it costs you durability. Dive into our full analysis on the critical 3PMSF rating for severe winter and off-road service, and its hidden costs, before you risk your rig on the trail.
Light Snow Traction
Light snow traction is similar to wet traction.
Unlike most people think, it’s more important and vital than deep snow traction.
The reason behind this is simple, on the surface of the roads, there is dust and dirt. You may not see them with the naked eye but this dirt and dust become a slight mud when combine with the light and relatively warmer snow.
In this case, General Grabber APT is neither great nor poor tire. Its fluffy compound provides enough grip for light snow. However, its sipe density is slightly behind for a non-questionable light-snow performance.
So, depending on where you live, this tire can be a great fit for you. Yet, I still recommend putting the below items into consideration.
- If you face slush so often, I recommend the warm these tires up before expecting a trustworthy traction
- If you mostly drive on plowed roads, these dude is a great option
In summary, General Grabber APT provides decent light-snow traction in occasional conditions. Yet, it’s still behind the tires like Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S or Falken Wildpeak AT Trail.
Deep Snow Traction
Deep snow traction is what I expect more from this tire.
Compare to other tires in the same category, General Grabber APT has a higher tread depth.
In fact, this is the reason dealers call this one a winter-oriented tire.
Due to its soft compound, blocky center section, and deep tread, General Grabber APT provides great traction on deep snow.
Ice Traction
Normally, with these features ( fluffy compound and compact pattern), achieving trustworthy ice traction is easy.
The issue out here isn’t traction. Handling.
If you face ice occasionally, General Grabber APT is your tire. However, its tread depth is too much for decent handling on the ice. I strongly recommend taking it easy with these ones. It can take you out of unexpected situations but you may probably lose handling with time.
Note: This is not a dedicated winter tire as the dealers market it.
Riding Quality
Riding quality is basically the rebounding absorption capability of the tire.
It’s related to compound stiffness, inner structure, and pattern design.
So, I’ve already talked about how its design is softer than the dedicated off-road tires. Besides that, its compound is fluffy which is another great advantage.
But the most important feature is ComfortBalance™ Technology.
This technology adds extra absorption later to the inner structure. This layer works perfectly regarding road force absorption. However, it decreases the heat resistance of the tire. That’s the reason that most p-metric sizes have a B heat resistance instead of A.
General Grabber APT offers a cozy drive.
Note from the Expert: For years, choosing all-terrain meant accepting noise—a true compromise for off-road grip. That’s why the question, Are All-Terrain Tires Louder than Highway Tires?, used to have a simple “yes” answer. Now, with the rise of on-road models, the core issue has shifted from noise to overall refinement. To fully understand which side of the comfort spectrum you’re buying into, you need to determine Are All-Terrain Tires Good for Daily Driving?—a question that depends entirely on the tire’s construction, not just the name.
Road Noise
Road noise is related to the void area ratio of the tire and the size of the lugs.
Regarding the void area, I think General Grabber APT is a great fit. However, the size of its lugs is too big.
Even though the center section is interlocked, the shoulders are robust and have a respectable amount of void area.
Due to its highly blocky shoulders, General Grabber APT is a slightly noisy tire on the highway.
Longevity
The longevity of the tires is tricky. It depends on your vehicle, driving habits, and driving conditions.
In this case, stiff compounds work best but it’s not the only metric you should put into consideration.
Tread depth and sipe density are also playing a big role out here.
Here is how it works,
- As long as the tire has fewer sipes, it tends to wear evenly. So, it provides better tread life. In this case, General Grabber APT has a great design.
- As I’ve mentioned before General Grabber APT has a deep tread. Good feature for longer tread life
- General Grabber APT has a fluffy compound and B-rate heat resistance, these aren’t what I wanna see on long-lasting tires.
Unlike most people think, I don’t believe that this is the greatest tire regarding tread life. For sure it’s above average. Yet, I think that you better use exact fit sizes if you wanna use this tire.
Besides that, you probably see comments like I drive 20,000 miles still there are tons of tread left. Of course, there are. Because the tire has a deep tread. I know these are do-gooder comments but they’re misjudged.
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:
Off-Road Performance
As I’ve mentioned before, the design of this tire only fits light-duty off-road.
For this reason, this tire isn’t great on
- Rock Crawling
- Mud Driving
Regarding light-duty applications, let’s analyze them one by one.
Note from the Expert: Every successful day on the trail is about preparation and physics, because tire longevity is earned, not given. Before you even start, you must master the critical link between tire pressure and load range for every rig to maximize your contact patch. Once moving, remember your ultimate off-road armor is your sidewall protection against the inevitable pinch flat. And finally, your traction on the obstacle is dictated by choosing the right aggressive vs hybrid tread pattern for your terrain. Master those three steps, and your rig will be ready for anything.
Dirt Traction
I think that the dirt is where General Grabber APT shines.
It doesn’t have too many sipes but its fluffy compound and blocky shoulders provide decent traction on dirt.
General Grabber APT is a great tire for dirt.
Gravel Traction
Due to its blocky pattern and deep tread, General Grabber APT’s loose ground traction is great.
Since gravel is the easiest loose ground traction, General Grabber APT doesn’t have any traction-related issues.
However, in my point of view, there are two different metrics that are more important than its traction capability on the gravel.
Stone ejection capability and sidewall durability.
Regarding sidewall durability, it’s one of the best. However, I can’t say the same thing for stone ejection capability.
When I first time sees this tire, I was a bit suspicious about its self-cleaning capability.
Well, I was right (see the above picture).
The soft compound tends to hold stones. It’s not a big deal if you’re okay to clean them up after riding on the gravel. However, if you don’t like this kind of cleaning, it might become a headache for you.
Sand Traction
Due to its less aggressive pattern and deep tread, General Grabber APT can float on the sand. The sand traction may be the best feature of it.
Light Mud Traction
If this tire had a more aggressive pattern, it could be a great mud tire because of its deep tread.
However, the void area ratio in its tread is low. Hence, it can’t provide decent traction in the deep mud.
On the other hand, the issue isn’t traction on the light mud. Self-cleaning again.
Because of its deep tread, it needs time or high-speed driving to clean itself after the mud driving.
Due to its soft rubber, General Grabber APT can provide great light mud traction. However, at the beginning of tread life, self-cleaning could be an issue for you.
Sizes
| 16” | 17” | 18” | 20” | 22” |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT215/85R16 115/112R E | 235/75R17 109T SL | 255/70R18 113T SL | 275/55R20 117T XL | 285/45R22 114H XL |
| LT225/75R16 115/112R E | 245/65R17 107T SL | 265/60R18 110T SL | 275/60R20 115T SL | |
| 235/70R16 106T SL | LT245/70R17 119/116R E | 265/65R18 114T SL | LT275/65R20 126/123S E | |
| LT235/85R16 120/116R E | 245/70R17 110T SL | LT265/70R18 113/110S C | ||
| LT245/75R16 120/116S E | LT245/75R17 121/118S E | 265/70R18 116T SL | ||
| 245/75R16 111T SL | 255/65R17 110T SL | LT275/65R18 123/120R E Not Rated For Severe Snow | ||
| 255/70R16 111T SL | 255/70R17 112T SL | 275/65R18 116T SL | ||
| 265/70R16 112T SL | 255/75R17 115T SL | P275/70R18 116S SL Not Rated For Severe Snow | ||
| LT265/75R16 123/120R E | 265/65R17 112T SL | LT275/70R18 125/122S E | ||
| 265/75R16 116T SL | LT265/70R17 112/109S C | 275/70R18 116S SL | ||
| 265/70R17 115T SL | ||||
| P285/70R17 117T SL |
Tire Size Selection: The Basics You Can’t Skip
Even the best tread design can’t rescue a tire that’s built too weak. Back when I was testing tires at Bridgestone, I saw all-terrain models that should’ve performed but fell short — simply because the basics (size, load strength, and speed rating) weren’t matched to the vehicle.
P-Metric vs. LT (Light Truck) Tires
The first step is knowing whether you need LT or passenger tires. LT (Light Truck) tires are built with extra reinforcement and stiff sidewalls, designed for towing, hauling, or off-road use. Passenger (P-metric) tires are lighter, smoother, and tuned for daily comfort and fuel efficiency — but they’ll flex more under load.
Understanding Tire Load Range: XL vs. E-Load
Then comes the tire load index and load range — essentially your tire’s strength rating. Here’s where things split between passenger XL and LT E:
XL (Extra Load) is a passenger tire with reinforced sidewalls. It can handle a bit more pressure (~41 PSI) than a standard SL tire and is perfect for SUVs, crossovers, or light trucks that carry extra gear, passengers, or small trailers. XL tires ride softer and quieter than LT options, making them ideal for daily use.
E Load Range is an LT tire class built with a much thicker casing. E-rated tires can handle far more pressure (up to ~80 PSI) and heavier loads, which makes them essential for ¾-ton and 1-ton trucks towing trailers or hauling close to max capacity. The trade-off is weight, stiffer ride, more road noise, and a small drop in fuel efficiency.
Put simply: XL is for “extra luggage and family,” while E is for “truck bed full of bricks or a car trailer.”
Why the Tire Speed Rating Matters for Safety
Finally, don’t overlook the tire speed rating. It’s not just about top speed — it measures how well a tire handles heat and stress at highway pace. Lower ratings (like S) tend to ride softer and last longer, while higher ratings (H, T) feel more stable and responsive under sharp maneuvers. Heat build-up is the silent killer of tires, and speed rating is your safeguard.
Bottom line: Match your tire’s construction (LT vs P-metric), load range (XL vs E), and speed rating to your vehicle’s demands. Get those right, and everything else — off-road grip, winter traction, comfort — will finally perform the way it was designed to.
Conclusion
General Grabber APT is a great loose-ground tire that offers a smooth ride on the highway. Unlike most dealers claim, I think that this tire could be a bit rough for a CUV.
Even though it’s great on packed snow, I think that it needs improvement on slush or powder snow.
General Graber APT is a jack of all trades, master of none.
Even though it’s mainly built for highway driving, the tire is too heavy for decent handling and fuel efficiency.
It’s clear that the balancing is the issue. However, I don’t find it a big issue because of General’s 12 monthly replacement offer. If you face it, don’t waste money and time with rebalancing, just claim the warranty. You’ll get a new one.
| General Grabber APT | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Cozy driving, light-duty off-road driving, deep snow traction |
| Pros | Long-lasting rubber, Smooth driving |
| Cons | Heavy inner structure, lack of self-cleaning capability, average powder snow traction |
| Vehicle | SUV, 1-2 ton, 3/4 ton pickup trucks |
| Available Sizes | 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”, 22” |
| Made In | US, Mexico, Czech Republic (22”) |
| Labels | 3PMSF |
| Warranty | 60,000 miles |
I hope the article was helpful. If you have any further questions, please leave them in to the below section. Have a safe ride folks!