General Grabber AT2 Review

All-terrain tires are by far the most popular tire category in the world of SUVs and light trucks, with nearly every tire company attempting to compete. One of those companies is General Tire, a subsidiary of the larger Continental group, which manufactures the General Grabber AT2.

They offer a wide range of all-terrain tires, including the famous Grabber AT2, a low-cost on-and-off-road tire that balances performance and dependability. This General representative has an aggressive tread that performs well in most conditions and is even branded with the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake Symbol, making it a great tire for year-round use. 

But how good is the General Grabber AT2? And how does it stack up against its competitors? This review delves into the AT2’s great features and performance, so keep reading to see if this tire is a good fit for you and your vehicle.

Pros

• Superior traction in heavy snow, ice, mud, dirt, and gravel
• Responsive steering and stability 
• Tough sidewalls provide excellent puncture resistance
• Outstanding treadwear 

Cons

• Road noise at highway speeds
• Average dry and wet tarmac performance

General Grabber AT2 Review: Features

The Grabber AT2 is an all-terrain tire with an aggressive, self-cleaning tread that offers excellent off-road traction, durability, and performance. To accomplish this, General has outfitted this tire with some impressive features.

For starters, the AT2 has a 5-row tread pattern with a revolutionary design to provide unwavering off-road traction. The tread pattern is interlocked, which acts as a shield to keep off-road debris like rocks from getting into the tire’s body and affecting traction on sand and gravel.

The tire also has General’s Duragen Technology, a tough material with high cut and chip resistance and one that is flexible enough to drive in subfreezing temperatures.

It’s hard to get an all-terrain tire that’s quiet and comfortable tire due to the aggressive tread design, but General succeeded with the AT2. This is partly because of the carefully crafted acoustic tread pattern and multi-tread block sizes, which help to reduce road noise for a quiet, comfortable, and smooth driving experience.

The AT2 is built to accept metallic studs for deep snow traction and handling in even the most severe snowstorms. But even without studs, this tire will still perform excellently in the snow. It bears the 3PMSF symbol, indicating that it is severe snow rated and meets the same standards as a winter tire.

Lastly, the AT2’s interior structure comprises two steel belts, a durable, two-ply polyester casing, and two polyamide reinforcing plies. Together, these components combine for a comfortable ride, off-road durability, and high-speed stability.

This model is backed by a 60,000-mile tread guarantee, which is among the best in its class.

General Grabber AT2 Review: Performance

As important as a tire’s features are, knowing its real-world performance is critical to determining whether it’s the right fit for your vehicle. This is why we review the Grabber AT2’s performance in various conditions. We will discuss its treadwear, dry, wet, snow, off-road, comfort, and noise reduction capabilities.

Dry performance 

The aggressive tread pattern of the Grabber AT2 acts as a double-edged sword on dry tarmac. While it has advantages for off-road driving, it tends to degrade the vehicle’s performance on the road.

On the one hand, the aggressive tread pattern provides extra grip on dry roads, which results in a reliable and safe driving experience. On the other, however, you have to contend with the squeaking noise that comes when driving this tire on dry tarmac.

Similarly, you might want to be careful when turning corners, as the grip of this tire and overall braking performance suffer in such circumstances. Having said all of that, for its off-road performance, the AT2 performs admirably on dry paved roads.

Treadwear and Durability

All-terrain tires are built to last, even when put through the harshest of terrains. But does the Grabber AT2 live up to the task? Well, the AT2 does more, actually. The double V-pattern increases its durability when off-roading and also increases its tread life overall. 

Additionally, DuraGen Technology helps ensure superior performance on rough surfaces. You will barely notice wear on the tire’s surface during the first 20,000 to 30,000 miles of riding. What’s more, the AT2 comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty. So, whether you use these tires for towing or hauling heavy cargo, you can be confident that they will last a long time.

Wet Performance

The AT2’s wet performance is average. Not the worst in its class, but not the best either. This performance can be attributed to the aggressive tread pattern, which only gives you enough traction on wet and slippery surfaces.

Nonetheless, the braking performance and road grip are impressive for an all-terrain tire, and you will be safe driving in light and heavy rain on this tire.

Snow and Ice Performance 

The AT2 reserves its best performance for snow and ice. It meets severe snow requirements and can confidently handle snow and icy roads.

The 5-Row Tread Pattern, in combination with the DuraGen Technology, makes for a very successful snow tire. Traction and braking power are excellent, and there’s more than enough grip for cornering.

The tire tread also includes small diameter indents, allowing you to insert studs, providing even greater traction in snow and ice.

However, studded tires are not permitted in all provinces because they accelerate road wear, so check with your local authority before installing them.

Off-road performance

The Grabber AT2 is extremely popular within the off-road driving community due to its outstanding off-road capabilities. 

Thanks to the aggressive tread pattern, the Grabber AT2 simply chews into anything that comes its way. It provides the driver with excellent sand traction, good traction and grip on loose rock surfaces, and even ample traction in mud.

The stiffer sidewalls make the Grabber AT2 very good for accelerated driving on gravel. Additionally, it boasts one of the most puncture-resistant casings in the industry and breaks confidently in most off-road scenarios.

Overall, like its sibling, the Grabber A/TX, the AT2 is one of the best all-terrain tires for off-road driving on the market right now.

Noise and Comfort

As long as you ride these tires on off-road surfaces, there won’t be any noise. They’re obviously not as quiet as a luxury touring wheel, but they are incredibly quiet considering the tires’ aggressive tread. This is largely due to the engineered acoustic tread pattern, which provides impressive all-terrain performance without all the noise.

However, there will be considerable noise on dry tarmac, especially over significant potholes.

When it comes to comfort, the Grabber AT2 provides a more-than-decent ride as the tires absorb most bumps and vibrations. 

General Grabber AT2 Review: Warranty

Treadwear warranty: 6 years or 60,000 miles 

Uniformity Warranty: One year or the first 2/32 inch of wear 

Materials and workmanship: 6 years. Free tire replacement during the first year or first 2/32 inches of wear, then prorated until the remaining 2/32 inches of tread depth.

Special manufacturer’s guarantee: 30-day customer satisfaction trial, allowing you to exchange the tire for another General Tire model if you are unsatisfied.

Tire Sizes

15″

• 205/75R15 97T
• 265/70R15 112S 
• 215/75R15 100S 
• 33X12.50R15LT 108Q 
• LT235/75R15 104/101S 
• 35X12.50R15LT 113Q 
• 225/70R15 100S 
• 31X10.50R15LT 109S 
• 255/70R15 108S 
• 30X9.50R15LT 104S 

16″

• LT235/85R16 120/116S 
• 235/70R16 106T 
• 225/75R16 108S XL
• 245/70R16 107T 
• LT245/75R16 120/116S
• 255/70R16 111S
• LT265/75R16 123/120Q 
• 265/70R16 112S 
• LT285/75R16 122/119Q 
• LT305/70R16 118/115Q 
• LT295/75R16 123/120Q 
• 215/65R16 98T 
• LT315/75R16 121Q 
• 255/65R16 109T 
• 215/70R16 100T 

17″

• LT235/80R17 120/117Q 
• LT315/70R17 121/118R 
• LT245/75R17 121/118R 
• 255/65R17 110S
• 245/70R17 110S
• 265/65R17 112S 
• 255/70R17 112S 
• 265/65R17 112T 
• LT265/70R17 121/118Q 
• 33X12.50R17LT 105Q 
• 265/70R17 115S 
• 35X12.50R17LT 119Q 
• LT285/70R17 121/118R 

18″

• 265/70R18 116S
• 255/60R18 112H XL 
• LT265/70R18 124/121R 
• LT285/60R18 122/119Q 
• LT275/70R18 125/122Q 
• 255/55R18 109H XL 
• 275/65R18 116S
• 33X12.50R18LT 118Q 
• LT275/65R18 123/120Q 
• 35X12.50R18LT 118Q 

20″

• LT275/65R20 126/123S 
• 33X12.50R20LT 114Q 
• 305/50R20 120T XL
• 35X12.50R20LT 121Q 

General Grabber AT2 Review: Compatible Vehicles 

• Acura MDX 
• Chevrolet Tahoe, Silverado, Suburban, Colorado, Trailblazer, S-10 
• Dodge Dakota, Ram 
• Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, Explorer, Ranger, Escape, Expedition 
• GMC Sierra, Canyon, Yukon 
• Honda Ridgeline, Passport 
• Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Cherokee, Commander 
• Land Rover Discovery, LR3 
• Nissan Xterra, Pathfinder, Frontier, Titan 
• Subaru Outback 
• Toyota Tacoma, 4Runner, Tundra, Sequoia 

General Grabber AT2 Review: Conclusion

The AT2 is undoubtedly one of the best all-terrain tires for SUVs and pickup trucks. Its best performance is reserved for off-road conditions, where the deep tread pattern and General’s patented technologies really shine. Its performance in snowy conditions is equally impressive, with its deep indents allowing this tire to plow through with minimal effort.