General Grabber APT Tire Review and Rating

Written By Slavcho Andov
Last Updated August 26, 2022

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Dry

Wet

Snow

Comfort

Noise

Treadwear

Off-Road

Pros

Affordable
30,000-mile treadwear warranty
Noise levels are surprisingly good for a winter tire
Deals with bumps well and softens them up

Cons

Ice performance is almost nonexistent
Not the most ideal choice for extreme off-road scenarios

In the world of tires, there are many options, some of which can do multiple things at once. Take all-terrain tires, for example. They are made as a gap between road-going tires and mud-terrain ones. The result of this is a tire that can be used in both situations but won’t excel in either one of them.

Even though this may not sound like an attractive option, I have to say it’s not a bad one. Most people don’t drive on the limit, so even though an all-terrain tire won’t excel on pavement, it will be fine for most drivers. The same can be said about off-road conditions. You’ll be fine with a tire from this category if you’re not gunning for the most extreme situations.

It’s not the most popular category, but there are plenty of options, including from mid-range manufacturers like General. The tire in question is the Grabber APT, which isn’t the best, but its performance and the price you’ll pay for it balance things quite nicely.

What are the features of the General Grabber APT?

All-terrain tires are designed to cover multiple driving conditions, so they need to be packed full of features to deliver the performance. Even though we are talking about a mid-range tire, the Grabber APT has plenty of those.

The standard feature on any all-season tire is the rubber compound, and the Grabber APT is no exception. Since it’s designed to be usable in colder temperatures, the compound used for this tire will remain pliable and offer its performance on wet and snow-covered roads.

In winter conditions, the Grabber APT is a tire that won’t disappoint. The combination of compound and tread pattern should result in an excellent performance. This should also be evident from the fact that the tire comes with the 3PMSF rating, unlike most all-season tires that have M+S only.

Off-road situations are more extreme than road ones, so the Grabber APT features a DURAGEN internal construction. The goal of this is to ensure that the tire can survive being driven in these conditions while keeping the footprint as flat as possible. As a result, the tire’s performance and durability in off-road scenarios shouldn’t affect how it drives on the road.

As a road tire, you’d expect some level of refinement, and the Grabber APT has something for that. General used its ComfortBalance technology, which uses an absorption layer designed to soften up the ride. Also, as part of that technology, the tread pattern is tweaked to reduce the noise generated from the tire as it drives on paved roads.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

As an all-terrain tire, the Grabber APT is intended for road use, and it does that pretty good. It’s not on the same level as some of the road tires we usually cover here, but considering its category, it does a pretty good job.

The levels of traction on dry roads are excellent, even though we’re talking about a mid-range tire. You can accelerate without any slip, and even in more aggressive scenarios, the Grabber APT won’t struggle too much. Around a corner, the grip levels are also very high, and you won’t be understeering every time you turn the steering wheel.

All of this performance is backed by the short braking distances. Even though they aren’t as short as some of the premium models in this class, they come pretty close. On the highway, the Grabber APT is a very stable tire and will feel planted at higher speeds.

As far as handling goes, it’s not terrible, considering the type of tire we’re talking about. The Grabber APT is decently responsive with a good on-center feel. On the other hand, like most of its rivals, it lacks in the feedback department and feels a bit numb.

Dry Rating: 4/5

 4/5

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

In wet conditions, the Grabber APT continues to deliver very good results. As a mid-range tire, it won’t be on the same level as something like the TerrainContact A/T, but it’s pretty good in its class.

The combination of sipes and rubber compound work great to enable the tire to deliver solid performance on damp roads. You won’t notice any slip in normal acceleration conditions, while for the more aggressive part, there will be some slip, but nothing too terrible. The same can be said about the cornering grip. Don’t expect the Grabber APT to be as good as the premium rivals, but for the price you’re paying, it will hold to the road in the corners without any issues.

Safety is an area where the Grabber APT delivers very good results. The braking distances are very short, putting the tire near the top of the mid-range class. Also, thanks to the circumferential grooves and sipes, the tire’s aquaplaning resistance is excellent, keeping it stable in harsh rain conditions.

Wet Rating: 4/5

 4/5

How is it over snow?

All-season tires are designed to deliver usable performance in winter conditions. The Grabber APT has the 3PMSF rating, so we’re getting a bit better traction than tires with an M+S rating.

Things are positive in these conditions, with the Grabber APT delivering pretty good performance in lighter conditions. The grip in the corners isn’t much higher than some of its rivals, but the traction is noticeable better. This means less slip when accelerating and shorter braking distances when compared to an M+S rated tire.

In harsher conditions, the tire may seem usable, but the performance will be limited. For the most part, you may have some decent traction over deeper snow, but you’ll notice it struggling a bit more. Surprisingly, the Grabber APT does a pretty decent job at driving over hard-packed snow.

Ice is something that’s reserved for winter tires, and the Grabber APT isn’t one that can be used in those conditions. There is practically no grip and traction, and you’re left with constant wheel spin.

Snow Rating: 3.5/5

 3.5/5

Is it comfortable and refined?

We are talking about a tire that can be used on and off-road, so people may want to get some decent refinement. I’m happy to report that the Grabber APT won’t disappoint in this regard, unlike some of its rivals.

On the comfort side of things, General did an excellent job at blending durability and softness. As a result, the Grabber APT deals with smaller bumps and road imperfections without any issues. With that said, the tire struggles with larger potholes a bit. You’ll notice a bit of a jolt, and some of the vibrations will be transferred into the cabin.

A more positive side of the Grabber APT is the noise levels. This is among the quietest tires in the all-terrain segment, meaning that General’s tread design does the job. At slower speeds, there is a hum, but it’s far from the loudest tires in this class. Even at highway speeds, the noise levels are still on the lower end of the spectrum, while the loudest you’ll hear the tire is on a rough surface.

Comfort Rating: 4/5

 4/5

Is it good for off-roading?

Enough with the road performance, now it’s time for the off-road section, and the Grabber APT delivers on this front as well. As long as you don’t start comparing it with a mud-terrain tire, you won’t be disappointed with the performance it offers.

The Grabber APT does an excellent job at delivering grip and traction on hardpacked surfaces like gravel and dirt. This is thanks to the notches and scoops on the shoulders, making the tire planted and safe. With that, you’re also getting very short braking distances, so the tire is safe.

In mud or sand situations, the Grabber APT will perform acceptably well, but this is where you start to notice the tradeoff with all-terrain tires. In shallow mud, the tire does well and doesn’t struggle too much, something that increases the deeper you go. Sand is more or less similar, so don’t plan on driving it in a desert.

For the most extreme situations like rock crawling, the Grabber APT won’t be enough. You can air it down and give it a try, but you won’t get the same performance as with a mud-terrain tire.

Is the General Grabber APT ideal for sporty driving?

Performance from these type of vehicles isn’t unheard of, but for that you need a performance-oriented tire, something the Grabber APT isn’t. The tire’s perfectly fine for everyday driving and some light off-roading, but it’s not a tire that can handle getting pushed. Speaking of handling, it’s not the most dynamic one, even in the all-terrain segment.

Noise Rating: 4/5

 4/5

General Grabber APT Warranty

This is an area where the Grabber APT is the closest and, in some situations, better than its premium rivals. The tire comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, putting it on the same level as the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar. On the other hand, this is better than what the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 can offer.

General Grabber APT Pricing: Is it worth the money?

One thing that the Grabber APT does very well is value. A 16-inch model comes at a price slightly over $200, while the rest of the pack, even other mid-range models like the Open Country A/T III, are slightly more expensive. For the premium ones, you’re looking at an even bigger price difference.

Value Rating: 4.5/5

 4.5/5

Should I buy the General Grabber APT?

If you’re looking at a tire with a good balance between affordability and performance, then the Grabber APT is one of the rare options that can satisfy your needs.

The tire isn’t the absolute best in everything, but in some cases, it comes very close to the premium options we have today. It’s more than enough for daily driving on the road and for the casual off-roader. It’s affordable, surprisingly well refined, and can even be used in certain winter conditions.

Overall, you’re getting a lot of tire for the money, something that not many mid-range tires in this category can offer.

Overall Rating: 4/5

 4/5