General Grabber X3 review
The General Tire Grabber X3 is an off-road-oriented tire for true off-roaders and light trucks. It is characterized by excellent traction properties and high cross-country ability on mud, rocky terrain and sand. According to the manufacturer, it is a real road tire, unlike the predecessor General Grabber.
Owners rate it 22.2 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
By owner reviews
87.2%By road tests
65%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 97 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The General Grabber X3 is widely regarded as a high-performance mud-terrain tire that balances aggressive off-road capability with surprising on-road refinement. While most users praise its exceptional traction in mud, snow, and rocky terrain, a subset of owners reports issues with highway stability, specifically noting a 'squirrely' or disconnected feeling at higher speeds.
Pros
- Exceptional off-road traction in mud, sand, and rocky conditions
- Surprisingly low road noise for an aggressive mud-terrain tire
- Strong durability and tread life when properly maintained
- Aesthetically pleasing design, particularly the signature red lettering
Cons
- Reported 'steering wander' or instability at highway speeds
- Potential for uneven tread wear (cupping) if not rotated frequently
- High tendency to throw rocks and debris due to aggressive tread pattern
- Occasional reports of manufacturing defects or balancing difficulties
Worth knowing
- Users running E-load range tires on heavy-duty trucks report better sidewall stability and less 'squirm' compared to lighter-duty applications.
- Owners of lifted vehicles and larger tire sizes (e.g., 35-inch) frequently highlight the need for frequent rotation to prevent premature cupping.
- Drivers without fender flares noted significant paint chipping due to the tire's tendency to eject rocks.
2 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
HT vs AT vs MT vs Winter tires on Snow · 265/70 R17
5th of 5
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Snow Braking | 5th of 5 | |
| Snow Traction | 5th of 5 | |
| Snow Handling | 5th of 5 | |
| Ice Braking | 4th of 5 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 5th of 5 | |
| Subj. Noise | 5th of 5 | |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 5th of 5 |
What's the best type of tire for your SUV or Pickup truck? HT, AT and MT compared and tested · 265/70 R17
4th of 4
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 4 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 4 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 4 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 4 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 4 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 4 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 4th of 4 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 4th of 4 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 4th of 4 | |
| Dirt Handling | 4th of 4 | |
| Gravel Handling | 1st of 4 | |
| Subj. Dirt Handling | 4th of 4 | |
| Tyre Weight | 4th of 4 | |
| Subj. Gravel Handling | 1st of 4 | |
| Mud Performance | 1st of 4 |
About the General Grabber X3
History of R&D
The General Tire Grabber X3 tires were introduced in 2016. It took Continental engineers three years to develop them, during which sixteen different tread options were considered in the hope of providing maximum traction on off-road terrain.
The manufacturer conducted 500 hours of off-road tire testing at its test track in Yuvalde, Texas, USA, tested more than 1,000 Grabber X3 prototypes and invested more than 20,000 man-hours in testing. In total, the model has undergone more than three million miles of testing and has been approved by test pilots.
Tread Design
The General Grabber X3 tires have an aggressive tread pattern and powerful "muscular" shoulders that provide additional capabilities when driving on full off-road. For good stability in mud, the tire has a high-cavity tread pattern that includes large, self-cleaning mud evacuation channels.
Special stone-removing rims prevent stones from getting stuck between the tread blocks when driving on gravel. They also minimize tire damage from various mechanical damages, and increase puncture resistance.
In order for the General Grabber X3 to move easily on rocky terrain, the edges of its tread blocks are placed at different angles, which provides reliable traction in all directions. In addition, special side beads help protect the tire structure from damage, as well as increase the traction capabilities of the sidewalls and shoulder section of the tire.
The style of the model sidewalls is emphasized by black lettering, and some sizes are available with red lettering. All sizes of the General Grabber X3 model have a three-layer construction and a tread pattern that promotes acoustic comfort in the interior of an off-road vehicle.
For fans of less extreme off-road riding, the General brand has the General Tire Grabber AT3 model in stock.
General Grabber X3 specs & sizes
Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Tread depth | 18 - 21/32″ |
| UTQG | AA A |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall - Serrated Raised Lettering |
| Max pressure | 35 - 80 psi |
| Size | Retailer |
|---|---|
| 265/75 R16 | Amazon |
| 285/75 R16 | Amazon |
| 265/70 R17 | Amazon |
| 285/70 R17 | Amazon |
| 315/70 R17 | Amazon |
| 275/70 R18 | Amazon |
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