General Grabber tyres

This is the AT brochure AT Brochure- page arrows are at the bottom.

Page 23 compares the superceded AT2 with the new AT.

LTs are available in some sizes but not all sizes.

Look great don't they. I do not like the white writing on the outside as it does not stay white long and then looks dirty and tatty so when I had mine fitted I had them mounted with the white writing on the inside. Your choice.

Most sizes are P rated not LT - depends on the size you need.

The AT is not the highway tread it is the current All Terrain tread and is superior as an offroad tyre to the superceded AT2.

Many dealer still hold the AT2 and will tell you they are current to try and sell them off.

For the AT2's I just got I had to wait several weeks for a shipment from the US. The indicated manufacture date was Jan 2013, does not sound like superceded to me. The AT is a relatively new tyre but would not agree that it is a superior offroad tyre. It may well be a superior on road tyre but I have not tested this. Look at the tread pattern and pick the style that you believe best suits your style of driving. Both the AT and the AT2 come in P and LT construction so beware. You should choose the construction most suited to your driving style first and then the brand.

I had GG AT2s on a Defender and when I sold it they had 66K on and still looked good for at least another 20K.
They were quiet on the road with good grip and I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again.
Much better availalability now than about 5 years ago.
AlanH.

Many tyre manufactures make P (Passenger) and LT (Light Truck) construction with the same tread pattern. This confuses many people. You need to make sure you are comparing apples with apples. An LT tyre will be dearer because it has more rubber in it. As you tow a 2t van I would not have anything other than a LT tyre as it can carry the extra weight far better than a passenger tyre. The Rugged Terrain is mostly a P tyre but I believe there are some LT's. Don't believe tyre salesmen, they don't care what they sell you as long as they can get a sale. They are well known to compare the prices of their P rated tyre with someone else's LT tyre. LT tyres can carry more load, have stronger sidewalls so have a greater puncture resistance, can better handle the reduced tyre pressures for when the going gets tuff, and usually have a deeper tread. That is why they are dearer.

Chris,
I disagree only with your expression that LT tyres "...can better handle the reduced tyre pressures for when the going gets tuff,...".
In fact, when operating at significantly reduced pressure, LT tyres with stronger, thicker sidewalls generate more heat than softer, more flexible sidewalls due to sidewall flexing resistance.

Thanks Chris, I did stress I wanted LT tyres and 3 ply sides. He assured me that this was the case. I will check them on Wednesday when he will have them in for fitting.
If they are not then I will walk, no run from there.

Cheers Neil

Hi Allan,
When you try to get your point across in forums such as this you tend to take short cuts and then get mis-understood. You are perfectly right about the heat build up in LT tyres. What I omitted to say was that LT tyres with their stronger sidewalls are much greater resistant to punctures. So we have a trade off between heat and puncture resistance. I suggest the LT is the way to go because the heat takes time to build up before it becomes a problem, whereas stakes are an issue from the moment you move. Additionally the heat build up is more rapid the lower the tyre pressure, but the lower you have to go usually the slower you go or the distance is not as great. There are lots of variables except that LT's will always be more puncture resistant which I believe to be the most important. I have 6 rim mounted Sensatyre tyre monitors. When ever I lower my tyres for traction or comfort I monitor the temps very carefully. My experience is that tyre temps are ALWAYS higher onroad than offroad. If offroad and the tyres get to more than about 45 psi I either put more air in or drive slower, on the highway it is 55 - 60 before I will take action.
Of greater concern to me is that LT's because of the rigidity of the walls that too much distance with low pressures could see a breakdown of the sidewalls due to the constant flexing beyond what they are really designed for. When you replace your tyres you should inspect the inside of the tyre. If it is powdery it indicates the tyre have been run under inflated and the more powdery the more it has been done. They can be very powdery but still OK it is just another thing you need to be aware of and consider.
Cheers Idler Chris

Yes Chris, there is always a trade-off.
For example, when you lower tyre pressure for a corrugated stony road there is reduced likelihood of tread damage but the slightly bulging sidewalls are probably at more risk of stone cuts.


I agree wholeheartedly about the value of tyre pressure/temperature monitors. I also have rim-mounted monitors and keep a watch on temperature as well as pressure. As you say, the rise is greater off-road.