The Ford Ranger Raptor will from now on be fitted with the General Grabber AT3 tire as standard equipment. The tire represents another original equipment success from General Tire. It’s an award-winning all-terrain product that provides high-performance off-road features for the Raptor. The truck itself comes with a motorsport-ready chassis that is specially developed for high speeds. Its special qualities also allow it to move at high speeds on uneven surfaces.
“The development engineers at Ford went to great pains to find the perfect tire for their benchmark product. Ultimately, the decisive factor for selecting this tire was its optimal interaction with the outstanding suspension and performance features of the Ranger Raptor in conjunction with the striking dynamic properties of the General Grabber AT3,” says JJ Dowling, General Manager Manufacturing at Continental Tyre South Africa. “We’re excited about the vehicle and delighted with the collaboration.”
Like many other automakers, Ford has a list of specific requirements that must be included in every original equipment tire. The Grabber AT3 was able to meet these requirements during testing. It performed well in delivering grip performance in dry and wet conditions, the required mileage, noise generation, stability, and reliability.
“The original equipment approvals for the Ranger Raptor,” says Dowling, “once again confirm the excellent reputation of the Grabber AT3 as a tire with exceptional qualities both on and off-road and in all weather conditions.”
Independent tests were also carried out and published in the automotive trade press. These showcased that the Grabber AT3 is a capable product that competes well in the all-terrain tire segment. Its 50/50 design offers balanced performance both on the road and cross-country. The tire even won in a major performance comparison contest held in 2018 among 16 other competing products. The contest was carried out by SA 4X4 Magazine.
Some of the most notable features of the tire include the DuraGen and TracGen technology. The DuraGen ensures that the rubber compound is robust and extra strong. The stud rows provide long tire life even when used on tough terrains. The TracGen technology provides exceptional traction on loose surfaces and enhances the transmission performance in both drive and braking. This is thanks to the numerous grip edges found in the tread.
The Grabber AT3 is also one of the General tires that come with a high-strength steel belt construction that offers stability under all load conditions. Its balanced tread geometry, uniform material distribution, and low stiffness ensure that the tread blocks are optimized in their arrangement to reduce vibrations in the tire. This Maximizes comfort and reduces noise levels. A snowflake symbol is included on the tire’s sidewall to show that it’s ideal for all-year use, even during winter.
The Ford Ranger Raptor comes with the LT 285/70 R17 116/113 S tire size. The tire is specified for robust light trucks with additional reinforcement for special load capacity.