There is a growing trend to fit Highway Terrain (H/T) tyres as original equipment (OE) on new SUVs to reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels and improve ride quality – at the expense of off-road capability. With its new Grabber Cross A/S tyre, General Tire may have found the sweet spot between the capabilities of a H/T and an All-Terrain tyre.
General Tire has recently introduced the new Grabber Cross A/S, a versatile and capable new all-season tyre within the proven and trusted Grabber range specifically designed for crossover vehicles and sport utility vehicles – a segment that is still growing globally and in the South African market.
Designed to combine safe and competent on-road driving with confidence-inspiring gravel and off-road capability, the new Grabber Cross A/S is ideally suited to this increasingly popular passenger car segment due to its outstanding all-round capabilities.
Under the motto “Fast roads, tough trails”, the robust new tyre combines the comfort and performance SUV and crossover owners expect on the road with the durability and traction needed when venturing off the beaten track. As such, the Grabber Cross A/S fits in between H/T and A/T tyres in terms of its capabilities on variable terrain.
Designed for an 80/20 application (80% on-road driving, 20% off-road), the Grabber Cross A/S offers good handling on tar roads, protection against aquaplaning, safe driving in both hot and cold seasons, high mileage and good traction when venturing off-road. And it looks good, too.
HIGH TRACTION AND COMFORT ON ALL SURFACES
General Tire introduced the Grabber Cross A/S with a nationwide roadshow using a fleet of new Ford Territory SUVs fitted with the new rubber. With its combination of a stiff tread and a cut- and chip-resistant rubber compound, the tyres excelled on gravel roads and more challenging off-road conditions.
On a picturesque off-road trail on the Zevenwacht Wine Estate, the Grabbers with their higher puncture resistance provided sure-footed grip and good driving confidence. Despite its enhanced off-road capability, there was no compromise on on-road driving, as they delivered outstanding grip, aquaplaning resistance, and braking performance on wet tar roads.
According to General Tire, the designers integrated support elements between the blocks to make the tread extra stiff to ensure safe performance on dry roads. The design also ensures even pressure distribution, translating into better steering precision and longer distances driven at higher speeds without compromising mileage.
Also evident was the driving comfort and low rolling noise. This is achieved by General Tire’s Comfort Balance Technology, featuring a cushioned tread that isolates the vehicle from road disturbances, along with an acoustic tread pattern and Duragen Technology with thicker steel belts, which provide added stability and protection in both on- and off-road driving conditions.
On loose surfaces, hexagonal blocks with biting edges provide traction, and the edges of the tread grooves are chamfered to improve off-road performance further. In addition, the new tyre features a crossover compound that is highly cut- and chip-resistant, increasing its durability on rough terrain.
Its good grip on wet roads is achieved with transverse and longitudinal sipes in the tread blocks, with the open tread shoulder accelerating water evacuation when driving in the rain, effectively and safely preventing aquaplaning. The new Grabber Cross A/S also bears the “EV Compatible” logo on its sidewall, certifying its suitability for electric vehicles.
LOCALLY PRODUCED, WIDE RANGE OF SIZES
The new Grabber Cross A/S is suitable for a wide range of crossover and sport utility vehicles with and without four-wheel drive, and locally General Tire offers 32 sizes between 16 and 22 inches in diameter. Depending on the size, the Grabber Cross A/S is approved for speeds of up to 240 km/h (V-rated).
Several of the sizes of the new Grabber Cross A/S range are produced at the Continental Tyre South Africa plant in Gqeberha, which has been a key part of the automotive manufacturing industry in the Nelson Mandela Bay since 1947, More locally produced sizes will be introduced in the coming months, and as with the rest of the General Tire range, the Grabber Cross A/S is now available through most well-known tyre dealers across South Africa.
Report by FERDI DE VOS | Images © GENERAL TIRE SOUTH AFRICA
