In East London, South Africans are passionate about their lifestyle vehicles, whether it be an SUV, double cab, or MPV. Some enjoy going off-road and require serious off-road skills, while others prefer a more relaxed approach but still want reliable tires. When it comes to off-road adventures, ordinary road tires won’t cut it, so most people opt for all-terrain tires or, in more extreme cases, mud tires.
There are also those who spend most of their time on paved roads but want to give off an impression of toughness. These vehicles usually come with highway-oriented tires, but many owners quickly replace them with tires featuring a more aggressive tread pattern. It’s important to remember that the tires on each corner of a vehicle play a crucial role in stopping and preventing accidents.
To meet the needs of off-road enthusiasts, General Tire, a division of Continental Tyre, recently fitted their new General Tire Grabber ATX and AT3 tires on Isuzu’s D-Max V-Cross bakkies. They invited us to experience these tires on challenging terrain in the Transkei. While much attention is given to local vehicle manufacturers, we sometimes overlook that Continental Tyres South Africa has been producing tires for 75 years in Gqeberha.
Many South Africans prefer white lettering on their tires, influenced by American trends. General Tire has recognized this preference and now offers the ATX tire with highlighted lettering. The ATX comes in four popular off-road sizes, ranging from 16 to 18 inches in diameter, 265 to 285mm in width, with aspect ratios of 65 to 75. It has speed indexes of R (170km/h) and S (180km/h).
The AT3 tire comes in LT (Light Truck) or standard specification. It offers a wide range of sizes, from 15 to 22 inches in diameter, 205 to 275mm in width, with aspect ratios of 40 to 75. Its speed ratings range from S to V (180 to 240 km/h). In heavy-duty LT specification, the Grabber AT3 is available in 21 sizes, ranging from 15 to 18 inches in diameter, 215 to 285mm in width, with aspect ratios of 60 to 85. It carries an S speed index (180 km/h).
When we think of light trucks, we often picture single cab delivery bakkies or small trucks seen on construction sites. However, choosing LT tires for your vehicle provides a stronger carcass, higher load capacity, thicker sidewalls, and deeper tread patterns, making them ideal for rough terrains prone to punctures. Although the speed rating is lower, anyone who has driven close to 180km/h in an SUV or bakkie knows it’s not a safe place to be.
With the technical details covered, it was time to put the tires to the test. We traveled from East London through Butterworth, staying overnight at the Wavecrest Hotel on the beach. The decay in large parts of the Eastern Cape was evident, reflecting years of mismanagement, infrastructure destruction, and dirty streets, which is a disheartening reality for its residents. This journey provided an early indication of the capabilities of the new tires. They performed well and quietly on the tarred roads, offering excellent grip and stopping ability. Once we turned off the main road, the conditions became more challenging, with large potholes and muddy tracks from heavy rainfall the previous night. This further emphasized the importance of fitting a reliable set of all-terrain tires for such terrains.
Reducing the tire pressures to 1.5 bar made a noticeable difference in the quality of the ride. The D-Max suspension, combined with the AT3 tires, handled road imperfections with ease. My driving partner couldn’t help but comment on my occasional encounters with muddy pools and road imperfections.
Our main purpose was to test the tires, and driving in 4H mode, both the D-Max and AT3 tires proved to be a great match for the terrain.
Once we left the urban and peri-urban areas, the Transkei revealed itself as one of the most stunning places on Earth. Its untouched green landscapes, vast stretches of empty beaches, rolling waves, and friendly locals make it one of the few places left in South Africa where you can truly experience adventure driving.
Day two offered more challenges, including tougher obstacles that required the use of low range gear.
Equipped with the more aggressive ATX tires, river crossings and rocky inclines posed no problem. We even had to navigate through a marsh, which put the tires to the test in muddy conditions.
The ATX tires, with their widely spaced chunks of rubber, cleared the mud from the treads and provided excellent grip.
I’ve often heard people boasting about their stock 4×4 vehicles with standard highway tires being able to conquer any terrain. But from personal experience, I can confidently say that without the right tires, even the most advanced off-road systems on modern vehicles won’t get you very far. A stock Series Land Rover with terrain-specific tires will outperform any vehicle with standard tires on challenging terrain.
As we crossed the Kleinmond River on the pontoon to reach the Morgan Bay Hotel, I shared a story of one of our extreme 4×4 trips to Lesotho. Our group of enthusiasts enjoys pushing ourselves and our modified vehicles to the limit, tackling difficult mountain crossings in winter temperatures as low as -19 degrees Celsius.
In the summer, rain makes the terrain slippery, and a single misstep on a boulder could send you tumbling down a 300-meter cliff. It’s safer, albeit colder, to take precautions.
On this particular trip, we had someone join us with a highly sophisticated vehicle. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get the specific mud tires he wanted and settled for standard ones. When he had to be pulled up a steep rocky river bank, his tires slipped and slid, alarms went off, and he had to admit defeat and follow a more established route back to base.
General Tire also caters to those types of terrains and drivers with their Grabber X3 tires. It offers 14 sizes, ranging from 15 to 18 inches in diameter, widths from 205 to 285mm, aspect ratios of 60 to 85, and a Q speed index (160 km/h).
So, whether you’re heading off-road, going on a vacation in your SUV, or just commuting in your sedan or hatchback, don’t compromise on tires.
Oh, and it’s always a good idea to support local brands.