The X3 Factors

General Tire’s Grabber X3 M/T stands the test of time among hardcore wheelers and passed our six-month, 20,000 km trail tests with ease.

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Words and Photos by Peter Storck

The Grabber X3 M/T from General Tire is the result of some serious R&D. After testing more than a dozen different tread designs, engineers determined the perfect X3 prototype and then logged over two million test miles to produce the X3. The result? An M/T tire that can effectively take on soupy mud, stubborn snow, loose gravel, and various wet terrain on the trails, while providing smooth daily drives on the highway and city streets.

Although the X3 has been available for quite some time, it’s still proving its mettle on the trails, capturing plenty of attention among the wheeling crowd and for good reason. Maybe it’s because the tire stands up to its name. The ‘X’ stands for extreme performance and the ‘3’ represents mud, dirt, and rock. We ran a set of X3 LT275/70R18 33’s on a 2018 Colorado ZR2 Crew Cab diesel with trimmed fenders for a long-term test of approximately 20,000 km (12,427 mi) (about six months), which meant we had the opportunity to assess the tires in many different weather conditions and on many different types of terrain. Even though the ZR2 has front and rear lockers, we only engaged them when it was necessary.

On-Road Performance in Various Conditions and Wear

The Grabber X3 was developed with a 20:80 on/off-road ratio. With the X3’s asymmetrical tread pattern and full-depth sipes on the tread blocks, the company has managed to offer an M/T with better on-road handling than some of its competitors in this segment. For instance, the X3’s soft compound conforms well to deformities on the road, which provided us with a confident and inspiring feel that we like on long highway runs. In dry conditions, we pushed the truck every bit as hard as with the stock tires, even around corners and on gravelly conditions with excellent results. The X3’s sipes and asymmetrical tread design gave us assured control on wet roads and hugged the road reasonably well. These design features prevent the X3 from plowing through wet corners and provide solid stopping power when braking.

Of course, road noise was on the louder side compared to non-M/T’s, but they make a different sound when compared to other M/T’s, meaning they are not necessarily quieter, but the pitch was more pleasant. There also wasn’t any difference in road noise once the tires were broken in. The soft tread compound did show signs of wear with extensive road use (as do all M/T tires over time) and we felt that these may have worn a little faster in the first 15,000 km (9,321 mi) than others we have run in the past.

Snow and Ice

In loose snow, the X3’s performed fairly well and gripped the roads as we wanted them to. But in packed-snow conditions were a little more challenging with not as much traction as we would have liked to have seen. Then again, what non-winter tire isn’t challenged slightly in snowy conditions.

Off-Road and Gravel

The X3 incorporates the company’s Duragen Technology. The X3 is a 3-ply tire made with a tough cut- and chip-resistant tread compound with best-in-class cut and puncture resistance. This is combined with an ultra-high-strength steel belt to ensure an even footprint and stability. The open-tread design effectively channels mud, dirt,  and snow from the tread while the stone bumpers in the tread pattern prevent stones and rocks from building up and causing potential damage.

We commonly drive more gravel roads than most people do and the X3 performed well even when running at street-tire pressure and higher speeds. In wet and muddy gravel conditions, the X3’s latched on without slippage when cornering, which wasn’t too much of a surprise being an M/T tire. Also, as expected, when brand new, the X3’s were amazing off-road with their deep tread depth, asymmetrical tread pattern, and solid construction.  But like any tire, its performance changed over time with wear.

On the Trail

After a good amount of use on the trails, city streets, and the highway, the set of our X3’s is now down to about a 60 percent tread life. During a recent trail run, we noticed that performance in the mud with its shallower tread depth suffered and didn’t dig into the messy conditions as much, thus marginally slowing progress.

But the X3 did get us through the rough stuff when the duty called. What was most impressive, however, was how easy the X3 managed climbing and descending twisty, steep, hills covered in loose dirt, rocks, and tree roots. The steepest point we climbed and descended was 29 degrees and, in both cases, the X3 held its ground (literally) and didn’t exhibit any slippage. After running various hills, we came across a few mud holes and that’s when things became interesting.

The first one, which seemed to be no more than a large puddle, was about 5 m (15 ft) wide and 2 m (8 ft) across. But it was the deceiving kind, which is always deeper and meaner than meets the eye.

Following some contemplation, we put the ZR2 in gear and slammed the pedal. The front tires dropped into the puddle and within .5 m (about 2 ft) we were deeper than we wanted to be. Yet, the tires chewed their way through the muck. Had it not been for the hidden stump that caused the truck to become high-centred, we would’ve made it through. Nevertheless, the winch got us out and we were on our way to the next challenge.

The second mud hole consisted of black, soupy muck about 15 m (50 ft) wide and 9 m (30 ft) across with a 1.0 m (3 ft) wide creek flowing in on one side and out the other into scattered little streams. Getting the winch line ready, we crossed the mud pit on foot over a log and got the tree-saver strap ready. Putting the truck in gear, we picked a line and went for it.  The tires inevitably dropped in with only a few inches showing, yet the X3 once again chewed through the muck as we made it up and out the other side.

A set of M/T’s with just 60 percent tread can still get a truck through some pretty challenging mud holes with just a little effort. After the second mud hole, it was a fast run down the powerline on a twisting, gravel track and X3 held on well and grabbed the corners without any issues. Lastly, we aired down to 12-15 psi to tackle some rocks. With the ultra-high-strength steel belts and tough tread compound, the X3 moulded well around objects and gripped effortlessly.

The Grabber X3 is quite an M/T tire with some characteristics of an A/T to provide on- and off-road performance for wheelers. After about 6 months and 20,000 km (12,427 mi|), the set of X3’s are still going strong on the trails and got us through some nasty conditions. It’s also available with optional red and white sidewall lettering, which adds a little more style to their already aggressive profile.