By LAWRENCE T. DY
As an off-road driver, I have to completely trust my tires to take the beating of the terrain, where many unknowns await, among them, sharp rocks, slippery sand and gravel, and random debris that have settled on the riverbed.
I'm testing a new set of General Tire Grabber All-Terrain tires on my Nissan Patrol 4x4. These are 17-inch Grabber AT’s with an aggressive tread pattern matched with ROH Assault alloy wheels which have made the whole vehicle stand out.
The Grabber AT’s come with DuraGen technology, built with strong material that gives sidewall protection and minimizes tread pattern chipping during a trail run, according to a manufacturer’s statement. The DuraGen technology uses ultra-high strength steel belts and a robust compound to create a strong tire, providing sidewall protection for long, even wear because of the material’s resistance to cuts and chips.
The tire is made for the pickup trucks, work vans, and full-size SUVs. It promises confident traction in a variety of conditions, whether that is on pavement, in dirt, mud, wet conditions. These tires are designed for the all-terrain enthusiast who demands off-road capability balanced with on-road performance.
I’ve driven the Grabbers A/T mostly through city streets and find them satisfactory, their traction on cement and asphalt surfaces okay. The tire has a quiet feature that is sensitive to pavement conditions.
I imagine how the Grabber A/T will behave in an eight-vehicle convoy, driving for hours under the rain: all tires digging into the narrow muddy and slippery trail, throwing vehicles off-camber, causing them to fishtail, and adding to the skills of the off-roaders. This I will confirm soon when I take the Patrol to the off-road terrain of Tanay.
Meanwhile, on city streets, I appreciate the admiring looks from strangers who are attracted to the handsome look of the Patrol’s tires with the 17-inch ROH Assault alloy wheels. These rims, made in Australia, are known for their style and performance. These are built to be lightweight and extremely tough to handle the harsh road conditions.
Being lightweight, the ROH wheels improve fuel efficiency and ride quality. Their lightweight feature and the fine finish make it attractive to drivers who both require efficient and attractive rims for city driving and off-road performance. Overall, they’re a good combo for those into more serious off-road seeking both looks and performance.
Grabber A/T by General Tire and ROH wheels are distributed by Concept One.
(Lawrence T. Dy is a member of the Nissan Patrol Group of the Universe 430.500, also known as Antipolo base and the Aurora Offroaders Club, and a founder of the Senior Car Camping Plus group.)