Which is better: General Grabber ATX, Falken Wildpeak AT3W or BFG KO2?
In this article, we will be comparing these three tires based on their performance, price, durability, warranty information, etc. Each of these tires has its own strengths and weaknesses, so read on to see which one is best for you!
General Grabber ATX vs. Falken Wildpeak AT3W vs. BFG KO2: Comparison Table
Despite the fact that most terrain tires are of similar qualities, they aren’t quite the same when brought side-by-side for a careful comparison. Let’s take, for instance, the General Grabber ATX, Falken Wildpeak AT3W and, BFG KO2. No doubt, these are rated to be good terrain tires. However, depending on the terrain, one of these three tires will outdo the others. Below we’ve provided you a side-by-side comparison of the tires in question.
+ Best Budget / Best For Treadwear Warranty
+ Best Overall / Best For Off-road/On-road Performance
+ Best For Snow and Ice Performance
Specifications
Before diving into the detailed analysis, let’s take a look at what other users talk about General Grabber ATX, Falken Wildpeak AT3W, and BFG KO2:
| General Grabber ATX | Falken Wildpeak AT3W | BFG KO2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available Rim Sizes | 14’’, 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’ | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ |
| Weight | 28 - 74.1 lbs | 31.1 - 82.5 lbs | 32.1 - 72.6 lbs |
| Snow Rating | No | Three-peak Mountain Snowflake rating | Three-peak Mountain Snowflake rating |
| Warranty | 60,000 miles | 55,000 miles | 50,000 miles |
- “I have ran both tires in both in Pmetric and LT tires. I have ran the BFGs on several vehicles in various versions for more than 20 years. Great tire when new but really sucked on wet roads once worn some. Down right scary when they get over halfway through the tread. Tried several other tires like the Toyo AT2s, Bridgestone, pirellis, pro comp etc … I thought I would try the Falkens when they first came out on my F150. Loved them but was afraid they would also give up a lot like the others did relatively quick. I was impressed, they did begin to give up wet traction until around 40k miles. Way better than the others did. I traded the truck a month ago with 45k on the tires and still felt like they were great tires. Those were LT tires. I also own a FJ cruiser and since I liked the falkens so much I took off the KO2 on it which were scary to drive in the rain and roared like a freight train. The falkens in a p metric on it were amazingly quiet and made the FJ drive much more sporty compared to the KO2s.” (Blue_76 – https://www.f150forum.com/f31/falken-at3w-vs-bfg-ko2-491008/)
- “My ko2 where ok in snow drove with them full on winter on roads and in forests in snow never got stuck in snow. Yes they not as good as winter but I had no dangerous situations or anything on roads with them. Felt fine.” (scalman – https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/wildpeak-at3w-vs-bfg-ko2.522231/)
- “I have grabbers in 275’s. Bought as a set with new wheels from Discount Tire. They are great tires with a lot of bite. That being said, they throw rocks and gravel a lot in my case. Even with mud flaps and nerf bars, I’ve gotten a lot of stone chips in the rockers from these tires. Just be aware of that if you travel on any dirt or gravel roads.” (JAKE2.3 – https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/general-grabber-atx-vs-falken-wildpeaks-a-t3w.10447/)
- “I have just over 20,000 miles on Falkens and I would buy them again any day. I’ve driven them in just about every condition: pavement, snow, rain, gravel, grass, peanut butter mud, rocks. Tires are awesome in every condition and I really don’t have any faults to it. They’re quiet on the highway for being an aggressive A/T tire yet they dig through mud like a M/T. Excellent in the snow, resistant to punctures on the rocks. The only con is that I wish they got slightly better fuel economy. When I went from the factory Hankook 265/65R17 to the Falken 265/70R17, I lost nearly 2 MPG. Bigger and heavier tire doesn’t help, but I wish my on road fuel economy was a bit better.” (doug910 – https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/general-grabber-atx-vs-falken-wildpeaks-a-t3w.10447/)
General Grabber ATX Vs. Falken Wildpeak AT3W Vs. BFG KO2: Detailed Analysis
Off-road Performance
The Falken Wildpeak AT3W is an all-terrain and all-weather rugged capability tire manufactured for any kind of adventure regardless of weather condition. This tire is a mix of rough terrain driving and aggressive off-road capabilities without causing damage to the pavement, thus wins this category.
Furthermore, it features a perfect tread design along with a silica tread compound, making it triumph in three key aspects: rocky terrain, muddy terrain, and gravel. It has rigid tread lock support features that provide tread pattern rigidity that prevents stones from getting trapped in its grooves and improves stability in off-road conditions.
Another great off-road tire is the General Grabber ATX which is ideal for off-road trips irrespective of weather conditions. It features StabiliTread Technology which provides you with optimum stability and durability.
In terms of off-road category, the performance of BFG KO2 is fair. While the BFG KO2 also doesn’t allow sticks and stones to get stuck in its tread, it doesn’t meet up to the likes of the Falken Wildpeak AT3W and the General Grabber ATX.
On-road Performance
With proper traction, perfect handling, and rapid steering response, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W wins for this category. The reason is that these features are essential for the ideal on-road driving experience. Thanks to its high traction capabilities, brakes are even more efficient and efficient on highways.
Good acceleration is also a must-have to be the winner of this category, and the Falken Wildpeak AT3W doesn’t fail to deliver on that. This goes without saying that you should go for one that offers all these features when tire shopping.
It’s no longer new that all-terrain tires often sacrifice on-road performance to score top on off-road performance. However, with the Falken Wildpeak AT3W, this is the best you will get in terms of on-road performance between these three models.
Following closely for the best on-road tire is the BFG KO2. It features a compound that thrives on asphalt and reduces clunking by large. With an increment in traction, the BFG KO2 allows for efficient and effective braking on asphalt. However, the BFG KO2 has one major drawback: it is not good in the rain when its tread begins to wear out.
Compared to the other two models, the General Grabber ATX doesn’t quite meet the mark for the best runner-up tire for on-road driving. While it wouldn’t have any problems on asphalt, its strengths are better for off-road performance.
Snow & Ice performance
In terms of snow and ice performance category, the winner goes to BFG KO2. It features 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake, which means it has been certified for extreme snow. Also, thanks to its softer rubber compounds and locking 3-D Sipes sipes, driving on ice will be very satisfactory.
It wouldn’t be a fair comparison to stop here, would it?
The Falken Wildpeak AT3W is also branded with 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating. It boasts the most in-depth tread in the all-terrain Falken category. This makes the Falken have long and steady wear, perfect for both wet and snow driving.
The General Grabber ATX falls last in this category as its snow and ice driving features don’t compare to the two above. However, it is also suitable for wet conditions.
Noise Level
Noise isn’t exactly pleasing to the ears, and this is why you should consider buying less noisy tires. Thankfully, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W does this for you. Over the years, Falken has improved its noise reduction feature. Thanks to its Silent Core technology, you are guaranteed a noise-free ride.
The BFG KO2 follows closely again for this category thanks to its computer-optimized tread pattern. While it isn’t as quiet as the Falken Wildpeak AT3W, it offers you the next best thing in terms of noise canceling.
Considering the aggressive tread pattern of the General Grabber ATX, it surprisingly offers a reasonably quiet ride. It doesn’t cancel out noise entirely. However, it allows you to have conversations in your car without having to yell.
Comfort Level
Since most all-terrain tires primarily focus on off-road performance, the tires are designed roughly, resulting in a reduction in performance on asphalt. This is where the Falken Wildpeak AT3W shines as noise reduction and comfort go hand-in-hand. Thanks to its stability and noise-canceling, you will be happy with its comfort even on the roughest terrains.
For this category, the BFG KO2 and General Grabber ATX offer equal comfort, be it on-road or off-road. However, the BFG KO2 has its drawbacks as it sacrifices some comfort to give you that perfect off-road experience. The General Grabber ATX, on the other hand, features a robust two-ply polyester which gives it toughness and allows for a reasonably comfortable ride.
Treadwear Warranty
Tire Treadwear Warranty is one vital factor to consider when getting all-terrain tires. The more extended the warranty, the more durable the tire is.
The General Grabber ATX excels in this category, coming out as the winner with a treadwear warranty of 60,000 miles. With this tire, traveling long distances wouldn’t be an issue irrespective of the terrain.
Closely following the General Grabber ATX is the Falken Wildpeak AT3W with a treadwear warranty of 55,000 miles which is 5,000 miles less. Five thousand miles is a long distance to cover. However, it does the job done.
At last place, we have the BFG KO2 with a Treadwear Warranty of 50,000 miles. On its own, it’s a fair warranty, but when compared to the other two, it doesn’t meet up.
Price
The General Grabber ATX does just that at the starting cost of $124.99, taking the win for the most affordable model on this list. The price will be higher depending on the size.
It is closely followed by the Falken Wildpeak AT3W, which takes the price up a notch with $137 to $499. And then, the BFG KO2 starts from $190, which is the most expensive model on the list. Although these tires are a bit higher, their excellent quality is what you should pay attention to.
Our Final Recommendations
+ Best Budget / Best For Treadwear Warranty
+ Best Overall / Best For Off-road / On-road Performance
+ Best For Snow and Ice Performance
After a comprehensive review of these three tires, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W is the clear winner of all three tire models. So, if you are looking for a tire which is excellent in both off-road and on-road condition, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W is for you. Additionally, it also gives you great traction in snowy and icy conditions. All of these bring you a quiet and comfortable drive when you pick Falken Wildpeak AT3W.
However, this shouldn’t take away the relevance of the General Grabber ATX and the BFG KO2 as they are also rivals or, say, worthy contenders to the Falken Wildpeak AT3W.
If live an snowy area, we recommend you pick BFG KO2 for your vehicle. This tire will help you to drive through snow easily and smoothly.
If you are on a tight budget, then General Grabber ATX is for you. Also, this tire has the best tread warranty with 60,000 miles.
After all, it’s a matter of your choice!
Read more: KM3 vs. KO2 vs. STT Pro
Read more: Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S vs. Falken Wildpeak AT3W: Which Is Better?
