Why choose the General Tire® Grabber? Well, the General Tire® off-road range combines a proud heritage in the 4x4 segment with the latest cutting-edge technology to deliver true off-road capability, reliability and performance. The Grabber AT is already an established winner in the all-terrain segment, having dominated two recent tyre shootouts conducted by leading independent 4x4 magazines. I was tasked with putting the vehicles and the tyres to the test over some unforgiving terrain, which included mud and rocks.
When I arrived in East London I was greeted by fellow media scribes as well as the General Tyre team. We were handed the keys to brand-new Jeep Wranglers, the Rubicon models to be exact. They were bright yellow and were covered in all sorts of logos and decals. We wasted no time and headed out of the city to the Kei river mouth where we crossed the river on a slightly dodgy looking ferry. When we arrived on the other side we let down our tyre pressures, which is something not many people do, yet, it is one vital part of off-roading. The point of letting the tyre pressure down to about 1.6 bars is to increase the tyre’s footprint, which improves grip levels and can reduce the risk of a puncture over sharp rocks.
It was then that we were told that the path ahead of us was going to be tough, technical and potentially dangerous. I was excited to say the least and had full confidence in our equipment. What lay before us was a journey that follows a long-forgotten path, seemingly impassable terrain, traversing deep gorges, steep hills and grassy plains.
The Grabber AT provides the perfect mix of capability and performance. This all-terrain tyre is the result of years of development and testing in the most varied and toughest conditions, guaranteeing superb grip and handling, which we put to the test not long after we set off into the forest. The area had experienced heavy rain just before we arrived so much of the route was washed away and some areas were quite muddy.
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is fitted with both front and rear difflocks and its 3.6-litre, six-cylinder engine gives it the capability to go just about everywhere. We spent hours navigating the terrain, exploiting the benefits of both the Wranglers and the Grabber tyres. I was impressed with the tyres’ sidewall strength as we found ourselves having to drive over sharp rocks and outcrops. At one point I witnessed the tyre slide into a groove, which had a pointed rock sticking out of it. I was sure that we were going to lose a tyre as it needed to rub against the rock to get out, but it kept on going.
There were also numerous river crossings with steep rocky inclines on the other side along our path. Choosing the right line of travel is important here as you could damage the underbelly of the vehicle. Once again the Jeeps managed to soldier on even though the rocks were wet, smooth and slippery. The key here is to keep your momentum steady and listen. It’s also advised that you get someone to guide you as visibility can become an issue.
We spent two days at the Wild Coast and we visited areas that were just about untouched due to their accessibility. I witnessed some wales just off the coastline and even drove on a section of the beach. The journey was challenging but well worth it. There are stunning places along the coastline such as the Wavecrest seaside resort and Mazeppa Bay, which we visited.
This Wild Coast adventure was a mix of green hills adorned with traditional Xhosa mud huts; a land of windswept cliffs, deserted white beaches, emerald forests and a blue ocean. It is a journey that I would suggest to anyone looking to escape their busy lives, even if just for a moment, and having the right equipment to deal with this area, makes the journey just that much better.
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