Ford has turned to the original American conquerors of the Wild West to help its new Wildtrak X model conquer the New Zealand market.
The new off-road focused edition of the Ranger is using the might and bite of General Grabber AT3 tyres to help it tackle the terrain in New Zealand. General Tire has been around for over 100 years, and in the early years their tyres were famous for blazing tracks on heavy trucks as they opened up the fledgling roading network in the United States. Here in NZ, they’re not as well known. That looks set to change.
General offers a range of 4X4 and SUV tyres, from the Grabber X3 which provides extreme performance in all kinds of off-road terrains to the Grabber HT6 which is a refined SUV tyre designed for good highway grip and long mileage. For those drivers who want to conquer the tarseal as well as the backcountry, there’s the all-terrain Grabber AT3.
The AT3 retains the ‘frontier spirit’ of its American stablemates and has been designed for the modern explorer. This makes it a perfect match for the Wildtrak X, which benefits from the ‘Counterbalance Technology’ of the Grabber to enhance the highway experience further. A uniform block geometry is paired with low stiffness variation to smooth out the road and reduce vibrations. The big tyre is assured, relaxed and remarkably quiet.
Yet the main appeal of the Wildtrak X is undoubtedly its enhanced off-road capability. The suspension is new, the track is 30mm wider, and there’s an additional 26mm of ground clearance. The AT3 has aggressive gripping edges with multi-angled sipes and traction ribs. Their performance in loose terrain for confident grip in gravel is impressive. As is their performance in rugged terrain, where their cut-and-chip resistant compound works to resist tread damage.
Driving the Wildtrak from smooth tarmac and onto loose gravel is one thing. Getting tread deep in mud is another. This is why Ford decided to spec its flagship model with the Grabber AT3. This is an all-terrain tyre that lives up to its name. General Tire has a reputation in the US for making rugged frontier explorer tyres. The company uses the line “Anywhere is Possible” – and its tyres live up to that promise.
