Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
General Grabber review. 215/65/16
Page: 1, 2  Next
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
markmc90
Samba Member


Joined: June 13, 2007
Posts: 295
Location: Portland, OR
markmc90 is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 5:17 pm    Post subject: General Grabber review. 215/65/16 Reply with quote

In the last week I drove from Portland to Lake Tahoe, up to Bend OR and back to Portland. This is in my syncro with 4 adults, 2 kids and a lot of stuff. In Tahoe I got a flat tire, from a baseball sized rock that tore right threw the tread of my old tires. About a 4" gash. Those tires were a Toyo winter tire not rated for the van and came with my Merc wheels. I thought I was getting away with the lower weight rating until this.
The next day we were heading through Reno, which happens to be the main distribution center for Tirerack.com so I picked up a set of General Grabber AT 2's. Size 215/65/16. I almost went with the Yokohama Geolander ATS but the Grabbers looked so much cooler. I was afraid they might be loud though. It is amazing how quiet they really are. I dont think I took into account how loud my old tires were. I couldnt be happier with them. It did decrease power though. At sea level I think it's ok but up at 5k or 6k ft it really does slow you down.
The other snafu was not having a full sized spare when I got the flat. I use an origonal alloy with a 195\14 tire. So with the family having a picnic on the side of the road I got to pull out the front driveline. Not horrible but a pain in the ass when you have people with you.

Bottom line. I couldnt be happier with the tires. They handle good and are very quiet.
_________________
87 Syncro
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
IrideWheelies
Samba Member


Joined: July 09, 2009
Posts: 386
Location: Olympia, WA
IrideWheelies is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 6:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the review!

I've been looking at that same tire but in the 215/70/16 size to fit my tire rack 16" steelies.

I wanted to go with the BFG because I've had such good luck with my 14" ones but they are so much more expensive than the Grabbers!

Let us know how they do off road and in the snow!
_________________
89' Dove Blue Syncro Hightop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
WestyBob
Samba Member


Joined: June 11, 2004
Posts: 2346
Location: Portland, Oregon
WestyBob is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 6:25 pm    Post subject: Re: General Grabber review. 215/65/16 Reply with quote

That's for the review, Mark. Keep us updated.

Sounds like you're having a good summer aside from flats. Wink

Bob
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
markmc90
Samba Member


Joined: June 13, 2007
Posts: 295
Location: Portland, OR
markmc90 is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 6:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm racking up the miles this summer. Bob I cant remember if you have these tires or the BFG's. You seem to be happy with them though.
_________________
87 Syncro
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
WestyBob
Samba Member


Joined: June 11, 2004
Posts: 2346
Location: Portland, Oregon
WestyBob is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've got the 15" BFG's. Some day I'd like to try the Grabbers.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Masta Shake
Samba Member


Joined: October 29, 2010
Posts: 198
Location: San Diego, CA
Masta Shake is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just put some of these in the 215/70/16 size on my Syncro Camper today. I'll let know know how they work out.
_________________
As a good friend told me when I got the Syncro: "Welcome to the an intense love/hate relationship".
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
jkidd152
Samba Member


Joined: June 09, 2009
Posts: 408
Location: Portland, OR
jkidd152 is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I also have the 215/65/16 Grabbers and couldn't be happier. I would definitely buy this tire again.
_________________
'85 Syncro Westy Wink
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
msewalson
Samba Member


Joined: September 14, 2009
Posts: 544
Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
msewalson is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Perfect timing.

I couldn't decide between the BFG's or Grabbers for my 87 Syncro. I currently have the BFG's on my Ford Ranger and couldn't be happier. But those bad boys are pricey, $130.00 a tire at tire rack. The Grabbers on the other hand are a little cheaper $97.00 but also have a slightly lower load rating as well. But after reading this review I think my mind is made up and I'll try the Grabbers.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Type2meister
Samba Member


Joined: July 19, 2002
Posts: 341
Location: Campbell River, BC
Type2meister is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

any chance you could toss up a pic of these puppies? Laughing
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
BushChicken
Samba Member


Joined: March 11, 2010
Posts: 250
Location: California
BushChicken is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 9:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Type2meister wrote:
any chance you could toss up a pic of these puppies? Laughing


Check Tire Rack.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
psych-illogical
Samba Member


Joined: October 14, 2004
Posts: 1181
Location: AZ
psych-illogical is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Same tire different size. I just bought a set of the Grabbers last week in the 27x8.50x14 size. Not many miles yet but so far I like 'em. Not any noisier than the Michelin Hydroedge I had on there and they feel plenty firm, even w/ the relatively tall sidewall.
_________________
83 1/2 Westy waterboxer
'57 Beetle-sold Sad
Coupla '81 BMW motorcycles (R80G/S; R100RS)
'96 BMW R1100GS
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
offroad.
Samba Member


Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 211
Location: llanelli, s wales
offroad. is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

did a huge amount of research before i bought my tyres for the syncro. grabber at2`s do everything a bfg does for a fair bit less. if you want mt`s that are on road freindly you cant beat khumo kl71`s although there not as friendly on road as the 255/65/16 grabbers i run every day.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
climberjohn
Samba Member


Joined: January 11, 2005
Posts: 1840
Location: Portland Orygun
climberjohn is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Type2meister wrote:
any chance you could toss up a pic of these puppies? Laughing


Tech Tip:

Go to Google.
Type most anything you want to see in the search box.
Click Images.

You will see LOTS of what you want.

Link: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=general+grabber

xo,
CJ
_________________
'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
an86carrera
Samba Member


Joined: May 09, 2007
Posts: 293
Location: Bradenton, FL
an86carrera is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 4:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I bought a set of 215/65/16 this summer and have about 5000 miles on them. Steering is very light now (no power on my van) they are extremely quiet for a rugged tread design. I can not speak to the snow driving properties but seem surefooted in the rain.

Pic
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Len
Current Vehicles
'84 Westy '95 2.2 Subaru
'08 Dodge 2500 diesel
'75 914
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Cbarney10
Samba Member


Joined: February 15, 2015
Posts: 12
Location: Venice, CA
Cbarney10 is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 1:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

anybody experience rubbing / acceleration issues with 215/65/16 on a stock '86 2wd?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Jon_slider
Samba Member


Joined: April 11, 2007
Posts: 5091
Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
Jon_slider is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 8:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cbarney10 wrote:
anybody experience rubbing / acceleration issues with 215/65/16 on a stock '86 2wd?


imo the General Grabber AT2 in that size is NOT a good choice for a vanagon because it is Neither C rated, nor is it a Reinforced (XL) Passenger tire. It is just a plain Standard Load (SL) Passenger tire.

A better choice in terms of load rating is the new BFG AT Ko 215x65x16. You can look up the specs on Tirerack.com

I suggest you also read the tire thread
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=584507

hopefully you will get other replies.

what motor, what kind of van, and what tires do you currently have?

215x65x16 is a 27" diameter tire. 7% larger than stock. Yes you will experience acceleration issues. (edit per Mark below) with ET above stock 30 and width above stock 6.5", they will rub the UCA but not the fenders.

Why do you think you want that tire size? Are you hoping it will improve handling?

I suggest you study the links in my signature, then PM me with any questions.
_________________
My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco


Last edited by Jon_slider on Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:44 am; edited 2 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
crazyvwvanman
Samba Member


Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9895
Location: Orbiting San Diego
crazyvwvanman is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have 215/65R16 XL tires on 2 of my 2wd vans. They don't rub on bumps at all, whatever the steering angle. ET37, 7x16 , slight clearancing of the upper control arm edge needed due to occasional tire contact.

Mark
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
crazyvwvanman
Samba Member


Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9895
Location: Orbiting San Diego
crazyvwvanman is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 12:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Any time you increase the overall tire diameter you will suffer performance penalties. How significant the penalties are is subjective and may not matter to you. Compare your current size to the new size and see how it stacks up. For example:

185R14C is about 815 revs/mile

215/65R16 is about 770 revs/mile

45/815 = less than 6% gearing change

My 215/65R16 XL tires are on 2wd with stock 2.1 and stock trans. One is a Westy, one a hardtop. I can feel the slight performance hit but don't mind it.


Cbarney10 wrote:
anybody experience ...acceleration issues with 215/65/16 on a stock '86 2wd?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Cbarney10
Samba Member


Joined: February 15, 2015
Posts: 12
Location: Venice, CA
Cbarney10 is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 3:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thanks ya'll

i'm headed over to Nokian WRCs just trying to decide between 205/65/15 and 205/70/15s

Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
ALIKA T3
Samba Member


Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 6315
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
ALIKA T3 is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 11:43 pm    Post subject: Re: General Grabber review. 215/65/16 Reply with quote

A customer just bought these tires, so I decided to compare them with my BFG AT KO.

Almost the same!!


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.