# General Grabber A/TX vs BFGoodrich KO2 on a Tacoma

Grabber A/TX vs BFGoodrich KO2 on a Tacoma: five axes tie including snow, wet, comfort and mud. The KO2 wins trail, durability, tread life and looks by a point; the General wins value from the same budget tier.

## Canonical URL
https://tacotires.com/guides/general-grabber-atx-vs-bfg-ko2-tacoma

## Short Answer
The General Grabber A/TX is the closest thing to a cheaper KO2 in this dataset: five axes tie outright, including snow, wet, road comfort, mud, and efficiency. The BFGoodrich KO2 wins trail, durability, tread life, and looks by a point each for a blended 7.9 against 7.6; the General wins value from the same budget tier.

## Grabber A/TX vs KO2: how close is the cheaper option?
The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is the tire most Tacoma all-terrain shopping starts with - fourth of eighteen all-terrains in this dataset and sixth of fifty overall. The General Grabber A/TX is the model people most often ask about as a way of not paying for it, eighth of eighteen and twelfth overall. Both are severe-snow rated, both sit in the same medium budget tier, both come in nine of the same Tacoma sizes, and half the score matrix comes out level. This is the substitution question in its purest form: what exactly does the extra money buy?

| Score axis (0-10) | General Grabber A/TX | BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Road comfort | 7 | 7 | Tie |
| Wet grip | 7 | 7 | Tie |
| Snow | 8 | 8 | Tie |
| Trail | 8 | 9 | KO2 by 1 |
| Mud | 6 | 6 | Tie |
| Durability | 8 | 9 | KO2 by 1 |
| Tread life | 7 | 8 | KO2 by 1 |
| Efficiency | 5 | 5 | Tie |
| Looks | 7 | 8 | KO2 by 1 |
| Value | 8 | 7 | General by 1 |
| Blended score | 7.6 | 7.9 | KO2 by 0.3 |

*Both all-terrains on the ten scored axes from the Tacoma tire research dataset, higher being better. Five rows tie. The blended figure averages seven of the ten axes and excludes mud, looks, and efficiency.*

> **How to read a one-point gap:** These axes are an editorial synthesis of published manufacturer specifications, tire-industry write-ups, retailer fitment data, and Tacoma-owner reports across the 83 documents this dataset cites. Taco Tires does not test tires, so one point signals which way the published record leans, not a measured difference. Four one-point gaps in the same direction is a stronger signal than any one of them alone. See How we score tires on the about page.

- [How we score tires](https://tacotires.com/about#how-we-score)

## The five axes that tie
Road comfort 7, wet grip 7, snow 8, mud 6, efficiency 5 - identical. Those five cover a Tacoma's normal week completely. Both tires carry the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake severe-snow rating and score the same 8 on snow, so both are accepted where winter tires are legally required and neither has a winter advantage. Both are heavy enough to sit at a 5 for efficiency, and both are noticeably louder than a mild all-terrain at a 7 for comfort.

That is the finding most people are actually looking for when they ask whether the General is a real alternative. On rain, on snow, on noise, on fuel, and on mud, our synthesis cannot separate them. The extra money the KO2 costs is not buying any of those - it is buying four specific things, and whether they are worth it depends entirely on how you use the truck.

## Where the BFGoodrich KO2 wins
Trail 9 against 8 and durability 9 against 8 are the two that matter, and they are the same two the KO2 built its reputation on. A 9 on durability is the top mark any all-terrain in this dataset reaches, shared only with its KO3 successor, and it describes the reinforced sidewall and cut-resistant shoulder that made the tire an overlanding default. If your Tacoma airs down over sharp rock, drags sidewalls on ledges, or runs shale-strewn forest roads, that is a real and specific advantage.

- Trail 9 and durability 9: the highest off-road marks in the all-terrain group, and the KO2's core argument.
- Tread life 8 against 7: a point of extra mileage, which partly repays the price difference over the life of the set.
- Looks 8 against 7: the KO2's sidewall is the more recognisable of the two under a Tacoma.
- Its dataset tag for proven Tacoma fitment is worth something practical - it is one of the most widely documented tires on this truck.

There is one caution attached to the KO2 that has nothing to do with the General. The dataset flags it for buyers who want the latest successor, because BFGoodrich has replaced it with the KO3, which scores a point higher on both wet grip and snow. If you are paying a premium for the BFGoodrich name and construction, it is worth checking whether the KO3 is available in your size at a similar price before settling on the older tire.

## Where the General Grabber A/TX wins
Value 8 against 7 is the General's only scored win, and the important detail is that both tires sit in the same medium budget tier. That means the value edge is not the dataset saying the General is cheap - it is the dataset saying the General delivers more per dollar within the same price band. Its own tags are snow, value, trail, and durability, which is a fair summary of a tire that scores 8 on three of those four.

Look at what the General gives up in exchange: one point of trail, one of durability, one of tread life, one of appearance. For a Tacoma that drives dirt and gravel roads, tows a trailer, and sees the occasional rutted trail, none of those four is likely to be the difference between getting somewhere and not. The two axes where a shortfall would actually strand you - snow at 8 and mud at 6 - are tied.

> **The gap widens exactly where you air down:** Trail and durability are the axes that separate these two, and they are the axes that matter when tire pressure is low and the rocks are sharp. A Tacoma that stays on graded surfaces will likely never find the difference. A Tacoma that spends weekends on rock will find it in one trip. Be honest about which truck you own before deciding the extra point is not worth paying for.

## Tacoma sizes: nine shared, one each
Nine sizes appear on both lists, across 16, 17, and 18 inch wheels: 265/75R16, 285/75R16, 265/70R17, 275/70R17, 285/70R17, 255/80R17, 315/70R17, 265/70R18, and 275/70R18. That includes the standard Tacoma 33-inch metric fitment and the narrow-33 alternative, so almost any build can be specified in either tire.

- [265/70R17](https://tacotires.com/tacoma/tire-size/265-70r17)
- [285/70R17](https://tacotires.com/tacoma/tire-size/285-70r17)
- [255/80R17](https://tacotires.com/tacoma/tire-size/255-80r17)
- [275/70R17](https://tacotires.com/tacoma/tire-size/275-70r17)
- [285/75R16](https://tacotires.com/tacoma/tire-size/285-75r16)
- [275/70R18](https://tacotires.com/tacoma/tire-size/275-70r18)

One exclusive each. The General adds 285/70R18, a 33-inch fitment for 18-inch wheels - which is a meaningful gap in the KO2's catalog if your Tacoma came on 18s and you would rather not buy new wheels. The KO2 adds 285/75R17, the taller 34-inch 17-inch size. Both are worth checking against your generation and lift before you let the score matrix decide.

> **Both give up quiet, and both give up weight:** The General's dataset cautions are quietest highway and lowest weight, and its scores of 7 for comfort and 5 for efficiency say the same thing about the KO2. These are heavy LT-construction all-terrains. Match or exceed the factory load index to keep the truck's rated payload, and set inflation from a load table rather than the door placard.

## The verdict for a Tacoma
A 0.3 blended gap between two same-tier tires that tie on five axes is a narrow win, and the honest reading is that the General Grabber A/TX is a legitimate substitute for the KO2 rather than a compromise. The premium buys trail bite, casing toughness, a point of mileage, and a more recognisable sidewall. If those four matter to your truck, pay it. If they do not, the General delivers the same snow, wet, comfort, mud, and efficiency for less.

- Buy the BFGoodrich KO2 if you air down over rock, if maximum sidewall toughness is the point, or if you want the longest-documented Tacoma fitment record of the two.
- Buy the General Grabber A/TX if your off-road use is dirt, gravel, and moderate trail - value 8 from the same budget tier, with snow, wet, comfort, mud, and efficiency all tied.
- Buy the Grabber A/TX also if your Tacoma runs 18-inch wheels and you want a 33: 285/70R18 is on its list and not on the KO2's.
- Before buying a KO2 at full price, check the KO3 - the successor scores a point higher on both wet grip and snow, and the dataset flags the KO2 for buyers who want the latest version.

## FAQ
### Is the General Grabber A/TX a good KO2 alternative?
It is the closest one in this dataset. Five of the ten axes tie exactly - road comfort 7, wet grip 7, snow 8, mud 6, and efficiency 5 - and both tires sit in the same medium budget tier. The KO2 wins trail, durability, tread life, and looks by a point each, and the General wins value by a point. A blended 7.9 against 7.6 is a narrow gap for two tires that are usually discussed as though they are in different classes.

### Is the KO2 tougher than the Grabber A/TX?
Yes, by a point: durability 9 against 8, with trail also 9 against 8. A 9 on durability is the highest any all-terrain in this dataset reaches and it is shared only with the KO3. That reflects the KO2's reinforced sidewall construction. Whether one point is worth the price difference depends on whether your Tacoma actually meets the sharp rock and low-pressure conditions where sidewall strength is tested.

### Do both tires have the same snow rating?
Yes. Both the Grabber A/TX and the KO2 carry the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake severe-snow rating and both score 8 on our snow axis, so neither has a winter advantage and both are accepted where severe-snow tires are legally required. Note that the KO3 successor scores 9 on the same axis, so if winter is your priority the newer BFGoodrich is the stronger choice than either tire here.

### Which sizes fit a Tacoma in both tires?
Nine sizes overlap: 265/75R16, 285/75R16, 265/70R17, 275/70R17, 285/70R17, 255/80R17, 315/70R17, 265/70R18, and 275/70R18. Beyond that the General adds 285/70R18 and the KO2 adds 285/75R17. If your Tacoma is on 18-inch wheels and you want a 33-inch tire, the General's 285/70R18 is the deciding difference.

### Should I just buy the KO3 instead?
It is worth pricing. The KO3 matches the KO2 on trail, mud, durability, tread life, and looks while scoring a point higher on wet grip and snow, and the dataset's caution on the KO2 is specifically for buyers who want the current model. The counter-argument is closeout pricing: as the KO2 is phased out, discounted sets can land close to the General's price, which changes the value calculation on this page.

## Related
- [Cost per mile calculator](https://tacotires.com/tire-cost-per-mile-calculator)
- [Find my tire size](https://tacotires.com/find-my-tire-size)
- [Tire weight calculator](https://tacotires.com/tire-weight-calculator)
- [General Grabber A/TX review](https://tacotires.com/tires/general-grabber-a-tx)
- [BFGoodrich KO2 review](https://tacotires.com/tires/bfgoodrich-all-terrain-t-a-ko2)
- [Best all-terrain tires for a Tacoma](https://tacotires.com/guides/best-all-terrain-tires-for-tacoma)
- [Falken Wildpeak vs BFG KO2/KO3](https://tacotires.com/guides/falken-wildpeak-vs-bfg-ko2-ko3-tacoma)
- [Load range E vs SL on a Tacoma](https://tacotires.com/guides/tacoma-load-range-e-vs-sl)

## Sources
- [General Grabber A/TX product page (generaltire.com)](https://generaltire.com/tires/light-trucksuv/grabber-atx)
- [BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 product page (bfgoodrichtires.com)](https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/auto/tires/all-terrain-t-a-ko2)
- [BFGoodrich Tacoma tire finder (bfgoodrichtires.com)](https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/auto/by-vehicle/2017/toyota/tacoma)
- [TrailTacoma: all-terrain vs mud-terrain guidance](https://trailtacoma.com/2024-tacoma/all-terrain-vs-mud-terrain-tires-what-you-should-know/)
- [TrailTacoma: choosing tires for a Toyota Tacoma](https://trailtacoma.com/maintenance/choosing-tires-for-toyota-tacoma/)
- Provenance note: the dataset cites five documents behind the KO2 row and two behind the Grabber A/TX row — the General's score carries thinner sourcing
- Neither the Grabber A/TX nor the KO2 was driven, mounted, or measured by Taco Tires; every axis on this page synthesises the cited published record for that model