Firestone Transforce HT3 vs General Grabber HD Van tires

When it comes to outfitting a hardworking fleet, choosing between a heavy-duty truck specialist and a dedicated commercial van tire can make all the difference in operational uptime. Firestone and General are two great tire manufacturers that have been around for over a century and offer a large portfolio of tires in their kitty. The Transforce HT3 from Firestone and the Grabber HD Van from General are two reliable highway tires promising consistent year-round performance.

The Firestone Transforce HT3 and the General Grabber HD Van represent two of the most robust highway all-season options on the market, each engineered to withstand the punishing cycles of high torque hauling and constant loading. While both tires offer enhanced durability and year-round reliability, they approach the "heavy-duty" challenge from different angles, catering to the unique demands of modern logistics and service industries.

The Transforce HT3, launched in late 2024 with Firestone’s advanced ENLITEN technology, is a powerhouse designed strictly for LT-sized rim diameters between 16 and 20 inches. It focuses on a refined, high-speed highway experience and exceptional wet traction for heavy-duty pickups. Conversely, the General Grabber HD Van is a specialized commercial workhorse featuring Duragen Technology and a "Sidewall Curb Guard," making it the go-to choice for last-mile delivery vans that frequently navigate tight city streets and abrasive curbs.

So, which one should be ideal for your work? Let’s compare the traction, handling, and longevity traits of these tires based on their SimpleScores to know which one is better suited for your needs.

Firestone Transforce HT3 tires

Launched in October 2024, the Firestone Transforce HT3 is a powerhouse engineered for heavy-duty commercial fleets. Available in LT sizes with a 10-ply rating, this tire utilizes a wear-resistant compound and Bridgestone’s advanced ENLITEN technology to manage the rigors of fully loaded hauling while maintaining great composure during turns and lane changes.

The Transforce HT3’s robust tread pattern features longitudinal and interlocking 3D sipes that enhance stiffness and prevent irregular wear, promoting a long service life. For wet-weather confidence, high see-through voids and open shoulder slots quickly evacuate water to provide reliable traction. Furthermore, an innovative off-shoulder sidewall design reduces road harmonics, providing a quieter ride that minimizes driver fatigue.

With an 8.3 overall SimpleScore, the Transforce HT3 offers a durable, secure solution for demanding professional tasks.

Get Firestone Transforce HT3 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

General Grabber HD Van tires

The General Grabber HD Van is a commercial-grade workhorse engineered specifically for the demanding needs of delivery fleets, route vans, and service trucks. Built with General’s proprietary Duragen Technology, this tire features a reinforced casing and a robust, cut-and-chip-resistant tread compound that thrives under heavy loads. Its specialized Sidewall Curb Guard provides a critical layer of protection against abrasive curb rash and punctures common in last-mile logistics.

For year-round reliability, the Grabber HD Van utilizes four deep circumferential grooves and a network of sipes to maintain consistent traction in wet and light snow conditions. The reinforced bead design further enhances stability and load capacity, ensuring your fleet stays operational day after day. Durable, dependable, and ruggedly constructed, it is the ideal choice for professionals who need their tires to work as hard as they do.

Securing 8.2 in its overall SimpleScore, the General Grabber HD Van emerges as a prominent option for your commercial vehicle.

Get General Grabber HD Van tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Firestone Transforce HT3 vs General Grabber HD Van tires on traction

Even commercial vehicles require great grip and traction, thanks to the heavy loads they carry between locations. The Transforce HT3 and Grabber HD Van return reliable grip and traction year-round on different surfaces, including dry, wet, and light snow. Let’s do their traction analysis to know more.

Scoring an 8.3 in traction, the Firestone Transforce HT3 is engineered for year-round grip, utilizing deep circumferential grooves and see-through voids to prevent hydroplaning by quickly removing water. Its advanced all-season rubber compound and zigzag siping provide the critical biting edges needed for grip on wet pavement and light snow. Designed with Bridgestone’s ENLITEN technology, it ensures surefooted performance and consistent road contact, even when the vehicle is operating under the stress of heavy loads.

Achieving an 8.3 traction score, the General Grabber HD Van features an advanced all-season rubber compound that delivers great performance on wet and dry pavement. Its symmetric three-rib design includes four deep circumferential grooves that effectively evacuate water to resist hydroplaning. Additionally, hundreds of strategically placed sipes and independent tread blocks provide the biting edges necessary for confident braking and steady traction in light snow and slushy conditions.

Both heavy-duty highway tires are neck and neck in traction performance and end up leveling the scores.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

Firestone Transforce HT3 vs General Grabber HD Van tires on handling

Handling and control become all the more important when there’s a heavy load on your back. Ideal commercial tires offer accurate steering response and control on highways; the Firestone and General tires also offer solid handling, but one of the tires proves to be way better than the other. Let’s check their scores.

Built for stability, the Transforce HT3 features a robust internal construction with twin steel belts and a reinforcing nylon cap ply for high-speed control. With an 8.6 handling score, its solid center rib and sturdy shoulder blocks enhance steering responsiveness and lateral stability, providing a confident, predictable feel during highway cruises or towing. This heavy-duty design maintains the tire's shape under pressure, ensuring that commercial drivers experience precise maneuvering and reduced sway while hauling equipment or navigating regional routes.

On the other hand, the General tire scores an 8.3 in handling and assures great control, stability, and steering response in dry, wet, and light wintry conditions. Grabber HD Van’s rigid outer shoulder blocks ensure stable handling even when the vehicle is fully loaded. The reinforced internal structure, including ultra-high-strength steel belts and a two-ply casing, prevents deformation under severe stress. Paired with a broad, flat footprint, it delivers responsive steering and predictable directional control.

With a superb handling score, the Firestone Transforce HT3 proves to be a go-getter for someone looking for crisp handling, stability, and control on dry, wet, and light snowy surfaces.

ADVANTAGE: Firestone Transforce HT3

Firestone Transforce HT3 vs General Grabber HD Van tires on longevity

Due to the demanding applications, commercial all-season tires do not last long. The Firestone and General tires offer adequate durability and tread life in challenging conditions.

With an 8.0 in longevity, the Firestone Transforce HT3 uses a chip- and tear-resistant rubber compound to defend against the rigors of the job site. The tread is reinforced with interlocking 3D sipes that increase stiffness and promote uniform wear, effectively fighting irregular wear patterns even when fully loaded. While it does not carry a traditional mileage warranty, its durable sidewall construction and optimized footprint are specifically built to maximize service life and improve fleet efficiency.

Securing an 8.0 in longevity, the Grabber HD Van features Duragen Technology that provides a cut- and chip-resistant tread formulation. This robust compound is paired with a "Sidewall Curb Guard" that shields the tire from abrasive curb damage. The StabiliTREAD technology ensures even footprint pressure to promote uniform wear across the tire's life, while the heat-dissipating bead construction protects the tire's integrity during long hauls and frequent braking.

Both tires are an equal match and offer similar tread life and durability, tying up the longevity tussle.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

When to use each

All-season tires are designed to offer great grip, control, traction, braking, handling, and longevity throughout the year, including dry, wet, and light snow. Their all-season rubber compound ensures the tire wears evenly and delivers a prolonged service life.

While the Firestone Transforce HT3 is tailored more towards SUV and pickup truck attributes on paved roads, the General Grabber HD Van is an ideal fit for a commercial van, as it comes with a heavy-duty rubber compound. If someone prefers a more car-like approach with similar handling, the Firestone is a decent choice, while for others, the General tire should be a good commercial tire.

Which one should you choose?

To sum up, the Firestone Transforce HT3 proves to be a better tire than the General Grabber HD Van as it beats the latter in handling while matching the scores in traction and longevity. However, each tire has its unique attributes, which should be considered before you pick one. Finally, let’s understand its pricing to know which one makes for a real deal.

Comparing the prices, the Firestone Transforce HT3 starts at around $158 per tire, and four such tires cost $632, while the General Grabber HD Van costs around $136 per tire, and four such tires cost $544 (a difference of $88).

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Firestone Transforce HT3 if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Ford F-150, Dodge Ram 2500, and Nissan Titan
• Want better handling (8.6 vs 8.3)
• Prefer a more car-like dynamics

You can opt for the General Grabber HD Van if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Ford Transit, Honda Odyssey, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
• Want solid grip and traction
• Prefer tires with a commercial-grade rubber compound for bearing heavy loads

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.