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Last updated 4/14/2025 - Originally published 4/14/2025
Written by SimpleTire, Expertly reviewed by Brett Antosh
General Tire and Mickey Thompson are two popular tire manufacturers known for their diversified range of tires. While General Tire was established in 1915 in Akron, Ohio, Mickey Thompson debuted in 1963.
General Tire caters to sedans, coupes, minivans, SUVs, CUVs, light trucks, Jeeps, commercial vehicles, and racing cars and sells all-season, all-terrain, all-weather, winter, mud-terrain, UHP all-season, UHP summer, and highway tires. On the other hand, Mickey Thompson offers tires for use on passenger cars, light trucks, CUVs, SUVs, EVs, 4x4s, vintage muscle cars, and specialty competition vehicles. Its offered range includes all-season, all-terrain, mud-terrain, track competition, UHP summer, racing, and performance tire types.
In the mud-terrain tires category, both tire manufacturers have their two strong contenders, the General Grabber X3 and the Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ. These tires are suitable for use on SUVs, light trucks, and Jeeps, and are built and designed for extreme off-road performance in mud, sand, dirt, gravel, and rocks. They feature aggressive tread patterns and reinforced construction, which allows them to resist off-roading impacts and perform better in off-roading conditions.
But, which of the two tires should you consider for your vehicle? Let’s make this complicated task easy in this Grabber X3 vs Baja Legend MTZ tires comparison, where we compared the tires in areas like traction, durability, and longevity, using our tire rating system SimpleScore and provide you with a fairer analysis.
General Grabber X3 tires
Launched in September 2016, the General Grabber X3 is a reliable mud-terrain tire suitable for use on SUVs, Jeeps, and light trucks, and offers solid off-road traction and performance. Its tread is engineered for year-round performance in dry, wet, and light snow conditions, and has a strong and durable construction that allows it to withstand off-road driving pressures. The use of advanced technologies and features ensures less-noisy drives on paved roads. Additionally, the cosmetic appeal of the tire is enhanced by the attractive design and red and white sidewall lettering. Owing to the above features and abilities, the Grabber X3 achieves an 8.2 SimpleScore rating overall.
Get General Grabber X3 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here
Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires
The Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ is rated an 8.4 SimpleScore rating overall and is loaded with many great features for an enhanced off-roading experience. The tire can be used on light trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps and offers a confident off-road performance year-round. It also doesn’t disappoint you when you have to transition back from off-road to paved road conditions. The predictable steering response, confident stability, improved puncture resistance, longer service life, and low tread noise are a few of the strengths of this mud-terrain tire. Appearance-wise, the tire is attractive and looks bold to give your vehicle a muscular look.
Get Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires at the best deals for your vehicle here
General Grabber X3 vs Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires on traction
Analysis of traction is very important when it comes to buying a set of mud-terrain tires, as it lets you understand how capable the tire is in conditions like mud, sand, gravel, dirt, and rocks.
Starting with the Grabber X3, the tire is rated an 8.3 SimpleScore in traction and ensures dependable performance with great surface biting abilities. It features an aggressive tread compound for improved off-road traction, and the sharper tread blocks increase grip while driving on dry surfaces. The wider gaps between the tread blocks enhance the tire’s self-cleaning ability to prevent mud or debris from accumulating and reducing traction efficiency in rough conditions. Additionally, traction performance is further increased in wet conditions as the wider grooves boost water dispersion from the contact patch area.
On the contrary, the Baja Legend MTZ earns an equal 8.3 SimpleScore in traction, which means this tire is also capable enough to let you drive confidently in rugged and challenging off-road conditions. The variable length and depth four-pitch sidebiters of the Baja Legend MTZ improve off-road traction and grip, while the T4 Silica-reinforced compound is engineered for solid grip and traction on wet terrains and roads. Mickey Thompson has optimized this mud-terrain tire with an aggressive tread design and unique tread block arrangement for a commanding off-road experience.
In traction, both tires are equally good and can provide an impressive off-road performance with a strong hold of the surface in varied terrains.
ADVANTAGE: Tie
General Grabber X3 vs Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires on durability
Now, let’s talk about the durability of these tires and find out which of the two is great when it comes to crushing the off-roading terrains and withstanding the driving pressures and impacts.
First, let’s talk about the Grabber X3 that scores an impressive 8.4 SimpleScore in durability and indicates that the tire has the ability to resist off-roading impacts and pressures. All thanks to the race-proven durability and the advanced Duragen Technology, the Grabber X3 gets solid strength to resist impacts. Additionally, the robust inner construction and tough rubber compound make the tire sturdy for a consistent off-roading service.
Comparatively, the Baja Legend MTZ is rated an 8.3 rating in durability, which is marginally lower than the Grabber X3 but still on the great side and indicates that this tire is also good at resisting pressures and impacts in some of the most challenging environments. The advanced PowerPly 3-ply construction provides solid puncture resistance and the T4 Silica-Reinforced compound prevents from cuts and chips. Additionally, the strong inner construction and solid rubber compound also contribute to the tire’s increased durability factor.
While both tires are great on the durability front, it is the Grabber X3 that surpasses the Baja Legend MTZ and wins by a small margin.
ADVANTAGE: General Grabber X3
General Grabber X3 vs Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ tires on longevity
Let’s now talk about longevity and find out which of the two tires is long-lasting in the most rugged driving conditions.
Commencing with the Grabber X3, the tire scores an impressive 8.4 SimpleScore rating for its long-lasting service. It features the advanced Duragen Technology that controls the wear rate, and the wider, flat footprint with solid tread blocks also contributes to slowing down the wear rate. Likewise, the rubber compound of the Grabber X3 is optimized for longer wear, and the sidewalls offer solid strength to hold the tire’s shape and prevent uneven wear.
On the other hand, the Baja Legend MTZ achieves an 8.6 SimpleScore rating and confirms that the tire is slightly better in resisting wear rate. The use of T4 silica-reinforced rubber compound offers great strength to provide a lasting service, and the contact patch is optimized to bring a larger area in contact with the surface and offer even wear. Likewise, the manufacturer has scaled the durability of the tread blocks to absorb off-roading impacts and pressures for an extended service.
Here, in the longevity, we see a change, and it is the Baja Legend MTZ that excels with a higher rating and a better service life.
ADVANTAGE: Mickey Thompson Baja Legend MTZ
When to use each
Both the Grabber X3 and the Baja Legend MTZ are mud-terrain tires made for off-roading in conditions like mud, sand, gravel, dirt, and rocks. However, they both are claimed to offer satisfying performance on paved roads and have an all-season rubber compound for increased traction and performance year-round, in dry, wet, and light snow conditions. But, it is to be noted that none of these tires is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, so you can avoid using them in moderate to severe winter conditions when the temperature is typically below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Coming to the sizes, both the Grabber X3 and the Baja Legend MTZ are available in 15- to 20-inch rims.
Which one should you choose?
Based on the overall SimpleScore, the Baja Legend MTZ is a better tire than the Grabber X3 (8.4 vs 8.2). However, they both have their own strengths, and you should buy the tire that better aligns with your driving style and needs.
Now, let’s talk about the prices of both tires. The Grabber X3 is offered at an initial price of at least $283 per tire, whereas the Baja Legend MTZ is available at a starting price of at least $238 per tire. This means, a set of four Grabber tires will cost you at least $1132, while a set of four Baja Legend MTZ tires will cost you at least $952.
Looking at SimpleScore, you should prefer the Grabber X3 if you:
- Drive a vehicle like the Ford F-150 or Dodge Ram 2500.
- Need a tire that’s equally good in traction (8.3 vs 8.3).
- Need a tire that’s slightly better in durability (8.4 vs 8.3).
- Are comfortable paying more to buy a set of dependable mud-terrain tires.
On the other hand, you should pick the Baja Legend MTZ if you:
- Drive a vehicle like the Jeep Wrangler or the Ford F-150.
- Need a tire that’s better in longevity (8.2 vs 8.1).
- Want a tire that’s equally good in traction (8.3 vs 8.3).
- Want more affordable and overall better mud-terrain tire.
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.