General Grabber Arctic LT vs Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw

With an impressive background in delivering winter tires, General and Cooper are two of the most economic and driver friendly tire manufacturers.

They both are known for their innovative approach towards ensuring that all the customer’s needs are met and are exceeded as well. The same is visible in their tire range of the General Grabber Arctic LT and the Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw. Both of these tires are meant for use on SUVs and light trucks and are built to perform in the worst ice, slush, and snow. While both tires offer great performance, one has to be better than the other, right? Let’s compare General Grabber Arctic LT vs Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw tires using SimpleScore to show where each tire excels and which one might be right for you.

General Grabber Arctic LT tires

Introduced back in 2016, the General Grabber Arctic LT is a studdable winter tire that's designed to give light trucks strong traction in snow, ice, and wet conditions. This tire comes with a symmetrical winter tread for increased traction and durability and is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified. Additionally, the Grabber Arctic LT’s tough rubber compound keeps the tire flexible in sub-freezing temperatures and aids in increasing strength and durability for a higher load carrying capacity. The Grabber Arctic LT can be pinned 12 mm (TSMI #13) studs for extra traction and grip in severe winter weather conditions.

On average, the Grabber Arctic LT offers a great SimpleScore of 8.8 thanks to its solid durability, longevity, and traction.

Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw tires

The Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw is also a winter tire that’s designed to be used on light trucks and SUVs and offers drivers shorter stopping distances on icy and snowy roads.

The Discoverer Snow Claw is built with a special tread design that enhances grip for shorter stopping distances on icy and snowy roads and the special winter tread compound helps the tire to remain flexible at lower temperatures. Additionally, this tire can be pinned with 11mm (TSMI #12) studs to strengthen traction and grip on icy or snowy roads. The Discoverer Snow Claw has been tested to ensure performance in the toughest winter conditions.

On average, the Discoverer Snow Claw shows a great SimpleScore of 8.6 thanks to its durability, longevity, and traction.

General Grabber Arctic LT vs Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw tires on traction

Winter weather makes it hard for normal all-season tires to perform to their best. With ice, slush, snow, and colder temperatures maintaining a grip on the road becomes the most significant feature to look for in a tire. Fortunately, winter tires are engineered to perform in these conditions to help prevent drivers from losing traction.

While comparing both the tires on the basis of traction you will find that a score of 9.9 out of 10 in traction, the Grabber Arctic LT’s zigzag center groove and straight outer grooves promote self-cleaning which reduces the risk of hydroplaning on wet and slippery roads. Additionally, the winter tread design and innovative grooves pack snow into the tire for snow on snow contact, which actually further increases traction. You get enhanced traction as this tire can be pinned with 12 mm (TSMI #13) studs for extra traction and grip in severe winter weather conditions. Finally, with multiple sipes the Grabber Arctic LT expands and “bite” into the road to deliver increased grip.

The Discoverer Snow Claw, on the other hand, has a score of 9 out of 10 in traction. This is thanks to a special design that enhances grip for shorter stopping distances on icy and snowy roads. Built with a special winter tread compound that helps the tire to remain flexible at lower temperatures. You get enhanced traction as this tire can be pinned with 11 mm (TSMI #12) studs for extra traction and grip in severe winter weather conditions.

When it comes to winter weather traction, the Grabber Arctic LT has a solid edge over the Discoverer Snow Claw.

ADVANTAGE: Grabber Arctic LT

General Grabber Arctic LT vs Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw tires on durability

Light trucks and SUVs often carry heavier loads, and that doesn’t stop in winter weather. Fortunately, General and Cooper found ways to offer strong durability in their winter tires.

The Grabber Arctic LT sports an excellent 9.7 SimpleScore for durability, which is largely driven by the tire’s Duragen Technology that helps the Grabber Arctic LT to withstand higher loads that tend to come with trucks. Additionally, the Grabber Arctic LT’s reinforced construction further boosts load carrying capacity while, also, helping to prevent irregular wear.

On the flip side, the Discoverer Snow Claw is behind the Grabber Arctic LT for durability as the tire comes in with a SimpleScore of 8.9. Featuring a reinforced construction and solid ply rating, the tire is more than capable of hauling heavy loads, but it doesn’t have any extra technology within it to boost durability.

While great, the durability of the Discoverer Snow Claw is behind the Grabber Arctic LT.

ADVANTAGE: Grabber Arctic LT

General Grabber Arctic LT vs Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw tires on longevity

The longevity aspect is equally important to traction and durability while purchasing a tire. Based on SimpleScore, this was the biggest gap between the two tires.

Starting with the Grabber Arctic LT, the tire offers a good SimpleScore of 7 out of 10 on the longevity front. The tire’s tough, rugged rubber compound and reinforced construction work together to increase durability which allows for a longer tread life. Outside of that, the tire’s optimized design and tied shoulders put more rubber on the road which prevents irregular wear by evenly distributing road forces (in addition to boosting handling).

Conversely, the Discoverer Snow Claw’s 8 SimpleScore in longevity shows that its the more long-lasting of the two tires. Like the Arctic LT, the Discoverer Snow Claw features a reinforced construction, but the Cooper’s solid sidewall guards it against cuts, chips, curbing, and other damage. Also, the Discoverer Snow Claw has been rigorously tested to ensure performance in the toughest winter conditions.

The General winter tire might be better in traction and durability, but when it comes to longevity, the Discoverer Snow Claw is the stronger of the two tires.

ADVANTAGE: Discoverer Snow Claw

When to use each

Winter tires come with limited temperature usage, and both the Grabber Arctic LT and Discoverer Snow Claw are not intended for use when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The reason for this is because winter tires use a flexible rubber compound that will quickly wear when temperatures are above that threshold.

Both the tires are available can be pinned with studs, so make sure you are well aware about the laws before installing them on your tire. As a reminder, studs can only be used in certain locations and/or during certain months.

Which one should you choose?

So, which winter tire is the right option for you? When looking at SimpleScore, the General Grabber Arctic LT actually comes out slightly ahead of the Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw with an overall score of 8.8 versus 8.6. As noted above, there are key differences between the two tires and these need to be weighed against each other to determine what’s best for you. Finally (and maybe, most importantly), pricing on these two tires is close as Grabber Arctic LT tires cost at least $195.99 per tire while Discoverer Snow Claw tires cost at least $178.99 per tire. That means a set of four General Grabber Arctic LT snow tires will cost you at least $780 for a set of four, while a set of four Discoverer Snow Claw tires will cost you at least $712.

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the General Grabber Arctic LT if you:

• Drive a pickup truck like the RAM 2500 or cargo van like the Chevrolet Express 3500
• Want much better traction (9.9 vs 9)
• Prefer better durability (9.7 vs 8.9)
• Are willing to pay a little bit more money for the above-mentioned difference.

Conversely, you should choose the Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw if you:

• Drive a CUV or SUV (think Honda CR-V or Kia Telluride) or smaller pickup truck like a Ford Maverick
• Want a longer lasting tire (8 vs 7 in longevity)
• Want the more affordable tire

Grabber Arctic LT vs Discoverer Snow Claw tires might not seem a close comparison on the surface, but the above clearly shows that either is a great option. Remember, both of the tire brands individually have performed way better and are some of the most best tire manufacturers on the market, and that tradition continues with the Grabber Arctic LT and Discoverer Snow Claw. At the end of the day, the decision to buy one or the other depends on your vehicle, where (and how) you drive, and what you care more about in terms of traction, durability, longevity, and price.

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.