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2021 Ford Ranger Raptor Switches Tire Brand: BFG Out, Continental In

Like the F-150 Raptor in the United States, the Ranger Raptor was launched for the 2019 model year with BFGoodrich rubber. The 285/70 by 17-inch All-Terrain T/A KO2 is the culprit, and these numbers translate to a diameter of 33 inches, just like the Wrangler Rubicon.
2021 Ford Ranger Raptor with General Grabber AT3 tires 104 photos
Photo: Continental
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Over the past few years, the Ford Motor Company and Continental have started to get closer. The increasing collaboration between them has already proven detrimental to BFGoodrich because General Grabber is now supplying tires for the Raptors built at Silverton Assembly.

“Our tires were subjected to a punishing range of tests before being selected as the OE tire for all Ranger Raptors produced at Silverton for domestic sales and export markets around the world,” said general manager of manufacturing JJ Dowling. Taking into consideration how many off-road bakkies are manufactured in South Africa for the local market and Europe, this can only be described as a huge blow for Michelin-owned BFGoodrich.

There is, however, something that needs to be highlighted. Retail-wise, the General Grabber AT3 is more affordable than the T/A KO2. Now imagine what kind of discount the Blue Oval received from Continental over this supply deal, and you’ll understand why Ford switched brands. Also worthy of note, the Dearborn-based automaker is currently in the middle of a turnaround plan that will shutter Brazilian production by the end of the year.

“Local sourcing of an OE tire provides additional benefits for the Ford Motor Company in terms of increased local content, along with higher volumes to meet its production targets,”
added Dowling. “It further strengthens Continental’s exclusive status as the only tire company that supplies seven of the major vehicle manufacturers in South Africa.”

Developed for exceptional on-road grip and traction off the beaten path, the AT3 features the M+S designation for mud and snow. The three-peak mountain snowflake also needs to be mentioned, but do remember that all-terrains cannot match the performance of winter tires in winter conditions.
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Editor's note: European 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor also pictured in the gallery.

About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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