Tanks in GTA V and Online

Are the tanks in GTA V and Online susceptible to fire the same way they are in previous titles? Can RPGs be use effectively against tanks? Is there any way to neutralize the driver inside without destroying the tank?

Or are they just completely unstoppable, and if you encounter one in free mode you're basically dead?

Thanks~

EDIT: Also, can the treads be dismantled by damage?

Solution 1:

The only way to kill the driver without destroying the tank is to pull the driver out by one of the following:

• Trying to get in, which is pretty suicidal (assuming the driver hasn't locked the tank, of course)
• Calling Lamar to set a mugger on the driver to pull him/her out. This method requires you to be at least level 50.

Luckily, a tank is not completely unstoppable. It's not like in previous GTA games where it could take an infinite amount of car explosions when driving over them. It's also vulnerable to grenades, sticky bombs, the grenade launcher, RPGs, other tanks and the rockets of buzzards and fighter jets.
I haven't met anyone who shot it with an RPG (requires level 100) yet, but I can imagine that it's even more devastating than other explosive weapons.

Solution 2:

I usually steal a cargobob helicopter which is always at merryweather in the city and occasionally at Trevor's airfield (online) and fly over the military base and have found multiple tanks not moving. If you can drop the hook and pick up the tank it's pretty easy from there. For whatever reason when you drop the tank someone gets out even though it was unoccupied (haven't figured that one out yet) but just kill him and you have yourself a tank. Keep in mind you have 5 stars after leaving the base so I usually take the tank and drop it by a train tunnel that way you can drive in the tunnel and no cops can get to you (watch out for trains!). I've found this method to be fairly simple.

Solution 3:

UPDATE:

So you can totally just rail the driver with a heavy sniper round by shooting through the vents in the back of the tank. It's really easy and hilarious. I'd have to say it is the most direct and reliable, and the least expensive approach.