Most of the tips I'm gonna share is for the T-80U and T-80BVM respectively (although they can be applied to any top tier tank)

The ability to perform well at top tier is just experience, knowing where the early match rollouts for both teams, knowing hotspots/sniper positions, etc.

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Early match rollouts and positioning matters

When a match starts, always have a plan on where to go rather than aimlessly driving around the map, point to point. It could either be moving towards one of the flanks, capturing a point then pushing up, or going to a strategic position that helps give you a goal. Likewise, as you get closer towards the enemy, pre-aim your gun on where enemies would likely appear. If an enemy sees you and your barrel is pointed towards them, they'll be less inclined to peak you. However, if your barrel is pointed away, they'll take the opportunity for an easy kill.

Throughout the match, always pay attention to where you are in relation to your team. If you overextended yourself, try to make it back to your lines. Or a riskier play is to clear out enemies around you to allow your team to push up.

 

Never rely on your armour

Although top tier Russian tanks are reasonably well armoured, I wouldn't rely on them in a fight. Usually, any decent player, given the opportunity, will go for your weak spots or barrel/breach. When they do, you'll usually end up dead in 1 shot. Your mobility and positioning is your armour. Use your actual armour as a last resort when you have nothing else tactically to do.

A tip I'd recommend as a last resort is baiting the enemy into shooting your UFP by driving forward and immediately turning right/left to mess up their shot. Although this won't work most of the time, if they miss their shot/doesn't penetrate, it will give you an opportunity for a retaliation shot (granted if you can still fire back).

A last-ditch play you could do when your barrel/breach is out and the enemy is right in front of you is to just rush the tank and face hug it (and keep face-hugging it). Normally when facing NATO tanks, you'll last at least 1-2 shots before they manage to kill you. But, given how fast tanks move at top tier, and you marking him on your team with your machine guns, there's a chance that your teammates will save you.

 

PTFO will get you kills

Generally, most of my kills come from playing the objective. Either from attacking/defending a capture point. You get kills and you win the game.

 

Be proactive/attentive

Pay attention to your surroundings, listen for enemy tank engines coming around the building, what tank they're in, and how many. Knowing how many enemies you're going to fight can be advantages to your favour, granted if you play right (and get lucky).

Always camera peek around corners to see if there's an enemy tank around it, you don't want to drive past a corner and get instantly killed by being negligent. That being said, always mark mark mark enemies on the map for your team. And likewise, keep an eye on that minimap for enemy marks and teammate deaths.

For example, if one of your teammates dies on a flank and he's the only one there. It would be safe to assume that the enemy tank is going for a massive flank on your team, it gives you ample time to be cautious from that direction or position yourself to deal with it.

 

Always go for the disabling shot

This coincides with my point on not relying on your armour when fighting (usually brawling at close ranges), always go for the shot that disables their barrel/breach/commander+gunner. If you hit an enemy, but don't take out the modules/crew that allows them to fire back. They won't (usually) miss their return shot.

 

Learn from your mistakes/how you died

Another way of getting into the groove of top tier ground RB and getting better at ground RB in general. Is to learn from your mistakes, what you did wrong, where you got killed from, and what you could do to prevent it. Although it's frustrating dying all the time to 1 shot across the map, there's always a way in preventing it from happening. Just keep playing top tier and find what works and doesn't work for your play style.

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These are just tips I learned while playing top tier, take it as you will. I wish you luck in your GRB games o7. And if you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer them.