Nitto Terra Grappler G2 Review: All-Terrain Tire for Light Truck and SUV

The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is the second-generation of the original Grappler. It is much improved in all aspects and is more refined in the street. Want to give your SUV or pickup truck a more sporting, go-anywhere attitude? You might want to consider changing the tires in your rig.

But instead of settling for the usual H/T or highway-terrain rubber, why not try a set of all-terrain or A/T tires? Unlike the A/T tires of the past, modern all-terrain tires are way better. Manufacturers have come up with unique engineering solutions to produce what we call hybrid tires. The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is a fine example of a hybrid tire.

It looks like a rugged all-terrain tire, and you’re right. The Nitto Terra Grappler has the goods to back up the aggressive style. It is the type of tire that rolls comfortably and silently in the street but turns into a monster when faced with rough and challenging terrain. In this review, we’ll discuss the features and benefits of the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 to discern if this tire is worth considering.

What are the features of the Nitto Terra Grappler G2?

The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is an all-terrain tire for all-season driving. Nitto utilized all the tricks in the book to come up with an excellent all-terrain tire with the refinement of a touring tire. But the primary mission is to conquer mild to moderate off-road terrain, so Nitto went to work in improving the off-road performance of the Terra Grappler G2.

The tire comes with reinforced coupling joints on the inside and outside shoulders. This feature connects the outer most tread blocks to the center blocks to improve block edge rigidity. It basically means stiffer and more stable tread blocks to produce even wear with excellent off-road performance.

The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 also comes with full depth sipes. This feature enhances the biting edges in the center treads to improve all-season traction and grip. But most of all, the deeper siping helps maintain the appearance of the tread design as the tire wears out. The tire also comes with staggered shoulder lugs that act like claws as you drive over mud, snow, or gravel. This not only improves grip in the most demanding off-road conditions, but it also gives the tires a meaner demeanor.

In order to reduce noise, Nitto also gave the Terra Grappler G2 a set of chunky variable-pitch tread blocks. This means the blocks are designed to cancel out the harmonic vibrations and frequencies as the tire rolls over the ground. And similar to all Nitto Grappler tires, the Terra Grappler G2 is equipped with dual sidewall designs.

Is it really quiet and comfortable in the street?

The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is not the quietest or most refined A/T tire you can buy, but it’s capable of rolling quietly at higher speeds compared to other A/T rubber. However, ride comfort is a different matter. If your ride is equipped with modified off-road suspension, the stiffer sidewall and construction of the Terra Grappler G2 will produce a jiggly ride. We also found out this tire is more comfortable in the highway than riding out potholes in tight city roads.

Did Nitto address the shortcomings of the original Grappler?

If by that you mean the mediocre snow performance, then yes. The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is many times better than the original Terra Grappler in the snow. The thicker sidewalls and unique tread compound enable the Terra Grappler G2 to maintain steady grip in the coldest and iciest weather conditions. Of course, nothing beats a set of studded winter tires when driving over deep snow, but you can do worse than Nitto’s Terra Grappler G2.

But there’s a catch. The great thing about the original Terra Grappler is the excellent grip in dry and wet surfaces. But as we proceeded with our review, we found an inherent shortcoming in the Terra Grappler G2, and it has nothing to do with refinement or ride quality.

How does it perform in the dry and wet pavement?

The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is steady, solid, and committed in the dry. It is at its best when driving over the mixed pavement in varying weather conditions. But it’s a different story in the wet. It seems the first-gen Terra Grappler was a better performer in wet roads compared to the Terra Grappler G2, but not by much. But still, the tires have a tendency to slip and hunt for traction as you speed over a wet highway.

How good is the tire in off-road driving?

It performs rather well. The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 can handle deep snow, mud, loose gravel, sand, dirt, grass, and rocks. But when the roads turn from bad to worse (such as when dealing with slushy ice or thicker mud), the Terra Grappler G2 can only do so much to motivate your rig. It’s not impossible to breach the limits of this tire in real off-road driving, but you’ll have to be in the most inhospitable terrain to do so.

You can see more Nitto Terra Grappler G2 Review here: videos created by Stage 3 Motorsports

Should I buy the Nitto Terra Grappler G2?

The answer is a resounding yes! The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is a pricier alternative, I’ll give you that. But LT-metric sizes are backed by an impressive 50,000-mile treadwear warranty. Hard metric sizes are backed by a longer 65,000-mile warranty. When it comes to all-terrain tires, a longer warranty is a symbol of perfection. But even if you don’t do a lot of off-roading, the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is an easy and more affordable way to improve the rugged looks of your ride.