Whether in stock form or heavily modified, there are few parts that are as important to a vehicle as tires. They serve as the direct connection to the road for a truck or SUV, and just like there are a wide variety of road, weather and driving conditions, there too are a great number of tire options on the market for different usage.

Tapping into that very idea, Nitto recently unveiled two new all-terrain tires for the truck and SUV market. Two all-terrain tires, you say? Yes, two different models of all-terrain for two different types of usage. Both models cater to the truck and SUV market, but each tire will have a more specific intended application. Nitto’s new Terra Grappler G2 is the replacement to the original Terra Grappler introduced in 2001, and it will come with a confidence-backed 50,000- or 65,000-mile warranty. For drivers in need of a tire that’s little more aggressive yet offers impressive all-weather performance, Nitto launched the Exo Grappler AWT (all-weather traction) that comes backed with a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating, meaning it has exceeded the industry standard for a snow tire.

Terra Grappler G2
After coming out of a successful decade in the ‘90s in the sport compact market, Nitto looked to branch out into the truck and SUV market at the turn of the century. It’s been more than 13 years since the original Terra Grappler all-terrain was launched by Nitto. While that tire has performed well for the company (and even has OE backing from Toyota, as it is equipped on the 2015 TRD Pro 4Runner), much has been learned in that time and Nitto felt it could still improve upon the Terra Grappler.

Nitto wanted to improve the treadlife on the second-gen Terra Grappler, so it produced a new tread compound for the G2 designed to be tougher while improving its lifespan. For LT and flotation tires, the G2 will be backed by a 50,000-mile limited warranty, while traditional metric tires will feature a 65,000-mile warranty. There will be 55 sizes available for the new G2, with sizes offered for 17- to 22-inch wheels to fit most truck and SUVs, with the largest G2 size offered being a 37-inch tire. Depending upon the tire size, Nitto says some G2s will offer a two-ply sidewall while others will offer three-ply construction.

Aside from a new compound, Nitto also redesigned the tread itself. To provide improved all-season driving, improved tread wear and improved traction as the tire is used, full-depth siping is used on the new G2. Nitto also uses new “hill and valley” shoulder lugs to aid in improved traction in dirt, rock and muddy off-road conditions. Nitto also offers two different sidewalls designs on each side of the tire so the owner can choose the design that’s most esthetically appealing to them – one side features Nitto’s original thunderbolt pattern while the other features a blade-shaped tread design.

Nitto will offer an initial size run of 20 tire sizes on October 1st of this year, while the remaining 35 sizes will become available on January 15th, 2015.

EXO Grappler AWT
The G2 may be more of a bread-and-butter all-terrain tire for Nitto that will cover a wide range of applications (55 sizes), but the Exo Grappler AWT (11 sizes) is a more heavy-duty all-terrain intended for a specific buyer. As noted, the AWT refers to all-weather traction, and Nitto really looked to offer a something a little more durable for trucks and SUV owners who work on the farm, remote locations that travel on gravel roads, and then areas heavily impacted by severe weather and road conditions.

The Exo AWT does come with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating to signify its snow performance, but Nitto also went to work to produce an all-new compound of natural and synthetic rubber for the AWT that offers cut and chip resistance while still providing the flexibility needed to perform in cold weather. Most importantly, Nitto sees this tire standing up much better to utility and agricultural applications where less time is spent on smooth roads and more time is spent on rocky dirt roads.

The tread design for the Exo AWT features sipes and lateral grooves that provide an improved biting edge in rainy or snowy conditions. The tire also features pre-molded grooves for snow studs (TSMI #15) should the tire operate consistently in snowy conditions (Note: Nitto does suggest installing them before using the tire). The block edges of the tread pattern are designed to provide improved stability for the tire by reinforcing the center tread blocks for an improved contact patch with the road. Since this is a more aggressive all-terrain tire with slightly larger gaps between the tread, Nitto incorporated stone ejectors between the tread gaps to reduce stone retention and stone drilling that can damage a tire. The tread was designed with a computer analyzed tread block design that is specifically made to reduce road noise.

The Exo Grappler AWT features a sturdy three-ply sidewall since it is intended to take a little more abuse – and also be used on more heavy-duty trucks and SUVs. The sidewalls also feature a longer lug design to provide added traction, and much like the G2, the AWT features two unique tread designs on each side of the tire to allow the driver to select the styling they like best. The Exo AWT is available now in eight different sizes for 17- to 20-inch wheel applications, with the largest size available being a 35-inch tire. An additional three sizes will be available on October 1st.

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