Founded in 1949, Nitto has its headquarters in Cypress, C.A. and has a history of impressing enthusiasts with their range of tires that are known for their uniqueness and size variations. Nitto is a part of Toyo Tire Corporation and it currently sells tires for light trucks, CUVs, SUVs, and passenger cars, alongside selling SxS (side-by-side) tires.

The Nitto Ridge Grappler is a perfect blend of mud-terrain and all-terrain tires and features state-of-the-art technologies that offer comfortable rides on paved roads and a superior off-roading experience. But are these technologies capable of offering superior performance on- and off-road? Let’s find this out in this Nitto Ridge Grappler review.

Features and Benefits

All-terrain tires are engineered to offer on- and off-road traction and are typically used by drivers who need tires to climb rocks and perform on the highway. The Ridge Grappler has similar capabilities and it even advances to a certain extent, especially on muddy surfaces. The tire is designed for use on light trucks and SUVs and features new-gen technologies to provide a quiet and comfortable ride on paved roads and superior climbing capability on off-road surfaces.

The Ridge Grappler features a variable pitch design that provides smooth and quiet highway rides, thus enhancing the comfort levels on paved surfaces. The shoulder and lateral Z grooves of this tire are optimized for improved traction on challenging surfaces. The shoulder grooves are arranged in alternating lengths and widths to adequately clean mud and ensure adequate traction. Similarly, the lateral Z grooves of the Ride Grappler are carved in a zigzag pattern to provide biting edges for increased traction.

Nitto is known for catering to the needs of enthusiasts and therefore, it has given the Ridge Grappler a bold look that’s applauded by onlookers. The tire features two bold sidewall designs, wherein one side uses a more traditional pattern and the other has a new, aggressive block design. Even the durability standards of these sidewalls are high to ensure that the tire can take heavy impacts while off-roading and assure smooth running with higher loads.

The damage resistance of the Ridge Grappler is excellent in multiple ways. Apart from its solid sidewalls, the tire also has stone ejectors that protect the bottom of the grooves from damage. The tread pattern also features staggered shoulder lugs that provide traction in off-road conditions and it also has step block edges and alternating tapered edges at the center to provide additional biting edges for more traction.

The Nitto Ridge Grappler is available in 16 to 24-inch rim sizes, which means this tire serves a wide range of vehicles. This tire is not covered by any mileage warranty, however, there is a Passenger and Light Truck warranty offered by the manufacturer on the purchase of these tires that covers defects in workmanship or materials.

Pros and Cons

Is the Nitto Ridge Grappler a good all-terrain tire or should you look at something else? Let’s have a look at the pros and cons before putting our view in the end.

• Advanced tread pattern offers superior traction on paved surfaces as well as in deep mud.
• Variable pitch tread pattern provides smooth highway rides and keeps the tread noise levels low.
• Solid casing and durable compound provide great resistance for seamless off-roading.
• Excellent damage resistance and good performance on rocks and sand.
• New-gen hybrid tread design for cosmetic appeal and practical utility in smooth and challenging conditions.

While Nitto speaks highly of the Ridge Grappler’s performance, some of its shortcomings may divide opinions.

• Loses traction in extreme winter weather conditions.
• Some of its peers may offer better ride comfort and reduced noise levels.
• More expensive than some of its competitors.
• Some competitors perform better on wet surfaces.
• No warranty offered and questionable tread life.

SimpleTire’s view on Nitto Ridge Grappler tires

If you need an all-terrain tire that offers good on- and off-road performance and can behave like both all-terrain and mud-terrain tires, the Nitto Ridge Grappler is a great choice. It offers superior traction and grip in deep mud, drives well on sand, and can also climb rocks to offer a convincing off-road drive. The durability standards are good enough and the solid casing allows it to easily combat challenging environments. However, some of its rivals are better when it comes to performing on wet roads and dry pavements. Price-wise, some may find the Ridge Grappler expensive but some of its features are really convincing enough to make you go for it. The Nitto Ridge Grappler competes against the likes of BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2, Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT, Yokohama Geolander X-AT, Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T, and General Grabber A/TX.

Vehicles the Nitto Ridge Grappler is a good replacement tire for

Designed for use on light trucks and SUVs, the Ridge Grappler can be a good replacement tire for vehicles like Nissan Titan, Ford F-150, Lexus LX570, Jeep Gladiator, Toyota FJ Cruiser, and RAM 3500.