Nitto Trail Grappler M/T vs Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires

Nitto and Cooper are two popular tire brands in America and they are admired for their range of tires that cater to the needs of enthusiasts and daily drivers. While Nitto was founded in 1949 in Osaka, Japan, Cooper was established in 1914 in Akron, Ohio. Nitto is a part of Toyo Tires and Cooper is owned by the tire giant Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

The Grappler and Discoverer tires are two very popular mud-terrain tires from Nitto and Cooper respectively. Both tire brands put in tons of effort to make tires that deliver next-level performance. While you will find the Nitto to be more enthusiast-centric by offering sizes that aren’t typically offered by a majority of tire manufacturers, Cooper sticks to the basics very well and utilizes cutting-edge technologies and expertise that comes right from Goodyear to make tires that assure outstanding performance in off-road conditions. The Trail Grappler M/T and the Discoverer STT Pro are two very promising and aggressive mud-terrain tires designed and engineered to tackle challenging terrains in off-road conditions. Whether you drive in deep mud, climb rocks, crush dunes, or drive over gravel, these tires can deliver exceptional performance.

While both tires claim to be great on the performance front, which one out of the two leads in practical conditions? Let’s find this out in this Nitto Trail Grappler M/T vs Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires comparison using our SimpleScore ratings.

Nitto Trail Grappler M/T tires

Introduced on July 1, 2009, the Nitto Trail Grappler M/T is a tried and tested mud-terrain tire that’s suitable for use on light trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. The tire features an aggressive mud tread design and has features that can offer you confident off-road driving. Some of the strong areas of the tire include off-road performance, durability, controlled noise levels, on-road driving comfort, and increased mud and wet traction.

Overall, the Trail Grappler M/T tires score an admirable 8.6 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its long-lasting tread life, enhanced durability, and increased traction performance.

Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires

The Cooper Discoverer STT Pro made its debut in 2015 and is suitable for use on light trucks and SUVs. The tire has features that allow it to tackle the toughest terrains and can also defend itself very well. Whether wet or dry off-road conditions, it adequately adapts to challenging surfaces and grips very well for commanding forward traction. Additionally, new-gen technology, advanced rubber compound, and reinforced construction also contribute to improved off-road performance.

Overall, the Discoverer STT Pro tires score a great 8.2 SimpleScore, which is contributed by its solid durability, impressive traction performance, and longer tread life.

Nitto Trail Grappler M/T vs Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires on traction

Mud-terrain tires are known for their traction abilities and while driving on muddy, soft, or loose surfaces, they need to have aggressive design and advanced features that contribute to improved traction performance. When we compared the traction performance of both tires, we found that there was a marginal difference between the two.

The Nitto Trail Grappler M/T boasts an 8.4 out of 10 SimpleScore on the traction front and features an aggressive tread design that promotes forward traction. The leading edge tread and the side lug blocks of the tire boost surface biting ability and the solid shoulder grooves contribute to improving off-road and all-season performance. For increased traction in wet conditions and hydroplaning resistance, the tire has deep center sipes. Additionally, for continuous off-road traction and mud evacuation, the tire gets a balanced void ratio.

On the contrary, the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro achieves an 8.3 SimpleScore rating in traction and comes with patented Mud Slingers 2.0 for deep and wide trenches along with additional notches to clear mud out of the footprint and maintain optimum traction and grip. The Earth Diggers Technology is another great highlight of the tire and features larger shoulder scoops and lugs to allow the tire to dig deeper into mud, sand, and dirt for better off-road traction. The use of Rock Climber Sidewall Technology also makes this mud-terrain tire special and improves off-roading while climbing rocks.

While both tires were great on the traction front, the Trail Grappler M/T was slightly ahead of the Discoverer STT Pro.

ADVANTAGE: Trail Grappler M/T

Nitto Trail Grappler M/T vs Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires on durability

Durability is another important factor when choosing a mud-terrain tire as it relates to how well a tire can withstand challenging environments and prevent itself from cuts, chips, and tears. The comparative analysis of these tires in the durability area came up with another interesting highlight.

To start with the Nitto Trail Grappler M/T, the tire scored 8.5 SimpleScore in durability. It features a 3-ply sidewall and thick rubber construction for increased puncture resistance. These attributes act as an extra layer of reinforcement and allow the tire to serve uninterruptedly. Even the shoulder grooves of the tire are reinforced for additional strength and the tread blocks also maintain adequate stiffness to resist off-road impacts.

On the other hand, the Discover STT Pro’s SimpleScore for durability is 8.3, slightly lower than the Nitto mud-terrain tire. The tire sports robust construction and is optimized for increased durability. The Armor Tek3 Technology used in making this Cooper mud-terrain tire reinforces the sidewall and tread to absorb the off-road impacts on challenging terrains. Likewise, the Rock Climber Sidewall Technology also increases the ability of the sidewall to resist impacts and off-roading pressures.

It was the Trail Grappler M/T that surpassed the Discoverer STT Pro on the durability front.

ADVANTAGE: Trail Grappler M/T

Nitto Trail Grappler M/T vs Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires on longevity

Longevity is one of the key deciding factors during tire purchase, and especially in the case of mud-terrain tires, it becomes even more important as these types of tires are prone to off-roading impacts, cuts, chips, and tears. When we compared the long-lasting ability of these tires, we found that there was a significant gap in their scores.

Starting with the Trail Grappler M/T, the tire scores an 8.9 SimpleScore in longevity. The reinforced construction and solid tread blocks reduce the tire’s wear rate. The rubber compound of the tire is also sturdy enough to hold the tire’s shape while off-roading and reducing the chances of uneven wear. The wider and flat footprint of the Trail Grappler M/T also helps in reducing the chances of premature or uneven wear.

The Discoverer STT Pro, on the other hand, secures an 8.2 SimpleScore rating in longevity, which is good but doesn’t yet surpass the competitor’s score. What makes the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro assure a good tread life is Armor Tek3 Technology that guards the tread and sidewall for longer use. Similarly, the Stone Armor Technology is also a great highlight of the tire and prevents damage caused by sharp rocks and debris.

When both mud-terrain tires are compared for longevity analysis, the Trail Grappler M/T beats the Discoverer STT Pro.

ADVANTAGE: Trail Grappler M/T

When to use each

Both, the Trail Grappler M/T and the Discoverer STT Pro are made for aggressive off-roading and they are good for use in rugged conditions like mud, dirt, gravel, sand, and rocks. While the Trail Grappler can give you the advantage of driving in challenging terrains along with confident on-road driving, the Cooper tires are more off-road specific. That being said, these tires aren’t Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified and shouldn’t be used in moderate to extreme winter weather conditions.

While the Nitto tires discussed here are offered in 15- to 26-inch rims, the Cooper tires are available in 15- to 22-inch rim sizes. This means the Nitto mud-terrain tires can be a great choice even for vehicles with bigger rim sizes. Both tires are good for use on SUVs, light trucks, and Jeeps, but you should check your vehicle’s tire size before considering one of these tires.

Which one should you choose?

Now, coming to the most important question – which one out of the two, the Trail Grappler M/T or Discoverer STT Pro, should you choose?

When we compared the overall SimpleScore of these tires, we found that the Trail Grappler M/T was better than the Discoverer STT Pro (overall score 8.6 versus 8.2). But, these two tires are slightly different in certain areas, and therefore, you must compare their SimpleScore in durability, longevity, and traction to understand which out of the two tires meets your driving needs.

When it comes to pricing, the Trail Grappler M/T is available at a starting price of at least $278.00 per tire, whereas the Discoverer STT Pro is offered at a starting price of at least $201.96 per tire. This means, a set of four Trail Grappler tires will cost you at least $1112.00, while a set of four Discoverer tires will cost you at least $807.84.

Looking at the SimpleScore of both tires, you should consider the Trail Grappler M/T if you:

• Drive a heavy-duty truck like the Ford F-350, an off-roader like the Jeep Wrangler, or a full-size pickup truck like the Toyota Tundra.
• Need a tire that offers better traction (8.4 vs 8.3 in traction).
• Need a tire that offers better durability (8.5 vs 8.3 in durability)
• Need a tire that offers longer service (8.9 vs 8.2 in longevity)
• Are comfortable paying more.
• Need a tire that can also be good for occasional on-road driving.

Conversely, you should choose the Discoverer STT Pro if you:

• Drive a mid-size truck like the Toyota Tacoma, a full-size pickup truck like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, a heavy-duty truck like the RAM 2500, or an off-road mid-size truck like the Jeep Gladiator.
• Need a tire that performs well but costs less.
• Need a tire that’s more dedicated to off-road driving.

The comparison of Trail Grappler vs Discoverer STT Pro doesn’t look like a close comparison, but when you analyze their scores, check their vehicle compatibility, and even look at their scores in longevity, traction, and durability, the comparison looks completely justified. However, your selection of either of these tires should also depend on things like your vehicle type, preference over on- and off-road driving (as the Nitto can also be used on-road), and budget.

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.