Nitto Ridge Grappler Tire Review & Rating
Moving into the next generation of all-terrain and mud-terrain tires, the Nitto Ridge Grappler features an attractive, rugged looking hybrid tread pattern and F load rating on certain sizes that make it as comfortable towing a heavy trailer on the highway as it does driving on the trails.
Nitto combines a tougher tread compound with an aggressive tread design, wider staggered shoulder lugs, alternating shoulder grooves, stone ejectors and step block edges for reliable off-road performance. You’ll find the Ridge Grappler can stand up to larger rocks, gravel, sand, mud, dirt and just about any other type of obstacles you want to throw its way. This is an area frequently mentioned by other driver reviews as well.
Although off-road traction is excellent on the Ridge Grappler, most drivers spend the majority of their time driving around town or on the highway and want an AT tire that is not loud or uncomfortable to drive on. Nitto has addressed this with many key features that are designed to enhance ride comfort.
A variable tread pitch pattern lowers road noise while lateral zig-zag grooves, tapered edge blocks and a reinforced block foundation increase dry, wet and snow traction. You’ll find more than capable cornering grip and stability, and the steering is very responsive for a hybrid all-terrain tire.
Nitto currently offers a limited number of 17 and 20 inch sizes with many more being released throughout 2016 and 2017. The Ridge Grappler is a new addition to Nitto’s lineup and will not be replacing any other Grappler model.
Pros
- Excellent dry and wet traction
- Towing performance is among best in class
- Off-road traction
- Treadlife
Cons
- Not the best in heavy deep mud
Overall Thoughts
The trend in recent years of developing hybrid tires that bridge the gap between an AT and MT tire has been a real plus for many truck/SUV owners. That being the case, the Ridge Grappler settles in nicely in this role.
One of the big pluses with this particular tire is its towing capabilities. With its available F load rating and ability to hold 80 psi, this is a serious heavy-duty hauler. It’s similar to what you find with the Goodyear DuraTrac or Cooper ST Maxx Pro, which are both at the top of the list for commercial grade operation.
While tackling any off-road terrain with more than capable performance, the Ridge Grappler is very easy to handle on the open road. You won’t find annoying road noise and the ride is more comfortable than you might first expect. In addition, treadlife has shown to be very good at this early stage. If that changes we will update accordingly.
Overall, Nitto has created one of the better hybrid designs on the market today.
What Vehicles Will The Nitto Ridge Grappler Fit?
(This is not a complete list of ALL vehicles this tire will fit)
- Chevrolet Colorado, Silverado 2500, 3500, Express 2500, 3500, Avalanche
- Dodge Nitro, Ram 1500, 2500, Durango
- Ford F-150, F-250, Ranger, Excursion, Expedition, Explorer
- GMC Sierra, Suburban, Yukon
- Honda Passport
- Isuzu Trooper
- Jeep Cherokee, Wrangler, Liberty, Commander
- Land Rover Discovery
- Nissan Titan, Pathfinder, Frontier, Xterra
- Ram 2500, 3500
- Toyota Land Cruiser, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner, Tundra
Tire Sizes
17″
LT285/70R17 C 116/113Q
LT285/70R17 E 121/118Q
37×12.50R17LT D 124Q
20″
37×12.50R20LT E 126Q
35×12.50R22LT F 121Q
The following sizes will be made available in the coming weeks/months:
LT265/70R17 E 121/118Q
LT285/75R17 C 117/114Q
LT285/75R17 E 121/118Q
LT295/70R17 E 121/118Q
LT305/70R17 E 121/118Q
33×12.50R17LT E 120Q
35×12.50R17LT E 121Q
LT275/65R18 E 123/120Q
LT275/70R18 E 125/122Q
LT285/65R18 E 125/122Q
LT295/70R18 E 129/126Q
33×12.50R18LT F 122Q
35×12.50R18LT F 128Q
37×12.50R18LT E 128Q
LT275/65R20 E 126/123Q
LT295/55R20 E 123/120Q
LT295/60R20 E 126/123Q
LT295/65R20 E 129/126Q
LT305/55R20 F 125/122Q
33×12.50R20LT F 119Q
35×11.50R20LT E 124Q
35×12.50R20LT F 125Q
35×13.50R20LT F 126Q
33×12.50R22LT F 114Q
37×12.50R22LT F 127Q
Price Range
Nitto Ridge Grappler prices range from approximately $119 and up. You may also find occasional rebates, discount prices, coupons and special offers on this tire.
Warranty
Nitto provides a limited tread warranty on the Ridge Grappler.
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My dealer said my ridge grappler tires cupped. They had 8K miles on them. They are on a 2016 F-150. I put them on at 36000 miles and 8K miles later they started riding like crap. At first I thought they were unbalanced. Wasnt the case. Dealer said I needed shocks and struts. I had them replaced then found out that wasn’t going to correct the cupping. Went to Ford dealership and they told me that no way those shocks and struts needed replaced before 50K and most don’t get replace until 100K. Either the tires were bad or the dealer screwed them up. All I got for an answer was Nitto and the dealer pointing fingers at each other and in the meantime I’m stuck with expensive no good tires. Very disappointed in both Nitto and dealer. I feel these tires should have been replaced. I was even willing to pay the pro rate at that time.
You don’t show customer reviews that have purchased these tires. I have had a very bad experience with the “:F” load rated 12 ply Ridge grappler on my Ram 2500. 35/12.5/18. Under load and at freeway speeds. This tire begins to loose chunks of rubber when it gets warm. It’s not over loaded. It’s not highway damage. This tire has not been tested properly under these conditions. NITTO knows about this. They call it “chunking”. NITTO also does not warranty this tire if chunking occurs . Customers are blindsided by dealers and NITTO with NO recourse . Pubisizing this will keep potential buyers away from this tire And brand for NITTO if they tow.
Hello Bob. We really appreciate your feedback. Can you share more details?
I just bought some 33×11.5 for my Suburban. I took them up to the top of my local wheelin hill just to see how they grabbed. Seemed to work well, but when I looked at the tires afterwards, there were many “chunks” missing already. They have fewer than 50 miles on them! I’m calling the guy that installed them to discuss options. They obviously did not use a good rubber compound when making these tires.
R the tires that bad