Nitto Ridge Grappler Review
  • Off-Road
  • On-Road
  • Tread Life
  • Year-Round Performance
  • Comfort
3.6

Summary

With loads of grip to match its extreme off-road style, the Ridge Grappler also delivers a surprising level of driving refinement, making it easy to live with when you’re not out on the trail.

Nitto Ridge Grappler Review

One of the newer all-terrain offerings from Nitto, the Ridge Grappler is a hybrid terrain tire, combining elements of all-terrain and mud-terrain tires in the compound, sidewall and tread with features of an on-road tire. As a result, it’s built to be capable off-road, with surprising on-road manners and performance.

PROS

  • Surprisingly good on-road performance
  • Wicked off-road look
  • Massive selection of sizes and fitments

CONS

  • Expensive
  • No treadwear warranty
  • Only a 2-ply sidewall

   

Nitto Ridge Grappler Review

With amazing grip to match its serious off-road style, perhaps the most surprising thing about the Nitto Ridge Grappler is just how livable it is on-road.

With impressive dry and wet performance on tarmac, it does suffer some comfort, but overall noise levels are more than acceptable. And of course it’s a beast in the dirt.

nitto ridge grappler review

The unique tread pattern on the tire does more than just look cool, it was designed to minimize on-road noise. Plus the large triangle segments work to deliver stability on-road. Look carefully and you’ll notice that not all of the middle tread section is the same height. This is done on purpose to deliver an extra bit of traction. Following the tread to the outside of the tire is an alternating pattern, designed to grip loose surfaces, and spit them out.

Available in an extensive selection of sizes and fitments, with offerings for heavy-duty 1-ton pickup trucks as well, the Nitto Ridge Grappler is an ideal pairing for plus-size aftermarket wheels, with sizes stretching all the way into the 24-inch range. Another feature that makes the Ridge Grappler a hit with the aftermarket is the tire’s unique tattoo-inspired font and bold stamped lettering on the sidewall.

What Vehicles Will The Nitto Ridge Grappler Fit On?

  • Chevrolet Colorado, Silverado 2500, 3500, Avalanche
  • Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, Durango
  • Ford F-150, F-250, Ranger, Excursion, Expedition, Explorer
  • GMC Sierra, Suburban, Yukon
  • Jeep Cherokee, Wrangler, Liberty, Commander
  • Land Rover Discovery
  • Nissan Titan, Pathfinder, Frontier, Xterra
  • Ram 2500, 3500
  • Toyota Land Cruiser, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, 4Runner, Tundra

Nitto Ridge Grappler Price

Sitting at the higher end of the price spectrum, the Nitto Ridge Grappler starts at roughly $185 per tire for a 16-inch fitment and tops out at over $700 per tire for a massive 24-inch fitment.

   

Nitto Ridge Grappler Warranty

All Nitto tires come with a limited factory warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship. Nitto will replace any tires where defects show up in the first 25% of tread wear and during the first 60 months of ownership. For defective tires beyond the 25% tread wear rating, defective tires will be replaced on a pro rated basis. Nitto will cover installation. The Ridge Grappler does not come with a limited treadwear warranty, which is a bit disappointing. Most hybrid terrain tires do come with such a warranty and that’s one of the main reasons for buying them, when compared to the more aggressive mud-terrain options.

Nitto Ridge Grappler Sizes

16-inch sizes

LT265/75R16
LT285/75R16

17-inch sizes
LT255/80R17
LT265/70R17
LT265/70R17
285/70R17
LT285/70R17
LT285/70R17
LT285/75R17
LT285/75R17
LT295/70R17
LT305/70R17
LT315/70R17
33×12.50R17LT
35×12.50R17LT
37×12.50R17LT
37×13.50R17LT

18-inch sizes
255/70R18
265/60R18
LT265/65R18
LT265/70R18
LT275/65R18
275/65R18
LT275/70R18
285/60R18
LT285/60R18
LT285/65R18
LT285/70R18
LT285/75R18
LT295/70R18
305/60R18
LT305/65R18
LT325/60R18
LT325/65R18
33×12.50R18LT
35×12.50R18LT
37×11.50R18LT
37×12.50R18LT
37×13.50R18LT

20-inch sizes
265/50R20
LT265/60R20
275/55R20
LT275/55R20
275/60R20
LT275/60R20
LT275/65R20
285/50R20
LT285/55R20
LT285/60R20
LT285/65R20
LT295/55R20
LT295/60R20
LT295/65R20
LT305/55R20
305/55R20
LT325/60R20
33×11.50R20LT
33×12.50R20LT
35×11.50R20LT
35×12.50R20LT
35×13.50R20LT
37×12.50R20LT
37×13.50R20LT
38×13.50R20LT

22-inch sizes
T285/50R22
LT285/55R22
LT325/50R22
33×12.50R22LT
35×12.50R22LT
37×12.50R22LT
37×13.50R22LT
38×13.50R22LT

24-inch sizes
LT315/50R24
38×13.50R24LT

Is the Nitto Ridge Grappler Snow Rated?

The Ridge Grappler does not feature the three-peak mountain snowflake logo on its sidewall and is not certified for true winter use. While its big tread lugs provide traction in deep snow, and the tread siping gives some grip on-road in the winter, we don’t recommend these if you live somewhere with regular snow – unless you’re swapping them in the Fall for a proper set of winter tires.

Is the Nitto Ridge Grappler Noisy?

It’s definitely not silent, but as far as mud-terrain tires go, the Ridge Grappler is on the quieter side. The tire has a consistent hum at highway speeds but is much quieter than a conventional mud-terrain tire. That’s one of the many benefits of this Hybrid Terrain tire that trades off some extreme grip for every day liveability.

What Ply is the Nitto Ridge Grappler?

Ridge Grapplers come with a 2-ply sidewall, rather than a 3-ply sidewall which is the norm on mud-terrain (MT) tires. As for the load range, it’s available in numerous options including 10-ply/Load Range E fitments for heavy duty pickup trucks.