Nitto Recon Grappler is an all-terrain tire that is mainly built for light trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Nitto Recon Grappler is developed by Nitto Terra Grappler G2. Some sizes of Nitto Terra Grappler G2 had huge traction issues. Hence, Nitto decided to discontinue these sizes and use them on two different patterns. Nitto Recon Grappler and Nitto Nomad Grappler. Today, I’m going to evaluate Nitto Recon Grappler and explain what to expect from this dude. Let’s dig into it!
At a Glance
| Nitto Recon Grappler | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Warm regions, cozy & quiet ride, rock crawling, beach driving, gravel traction |
| Best Vehicle Fits | Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500, Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, Toyota Tacoma |
| Vehicle | 3/4 ton or below Light Truck, SUV, Jeep |
| Available Sizes | 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”, 22”, 24” (Ensure these tires fit your vehicle) |
| Made In | White, GA, USA |
| Labels | M+S |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 65,000 miles |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 55,000 miles |
| Prices | DiscountTire: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Nitto Recon Grappler is a great fit if you are not living in the Snowbelt region. Basically, it’s a great tire if you don’t see snow often. While it can smoothly handle gravel, rock crawling, and sand, it also provides a quiet and cozy ride. Nitto Recon Grappler has a stiff rubber that lasts long. As proof, Nitto offers 55,000 miles treadwear warranty for LT sizes (65,000 for P-metric sizes). This is a great tire if you spend most of your time on the road but love weekend trail running and camping.
All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet
Finding the most suitable one for you among thousands of tires is very difficult.
My team & I have analyzed 100 different tires and generated this ‘Quick Answer Sheet‘ for those who don’t wanna spend too much time during tire selection.
Before we start, here are the incredibly helpful articles I highly recommend to take a look at;
- How to keep tire noise down:
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise - How to Air Down Tires?
https://www.discounttire.com/blog/airing-tires-down - What to Expect from 3PMSF Tires?
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/mountain-snowflake-symbol
Below the table, you can find my favorite tires that I have classified according to your needs.
If you’re in a hurry, here are the tires worth every penny;
- Toyo Open Country AT3 – Best All-Round & Longevity
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W – Best All-Round & Squishy Regions
- BF Goodrich KO2 – Best All-Round & Off-Road Adventure
- Falken Wildpeak AT Trail – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Severe Off-Road
- Nitto Recon Grappler – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
- General Grabber ATX – Best All-Round for 3/4-ton or above trucks
- Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac – Best On/Off Road tire for 3/4-ton or above trucks
- Cooper Discoverer 4S XLT – Best Commercial All-Terrain Tire & Hauling and Towing
If you’re looking for something at a bargain price;
- Vredestein Pinza AT – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
- Kenda Klever A/T2 – Best All-Round for Medium & Light Duty Usage
- Kenda Klever R/T – Best All-Round for Heavy-Duty Usage
Depending on your needs, also the below articles might help;
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-3-4-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-mud-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-rt-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-tires-for-snow-plowing/
I highly recommend checking the below pages out before making any purchase:
- DiscountTire Deals:
https://www.discounttire.com/promotions - TireRack Deals:
https://www.tirerack.com/specialoffers - SimpleTire Deals:
https://simpletire.com/tire-deals
Table of Contents
Dry Performance
Well, the dry performance of all-terrain tires is related to 3 different features. Dry traction, steering response, and cornering stability.
In this section, I’ll evaluate them one by one.
Dry Traction
All-terrain tires have lug-type patterns which provide a more biting edge than regular all-season tires. Hence, the dry traction isn’t an issue for them.
You can effortlessly observe the Recon Grappler’s lack of sipe. It may make you think that the tire might have a grip issue. However, since the tire has tons of biting edges and compound that stick to the surface, Nitto Recon Grappler handle dry surfaces with ease.
Steering Response
The steering response is related to the center section block. In this case, if the center block is compact, the tire offers a quicker steering response. In addition to that, lower tread depth generally provides a better steering response.
Regarding Nitto Recon Grappler, both features are optimized very well. Its sectional center lugs stand together while wheeling and that decreases the response time. Furthermore, Recon Grappler has a stiffer compound (compared to Ridge Grappler) and lower tread depth. These are great features for superb steering response.
Cornering Stability
Cornering stability is related to the internal structure. If the tire has strong sidewalls and riding blocks that can move together with the sidewalls, the tire provides decent cornering stability.
Polyester casing, 2 high tensile steel belts, 3 plies sidewall*, and jointless cap plies are ensuring a more stable, reliable ride.
Note: I strongly recommend putting speed ratings into consideration if you want better cornering stability. Nitto Recon Grappler is trusthworthy.
Wet Performance
The wet performance of all-terrain tires can be tricky. Because of their voided pattern, they can evacuate the water which is high important in terms of hydroplaning resistance. However, this feature creates a disadvantage in terms of traction. For this reason, I’d like to explain them separately.
Wet Traction
The greater the surface density of the tires on which they touch the ground, the greater their traction. This hypothesis is valid most of the time (the loose ground doesn’t count LOL). Especially for wet ground traction.
So, in this case, sipes do most of the work. However, if you take a look at Nitto Recon Grappler, you can observe a lack of siping.
Well, that might be an issue if we were talking about all-season tires. However, Nitto Recon Grappler’s P-metric sizes have a 600 UTQG rating and an ‘A’ rated wet traction. These are phenomenal ratings for decent wet traction.
On the other hand, LT and flotation metric sizes are pretty similar. When you combined a compact center section with staggered shoulders and horizontal sipes, there is no way that you can get poor wet traction.
Nitto Recon Grappler provides decent wet traction. However, if wet performance is your priority, I recommend Nitto Ridge Grappler.
Hydroplaning Resistance
Hydroplaning resistance is extremely important for high-speed driving. If you’ve already checked the speed rating of Recon Grappler, you can see that the tire can perform at a higher speed than most all-terrain tires (For instance, Ridge Grappler has Q – 99mph, Recon Grappler has R – 106mph and S – 112mph). Hence, hydroplaning resistance is more crucial for Nitto Recon Grapper.
In this case, circumferential grooves and open shoulder blocks work best. Luckily, Nitto Recon Grappler has both.
Nitto Recon Grappler offers overqualified hydroplaning resistance. You can rely on it.
Note: Hydroplaning is vital for a safe ride under the pouring rain. However, it might occur even with the best tire. Maybe you can’t prevent it but if you know what it is and how to deal with it, you can easily stay on the safe side.
Here is an extremely efficient guide about ‘How to Deal with Hydroplaning?‘ –> https://www.discounttire.com/learn/hydroplaning
Winter Performance
Winter performance is the only feature that Nitto Recon Grappler falls short of. Well, I was totally expecting this when I was comparing Recon Grappler’s spec with a Ridge Grappler spec.
So, in this case, the compound stiffness makes difference. Softer compounds always work better in winter conditions. However, the real game changer is the non-freezing compound that is the same thing as a tire with 3PMSF.
Since Recon Grappler and Ridge Grappler don’t have 3PMSF, both tires have disadvantages in winter conditions. However, Ridge Grappler can handle it a bit better due to its fluffier compound. Furthermore, its deeper tread makes it a better option for deep snow driving.
Shortly, Nitto Recon Grappler can handle occasionally light snow. Yet, this isn’t your tire if you’re living above the snow belt of the US.
I recommend this tire if you’re living in Southern and warm regions.
Comfort & Road Noise
In my point of view, this section is where Nitto Recon Grappler shines.
So, if you think about Nitto’s all-terrain tires line-up you can put Nitto Recon Grappeler between Ridge Grappler and Terra Grappler G2 regarding aggressiveness.
Under normal circumstances, its comfort and road noise level should be somewhere between these two. Well, it’s not.
Nitto Recon Grappler has a unique center section design that offers a smooth and quiet ride at the same time.
Well, the center section consists of large and small lugs that intersect with each other. While the tire is wheeling, these lugs play like they are whole. This decreases the void area and provides a quiet and cozy ride. Moreover, its same-sized shoulder blocks decrease the noise level significantly.
Nitto Recon Grappler offers a luxurious and deaf ride. I strongly recommend it.
A side note here: Even though some tires tend to make noise because of their tread patterns, it’s still possible to keep your tire noise down.
I’m leaving a perfect explanation below from DiscountTire for those who need it;
How to Keep Tire Noise Down? –>
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise
Mileage
Nitto Recon Grappler is the typical Southern region tire. It might have some defects in the matter of winter performance. However, this is mostly caused by its stiff compound and a limited amount of sipes.
These two may be the enemy of snow grip. However, they extend the tread life significantly.
Because of its compact pattern, limited sipes, and stiff compound, Nitto Recon Grappler provides long-lasting rubber. I strongly recommend it if tread life is your priority.
Getting maximum wear life from a tire is related to you as well as your tire,
If you’d like to learn how to get maximum tread life:
Warranty
Nitto offers two different warranty mileage depending on the tire spec.
P-Metric Tires (XL & SL load range):
- Nitto offers 65,000 miles treadwear warranty for Recon Grappler’s P-metric sizes.
LT & Flotation Metric Tires:
- Nitto offers 55,000 miles treadwear warranty for Recon Grappler’s LT and Flotation metric sizes.
If you’d like to check Nitto’s warranty owners manual: https://www.nittotire.com/media/hb4fofou/nitto_plt-warranty-owners-manual_2015.pdf
Fuel Efficiency
Nitto Recon Grappler is a highway-oriented all-terrain tire that provides low rolling resistance. Hence, Recon Grappler A/T is a great tire if you’d like to save money and come out aggressive at the same time.
Because of its,
- Lightweight
- Limited sipes
- Stiff compound
Nitto Recon Grappler provides a satisfying MPG.
Off-Road Performance
Well, the off-road performance of all-terrain tires is the game changer. However, some people prefer these tires only for appearance and the mild off-roads like gravel and sand.
So, Nitto Recon Grappler is a great option if you meet the above conditions. Yet, the key to this tire is air-down driving. Well, I have to admit that you should decrease your PSI level if you want solid all-terrain traction from Nitto Recon Grappler.
From now on, I’ll separately evaluate its performance regarding off-road conditions. Let’s move on.
- A side note here: If you’d like to see the best all-terrain tires by vehicle or usage, this article is GOOOOLD –> https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
Gravel
Nitto Recon Grappler handles the gravel very well due to its wide tread blocks. The advantage of these blocks is they prevent rock holding. So, you can get consistent gravel traction.
Though worth reminding, if you’d like to get the best out of this tire, you should drop the air pressure.
Nitto Recon Grappler is a great tire for gravel driving and overlanding.
Mud
Mud driving is where you should pay more attention. Well, Recon Grappler can handle light mud with ease because of its relatively shallow tread and wide circumferential grooves.
In this case, the issue is self-cleaning. It can clean itself but a bit of spinning is a must for a decent cleaning and continuous traction.
I do recommend Recon Grappler only for light trail mud. This isn’t a tire for a deep mud adventure.
Sand
Due to their shallow tread depth, Nitto Recon Grappler is a great option for sand driving. Well, if you’re okay to drop air pressure.
So, a less aggressive pattern works best on the sand. So, when you drop the air pressure, the center section of the Recon Grappler becomes more compact and doesn’t dig too deep. So, you don’t get stuck.
I strongly recommend Recon Grappler if sand driving is your priority.
Rock Crawling
Regarding rock crawling, the equation is simple. The more rubber on the rock, the more traction you get.
In this case, the vital part is the sidewalls. Rock crawling is a severe off-road and you might get a flat tire with a bit touch of sharp rock edges.
Well, for this reason, I recommend rock crawling only for LT sizes which have beefy sidewall protectors compared to P-metric sizes.
Even though dropping air pressure is a must, Nitto Recon Grappler is one of the best rock-crawling tires because of its strong (3-ply) sidewalls and a compact center section that provides great traction on the air-drop conditions.
Sizes
| Tire Size | Wheel Diameter | Load Range | Ply Rating | Tread Depth(/32in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LT305/65R18 F 128/125R | 18” | F | 12 | 16.3 |
| LT305/70R18 D 120/117R | 18” | D | 8 | 16.3 |
| LT325/60R18 E 124/121S | 18” | E | 10 | 16.4 |
| LT325/65R18 E 127/124R | 18” | E | 10 | 16.4 |
| 35×12.50R18LT F 128R | 18” | F | 12 | 16.9 |
| 37×12.50R18LT E 128R | 18” | E | 10 | 16.9 |
| 265/50R20 111T XL | 20” | XL | – | 13.4 |
| LT265/60R20 E 121/118S | 20” | E | 10 | 15.7 |
| 275/55R20 117T XL | 20” | XL | – | 13.5 |
| LT275/55R20 E 120/117S | 20” | E | 10 | 15.9 |
| 275/60R20 116S XL | 20” | XL | – | 13.5 |
| LT275/60R20 E 123/120S | 20” | E | 10 | 15.9 |
| 275/65R20 116T | 20” | – | – | 13.5 |
| LT275/65R20 E 126/123S | 20” | E | 10 | 15.9 |
| 285/50R20 116T XL | 20” | XL | – | 13.6 |
| 285/55R20 116T XL | 20” | XL | – | 13.6 |
| LT285/55R20 E 122/119S | 20” | E | 10 | 16.0 |
| LT285/60R20 E 125/122S | 20” | E | 10 | 16.0 |
| LT285/65R20 E 127/124S | 20” | E | 10 | 16.0 |
| LT295/55R20 E 123/120S | 20” | E | 10 | 16.1 |
| LT295/60R20 E 126/123S | 20” | E | 10 | 16.1 |
| LT295/65R20 E 129/126S | 20” | E | 10 | 16.1 |
| 305/50R20 120S XL | 20” | XL | 13.9 | |
| 305/55R20 116S | 20” | – | – | 13.9 |
| LT305/55R20 F 125/122S | 20” | F | 12 | 16.3 |
| 315/60R20 116S | 20” | – | – | 14.0 |
| LT315/60R20 E 125/122S | 20” | E | 10 | 16.3 |
| LT325/60R20 E 126/123S | 20” | E | 10 | 16.4 |
| 34×11.50R20LT E 121R | 20” | E | 10 | 16.9 |
| 35×11.50R20LT E 124R | 20” | E | 10 | 16.9 |
| 33×12.50R20LT F 119R | 20” | F | 12 | 16.9 |
| 35×12.50R20LT F 125R | 20” | F | 12 | 16.9 |
| 285/45R22 114H XL | 22” | XL | – | 13.6 |
| LT285/50R22 E 121/118S | 22” | E | 10 | 16.0 |
| LT285/55R22 E 124/121S | 22” | E | 10 | 16.0 |
| 305/40R22 114S XL | 22” | XL | – | 13.9 |
| 305/45R22 118S XL | 22” | XL | – | 13.9 |
| 305/55R22 116S | 22” | – | – | 13.9 |
| 315/45R22 116S | 22” | – | – | 14.0 |
| LT325/50R22 F 127S | 22” | F | 12 | 16.4 |
| 33×12.50R22LT F 114R | 22” | F | 12 | 16.9 |
| 35×12.50R22LT F 121R | 22” | F | 12 | 16.9 |
| 37×13.50R22LT F 128R | 22” | F | 12 | 16.9 |
| LT295/45R24 E 120/117R | 24” | E | 10 | 16.1 |
| 305/35R24 112S XL | 24” | XL | – | 13.9 |
| 315/45R24 116S | 24” | – | – | 14.0 |
| LT315/50R24 F 127/124S | 24” | F | 12 | 16.3 |
| LT325/45R24 F 124R | 24” | F | 12 | 16.4 |
| 35×12.50R24LT F 116R | 24” | F | 12 | 16.9 |
| 37×13.50R24LT F 124R | 24” | F | 12 | 16.9 |
| LT305/70R16 F 128/125R | 16” | F | 12 | 16.3 |
| LT315/75R16 E 127/124R | 16” | E | 10 | 15.7 |
| LT255/80R17 E 123/120R | 17” | E | 10 | 15.6 |
| LT265/70R17 E 123/120S | 17” | E | 10 | 15.7 |
| 285/70R17 116T | 17” | – | – | 13.6 |
| LT285/70R17 E 126/123S | 17′ | E | 10 | 16.0 |
| LT285/75R17 E 128/125R | 17” | E | 10 | 16.0 |
| LT295/70R17 E 128/125R | 17” | E | 10 | 16.1 |
| LT305/70R17 E 125/122R | 17” | E | 10 | 16.3 |
| 315/70R17 116T | 17” | – | – | 14.0 |
| LT315/70R17 E 126/123R | 17” | E | 10 | 16.3 |
| 33×11.50R17LT D 119S | 17” | D | 8 | 16.9 |
| 37×11.50R17LT D 128R | 17” | D | 8 | 16.9 |
| 33×12.50R17LT F 124R | 17” | F | 12 | 16.9 |
| 35×12.50R17LT E 125R | 17” | E | 10 | 16.9 |
| 37×12.50R17LT D 124R | 17” | D | 8 | 16.9 |
| LT275/70R18 E 125/122S | 18” | E | 10 | 15.9 |
| LT285/65R18 E 125/122R | 18” | E | 10 | 16.0 |
| LT285/70R18 E 127/124R | 18” | E | 10 | 16.0 |
| LT285/75R18 E 129/126R | 18” | E | 10 | 16.0 |
| 295/70R18 116S | 18” | – | – | 13.7 |
| LT295/70R18 E 129/126R | 18” | E | 10 | 16.1 |
| 305/60R18 116S | 18” | – | – | 13.9 |
Most tire sizes begin with modifier letters(P, LT, etc.) that identify the type of vehicle or type of service for which they were designed. Here is a perfect guide for reading tire size –> https://tireterrain.com/how-to-read-tire-size/
A side note here: If you are planning to upsize or downsize from your original equipment size (changing tire size with a smaller or bigger size), or if you have already done, it’s crucial to remember that changing tire size will decrease the accuracy of your speedometer. If this is the case, I strongly recommend checking DiscountTire Speedometer Guide.
Specs
| Nitto Recon Grappler | |
|---|---|
| Category | Hybrid All-Terrain Tire |
| Vehicle | Light Truck, SUV, Jeep |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”, 22”, 24” |
| Weight | 40 – 83 lbs |
| Made In | White, GA, USA |
| Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF) | No (Only M+S) |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 65,000 miles |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 55,000 miles |
| Prices | Check price section to see best possible prices |
Price
The tire market has a dynamic price policy. Hence, in my point of view, sharing tire price is pointless.
Though, I’ve analyzed the top 10 brands of most popular tire brands.
Here are the dealers with a reasonable price range,
DiscountTire
- Biggest dealer in the US. Founded in 1960
- 1000 stores in 35 states. You most probably find one on your parallel street
- Free rotation and balancing
- 5% off for DiscountTire cardholders on online purchases
- Highest-rated online tire dealer in Consumer Affairs
- Almost all brands are available
- Delivery takes 2-4 days (30% shorter average waiting time when you book online)
- Frequent discounts and promotions
Nitto Recon Grappler: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/nitto-recon-grappler-a-t
SimpleTire
- Free shipping
- Delivered in 2 days
- Verified shops near you(for mount and balance)
- Mobile installation option
- 7 million customers since 2021
- 4.7/5 points on Google rate
- Top-notch customer service, you may even request a price match
Nitto Recon Grappler: https://simpletire.com/brands/nitto-tires/recon-grappler-a-t
Amazon
- Fast and free shipping (mostly in a day)
- Get your tires shipped to a selected service center or get them installed at home or work (how does it work?)
- Installation on Mavis Discount Tire (15$ per tire)
- Installing new stem valves supplied by pro
- Balancing your tires
- Road/safety test
- Since Amazon provides wholesale and affordable prices, they don’t offer a road hazard warranty
Nitto Recon Grappler: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Nitto+recon+grappler&ref=nb_sb_noss
While choosing dealers, I especially pay attention to reliability. All of the dealers on this list have 15-20 years of experience in the online tire business. Therefore, I can guarantee a smooth and fast tire-buying process.
Conclusion
Nitto Recon Grappler (see other off-road tires comparison on Nitto’s line-up) is one of the best southern region all-terrain tires that can combine cozy and quiet rides with mild off-road traction. You can follow the below information for a better tire selection.
| Nitto Recon Grappler | |
|---|---|
| Best for | Warm regions, cozy & quiet ride, rock crawling, beach driving, gravel traction |
| Best Vehicle Fits | Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500, Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, Toyota Tacoma |
| Vehicle | 3/4 ton or below Light Truck, SUV, Jeep |
| Available Sizes | 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”, 22”, 24” (Ensure these tires fit your vehicle) |
| Made In | White, GA, USA |
| Labels | M+S |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 65,000 miles |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 55,000 miles |
| Prices | DiscountTire: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
Take-Home Points,
- LT sizes have stronger sidewalls. That feature makes them more durable. Yet, these tires offer a rougher ride. (LT vs P-Metric tires)
- XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, if you’ll go with p-metric sizes, they might be a better pick for hauling and towing( XL vs SL tires)
- Please pay attention to the load range and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
- There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires
A side note here: If you’d like to get local advice and find the best fit for your driving habits, location, and road conditions DiscountTire – Treadwell Tire Guide can give you masterpiece recommendations.
I hope the article was helpful. If you have any further questions, you can leave them in the below section. Have a safe ride folks!
Fantastic article on these Recon Grapplers. I’m in need of a new set of tires for my 2014 Jeep Wrangler ‘4-door. It is a daily driver for my wife, though she only averages 12k miles/yr. The vehicle currently has a set of Nitto Terra Grappler G2’s that I have been very happy with. To date, we have driven 50k miles on them and they’ve performed well. Here’s some details on the Jeep:
– Jeep is all stock with no lift
– 17 x 9 wheels (Mayhem Warrior)
– 285/70/17 Terra Grappler G2’s
– 99.5% of driving is city/hwy driving in the Dallas area
– Jeep has never been “off-roading”, with the exception of an occasional dirt or gravel road
Based on your review, the Recon would provide a smoother, quieter ride than the Terra Grapplers?
Could you confirm that this size is what you would recommend? At the time, it was the size that Discount Tire recommended without a lift, and they give the Jeep a much nicer look (Just Empty Every Pocket).
Also would like to know load range and other specs if you could.
Many thanks!
Hello there sorry for the late reply,
Since you’re living in Dallas, I think Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is a better option for you.
Though, Nitto Recon Grappler can provide better off-road traction and appearance. On the other hand, it offers a slightly rougher ride than Terra Grappler G2.
Regarding tire size, it may give you a better appearance but worth reminding, increase the tire width will increase your fuel consumption and decrease the handling capability.
So, if your wife is happy with the consumption and handling, you can still use this size. But I still recommend 255/75R17 SL or C-rated tires, as far as I remember this is recommended size (the best way to decide that checking your vehicle’s door or manual and using recommended size).
BTW, you can consider Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S of Toyo Open Country AT3 also. These two have a wide product range which can help you to select the best fit for yourself.
I hope it helps.
Let me know if you need any further support.