Nitto and Toyo became siblings when Toyo expanded its business operations to the United States. As a result, these tires are manufactured in the same factory. Both brands have been included in the company’s lineup for a specific purpose: to provide a balance between smooth on-road performance and the capability to handle mild off-road conditions. Although they may not excel as all-round tires, they are ideal choices if you understand their specific areas of expertise. Let me help you with this!
| Nitto Terra Grappler G2 | Toyo Open Country AT2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Daily driving, Wet and winter traction, CUVs and SUVs | Dry regions, weekend overlanders, working trucks, 3/4 ton or above trucks |
| Pros | Smooth and quiet ride long-lasting rubber, satisfying wet and winter grip | Long-lasting rubber, decent off-road performance, hauling & towing capability |
| Cons | Limited off-road performance | Average performance on wet and snowy surfaces, Rough and a bit noisy |
As a former Bridgestone engineer, I perceive that both the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 and the Toyo Open Country AT2 exhibit comparable handling capabilities on highways and city streets. However, the Toyo Open Country AT2 gains an edge with its robust sidewalls, making it a superior choice for hauling and towing. Conversely, this strength contributes to a rougher ride. Additionally, due to its rigid compound, the winter performance of the Toyo Open Country AT2 falls short of the Nitto Terra Grappler G2. Therefore, I recommend the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 for daily driving and the Toyo Open Country AT2 for heavy-duty applications.
All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet
Finding the ideal all-terrain tire among the plethora of options available can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, my team and I have taken on this challenge head-on. Besides our hands-on experiences with these tires, we also analyze thousands of customer reviews and test reports.
We also analyzed ‘What customer complains more about all-terrain tires?’. Even though some of these complains are coming from the nature of all-terrain tires, there is still way to prevent yourself from these issues. Below, you can see articles about, hydroplaning, tire noise
- How to reduce tire noise?
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise - Tire Vibration
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-vibration - Tire Air Pressure – How to Decide?
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-air-pressure-info
Please note that: Light-Duty is 1500 series, Medium-Duty is 2500 series and Heavy-Duty is 3500 series. If you do towing or hauling, I recommend considering at least Medium-Duty tires.
Mobile users can scroll the table to the left to see the whole data.
For those who prefer a more textual representation and dislike sifting through tables of data:
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires-for-snow/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-1-2-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-3-4-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-rt-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-tires-for-snow-plowing/
A couple of popular size analyses:
- https://tireterrain.com/best-35×12-50r20-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-285-70r17-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-275-55r20-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-275-65r18-all-terrain-tires/
Want to learn more about all-terrain tires:
- https://tireterrain.com/highway-tires-vs-all-terrain-vs-mud-terrain/
- https://tireterrain.com/all-season-vs-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/tire-load-index-and-load-range/
- https://tireterrain.com/lt-tires-vs-passenger-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-for-daily-driving/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-in-snow/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-loud/
- https://tireterrain.com/how-long-do-all-terrain-tires-last/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-in-rain/
- https://tireterrain.com/off-road-tire-pressure-load-range-for-every-rig/
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
Nitto Terra Grappler G2
The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is primarily designed as an on-road all-terrain tire, with a strong emphasis on delivering excellent on-road performance.
In terms of off-road traction capability, it ranks lower in Nitto’s all-terrain tire lineup. However, where it truly shines is its outstanding performance on highways and streets, surpassing many other tires within Nitto’s tire range. Moreover, the tire is marked with 3PMSF which is proof of cold weather performance.
It’s worth noting that this tire may not be the best choice for towing or hauling heavy loads due to its relatively weak sidewalls. Therefore, it might not be the most suitable option for vehicles like 3/4-ton trucks or heavier.
In summary, the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is a solid choice if you spend the majority of your time on the road and prioritize on-road manners and performance.
Toyo Open Country AT2
The Toyo Open Country AT2 is an older-generation off-road all-terrain tire from Toyo. While the newer second-generation Toyo Open Country AT3 has gained popularity, the Toyo Open Country AT2 still remains a strong choice, particularly for individuals residing in warm regions.
One of the standout features of the Toyo Open Country AT2 is its exceptionally durable and stiff compound, which contributes to its longevity. However, this durability comes at a cost as it affects its performance on wet and winter surfaces, and it lacks the 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) marking. Nevertheless, the siped pattern and stiff compound make it a viable option, especially for 3/4 ton trucks or heavier vehicles, even in wet conditions.
In summary, the Toyo Open Country AT2 is a suitable choice for those who are willing to tolerate a rougher ride in exchange for maximum durability, making it particularly appealing for drivers in warm climates.
Overview
I’d like to start by highlighting a significant difference between Nitto and Toyo in terms of their target markets.
Now, Toyo Open Country AT2 is currently available only in E-rated and F-rated sizes, which are more suitable for heavy-duty applications. On the other hand, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 primarily focuses on passenger-metric sizes.
So, your specific needs and vehicle type should guide your choice between these two tires. If you reside in a warm area and drive a 3/4 ton or above truck, I would recommend considering the Toyo Open Country AT2. However, for daily drivers with relatively smaller vehicles, the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 could be the better tire option.
Highway Performance
In my experience, Toyo Open Country AT2 and Nitto Terra Grappler G2 stand poles apart in terms of their highway performance.
Toyo Open Country AT2 tends to offer a rougher ride and generates a bit more noise on the road. On the upside, it impresses with its responsiveness and cornering stability, thanks to those sturdy sidewalls.
Conversely, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 has proven to outperform Toyo Open Country AT2, particularly in wet and winter conditions. It provides superior traction and control in these scenarios.
In summary, I find that Nitto Terra Grappler G2 excels in day-to-day driving comfort, making it a solid choice. However, if I were towing and hauling in dry regions, Toyo Open Country AT2 would be my go-to option.
Off-Road Performance
Toyo Open Country AT2 takes the lead here with its stiffer sidewall and more aggressive tread pattern, making it better suited for off-road adventures. It’s clear that Toyo designed this tire with rugged off-road conditions in mind.
On the other hand, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 and Toyo Open Country AT2 both fall into the category of concept tires. If you’re aiming to strike a balance between daily driving comfort and mild off-road capabilities, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is the tire for you. However, if you’re tackling heavy-duty applications or rough off-road terrains (excluding mud), Toyo Open Country AT2 emerges as the better choice.
In summary, Toyo Open Country AT2 shines in severe off-road conditions like rock crawling. Meanwhile, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 handles dirt and gravel terrain admirably, making it an ideal pick for those scenarios.
Treadlife
As I mentioned earlier, these tires cater to different vehicles and riding conditions.
When it comes to the same size, Toyo Open Country AT2 stands out thanks to its stiff compound. It offers excellent durability and performance in that regard. However, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 shouldn’t be overlooked, as it also provides impressive tread life, making it a solid choice for daily driving needs.
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 purchase
- 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
Toyo Open Country AT2: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/toyo-tire-open-country-a-t-ii
Nitto Terra Grappler G2: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/nitto-terra-grappler-g2
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
Toyo Open Country AT2: https://simpletire.com/brands/toyo-tires/open-country-a-t-ii
Nitto Terra Grappler G2: https://simpletire.com/brands/nitto-tires/terra-grappler-g2
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
Toyo Open Country AT2 and Nitto Terra Grappler G2 are totally different tires that performs differently.
While Toyo Open Country AT2 is made for heavy duty usage, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is a better option for daily usage. Moreover, Nitto also steps ahead regarding wet and winter performance. However, Toyo Open Country AT2 is a better option for towing or hauling.
Take-Home Points,
- If your vehicle can use both P-metric or LT tires, p-metric ones are a better option for daily driving. Yet, they have weaker sidewall(LT vs P-metric Tires)
- XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, if you 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
I hope the article was helpful. Let me know if you need any further support.
Toyo Open Country AT2 and Nitto Terra Grappler G2 are two distinct tires designed for different purposes and performance characteristics.
Toyo Open Country AT2 is tailored for heavy-duty usage, making it a suitable choice for tasks that involve towing or hauling. On the other hand, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 excels as a daily driving tire, particularly shining in wet and winter conditions.
Here are some key takeaways:
- If your vehicle can accommodate both P-metric and LT tires, P-metric ones are generally better suited for everyday driving. However, it’s important to note that they come with weaker sidewalls compared to LT tires.
- XL (Extra Load) sizes typically offer higher load-carrying capacity and improved handling. If you opt for P-metric sizes, they might be a preferable choice for tasks involving hauling and towing.(XL vs SL Tires)
- Pay close attention to the load range and speed index ratings, as they are crucial factors in determining tread life and overall tire performance.
It’s worth emphasizing that there are no “bad” tires in the market; the key is to understand your specific needs and expectations when selecting the right tire for your vehicle.
I hope you found this article helpful. If you have any further questions or need additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
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