Nitto Ridge Grappler Review

I swore I wouldn't curse on this forum but DAMN! Now tell me what your Mpg's are please.
Thanks,
Rob

 

Thank you for the information @KelticAngel. I really like how well the 265's fill the wheel wells. Appreciate the post.
Rob

 

Love it! Hey @imtaconico, since you're going on a year can you comment more on your MPGs, any snow action, and wear amount?

Thanks,
Rob

 

I'll have to get back to ya on MPG's......its to soon to see. I hope I was of some help to you. Hit me up...I don't mind.

 

HAHAHAHA I smell something fishy....likely 12 MPG Just kidding. But I would like to know. I mean, I have two vehicles that I drive to work. One is the Taco, and we use that in harsh weather, weekends, and vacations to the beach. I would say about 10k miles a year. The other vehicle is a hybrid and I generally average 37 MPGs in that, and it is driven mainly for our commute to the city and back (88 miles round trip) 5 days a week, weather permitting. I am currently averaging 19-20 MPGs in the Taco with the Toyo's that came with it. Those tires will be fine until we get closer to winter. On my Tundra, and 4Runner I switched the tires immediately because I couldn't trust them in the slushy snow. Even 4" was dangerous over 40 mph. I did a lot of research and decided on the Duratracs in the OEM sizes both times and those tires out of everything else I have ever driving in the snow up in my neck of the woods were superior. It has definitely got to be the amount of sipes per tread block. I traded the Tundra for the 4Runner before the tires could wear out and traded the 4Runner for the Taco at 56k miles. The Duratracs on the 4Runner (which also needed brakes and rotors at the time) were wearing so weird. Every other block along the outside on all 4 were wearing lower than the other blocks. It was the strangest thing. As a result the sound would give you a headache after an hour in the vehicle. Not only that but traction was really bad. Even after it had been raining for a while, surface streets were like oil covered ice. The traction nannies were going off constantly. They definitely became dangerous. The sad part was, they still had 8mm of the 16mm tread depth left. I had them rotated regularly too.

I liked the tires a lot and the sidewalls are just aggressive enough to make them look good on just about any vehicle. The Ridge Grapplers though take that look to the next level. On the down side, the RGs do not have have as many sipes on each tread block as the DTs. So that has me worried a little. My driveways are super steep. One inch of snow and you are not getting up either of them (its a big loop type) in any front wheel drive car. I had Goodyear Assurance Triple Treads (winter snow rated tire, very expensive) and they were like glue on dry or wet but on my Nissan Altima I could not get up my asphalt driveways. A waste of money. On my 4WD vehicles, I have run BFGs, General Grabbers, Pro Comp X Terrains, and Duratracs. None walked up the driveways like the DTs. The Grabbers were the worse of course. Followed by the BFGs. Of course these are all older model tires from years ago and likely tread patterns are a little different and rubber compounds are likely softer and designed more for colder temps, but no lie, with nearly 8" of snow on the drive way, in 4WD high, my 4Runner would not slip with the DTs.

I am really hoping to read some honest, unbiased snow reviews with the Ridge Grapplers. From guys on the east coast, hopefully in Maryland. Snow is so different region to region. My buddy in New Mexico, lives at around 7300k feet elevation gets more snow than us most of the time. He swears by Michelin LTX's. The thing is, his snow is much drier than ours. So the type of snow definitely plays an important role.

Also, what sucks for me is, I can leave work from downtown Baltimore, at say 6:30 - 7:00 pm and temps are between 36 - 45 degrees, with a light snow, and by the time I get up to the country, the county has salted so much that what would normally be slush, because of the 10 degree lower temp difference now you are driving on a thin coat of ice with slush over it. There is one stretch of road or leg of the trip that normally would be 10 minutes, has taken over an hour and you have to weave through disabled cars on the side (2" maintenace shoulder). So I definitely need something that can get the wife and I (we commute together) home safely.

I hope the Ridge Grapplers can do that.

Rob

 

MPG's are truly build-dependent...roof rack, bed storage weight, added weight with rtt, etc. it will differ from rig to rig. I can tell you that when I first installed the shoes, I lost about 1-2 mpg.

ALL-TERRAIN testing has proven very successful!!! This is over the stock Firestones and BFG Ko2's. Where the ko2's would pack on the snow and mud causing spinning unnecessarily, the NRG's just don't.

Wear amount seems to be similar to the ko2's. I have about 18k on them, mostly freeway commute.

I have the wider 285's that do create a bit more friction when turning over say a pizza cutter 255.

Overall, I am VERY SATISFIED with these tires! Commuting is a pleasure with very low noise and off-roading is amazing no matter the terrain.

Hope this helps and thanks for asking
Any other questions, feel free to lmk.

Edit: I read your comment above just now...snow?? Lots of it?? I've heard Duratracs 255's are good for that. I'm in SoCal, so we only see snow if we travel to it. That being said, the NRG's perform well in the snow I've been in out here---2-3.5' banks. Hope that helps.

 

Good morning @imtaconico,

Perfect info. I do understand that no two rides will be the same, but knowing you only dropped 1 mpg initially is all the facts I need to hear. I'm guessing the average is from 1 to 3 or 4 max less. I plan staying with the milder size of this tire (265/70r17) and according to Nitto that's a E range version. I'm hoping that helps.

I'm even more happy to hear your snow report. I experienced the same issue with BFGs loading so I'm very happy to hear these don't.

Wear is another area that draws BFG fans. I will even say this is true. Nice that the NRG wears great too.

Sounds like it the 3 major desired characteristics going for it!

Thanks,
Rob

 

Really happy with these on my 2011 Tacoma 4x4 that my son drives. After two sets of Duratracs, I decided to give these a try. Really happy with them so far.

 

Hey Rob, I've run two tanks of gas AROUND TOWN no road trips, 15.19 and 15.63 so I'm very pleased. I was expecting around 13-14.

 

Yea, not 21 like I am getting but then again I think your tires will be larger than what I intend to run (265/70r17). Remind me again what size you have please?

Oh, picked these up yesterday to wrap them around:



Rob

 

285/70R17. I'm thinking 18 on open road. Also at 60 mph I'm actually covering the distance of 64 miles. either way theres no chance of looking back.... btw sharp looking wheels!

 

Yea, that's what I thought you said you were running. I love the sidewalls of these Ridge Grapplers but I am really second guessing the MPGs. I hate being vane.

Thanks, I think those wheels will go great with the Inferno Sport.

 

Getting mine mounted next Friday​

 

what size @ChadsPride ?

 

285/70/17​

 

Noice! If I wasn't so old I'd be right there with ya.

 

Haha! What does that mean?

 

Cause if I were younger then I wouldn't have as many bills and more money to burn and would be rockin' a 6" lift with 36's! Not the measly 265/70's tryin' to save a buck if possible. LOL

 

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