Tires: Duratrac, Nitto Ridge Grapler, ... or?

TW,

I am actually a tire guy. With that said I know tires can perform specific to certain vehicles. I have been out of the garage for a few years and need some input.

I have a ‘20 TRD OR-P. I am pretty set on a 285/70-17. Yes I have the clearance for it. I am running:
2” RC spacer and 2” block in the rear with Black Rhino Chambers and P285/70-17 Nitto RG.

I hate the Pmetric look on the RG and have parts on parts on parts on ordered for when I get home (deployed). I want to stay away from a load range E tire and want something for 75/25 street/ light trail capability. It will likely snow where I move to next.

I think I narrowed it down to a LRC Trail Grappler or Duratrac (not usually a GY guy but they talk). Any input or other quality options? Price not an issue.

 

My truck came with the 285/70R17 Trail Grapplers brand new. I have put 800 miles on the tires and truck. I went 4-wheeling a couple of times and they did great. See pick for the terrain we were on. This is my first experience with these tires. I have had other mud terrain tires as well on different vehicles. I noticed they are pretty quiet on the highway but are a bit grabby and so you move around a bit. Lifted trucks are like that anyhow for the most part. Have not been in snow yet obviously, although I could still go find some around here if I really wanted to try them.

 

Thanks for the reply!

What load range ?

like I said I have the same tire in a Pmetric load range. It was a misunderstanding but I have them sold once they are off already so no big deal.

I almost want to put the GY on because it is something new and everyone raves about them in the snow. I figured I would let the masses decide. I have 2 month until I come home and in 1 month I will put in the order. Don’t fail me TW !!!

 

There are no downsides to going with an E rated tire and a lot of upsides. Compared to a P rated tire you get a lot more sidewall protection off road and on rough roads. Once you get the air pressure figured out they ride just fine. There are far fewer options in C and D rated tires and they are neither fish nor fowl to me. I'd rather have an E rated tire. The C rated tires are rated for less weight than P's and D rated tires the same.

I put a set of these Pirelli's on my Ford 6 months ago, side by side with BFG KO2's for comparison. So far I'm extremely pleased. They are great in mud and rain. I've not had them in snow yet, but they have the 3 peak symbol so they should be good. They were about $400 less than the BFG's also

 

I fully understand the E comparison to the other load ranges. Ultimately I don’t need E sidewalk protection. I am more concerned about the weight. Tacoma’s are sluggish as it is and a C to and E is a 9 lbs difference on average. Less options yes, but the two that I narrowed it down to have C-D- and E. Not against the E just not specifically looking for it!

thanks for the reply!

 

Also- the Pmetric tire install was a miss understanding... I sent my wife in to get them installed while I was away and...anyway... not another word about that.

the tread depth from the P to the LT rated tires is significantly different and sidewall is less aggressive!

 

I don't know what the Trail Grapplers weigh, but Falken Wildpeaks are a very popular tire with a lot of T4R owners, myself included, have a good winter rating, and come in a C load rated LT285/70-17 size. A possibility.

 

was going to vote "Whichever is lighter" - I had the Nittos on my old truck and loved them - changed only because I got a screaming-good-deal on bigger Duratracs - which I didn't love more than the nittos.

 

hmmmmm...
how did the Nittos do in the snow?

anyone else have experience with both?

 

I had mine siped and they did solidly the one winter i used them. Not perfect. For the other Michigan winters I went with dedicated snows - if i recall they were about 31"-ish, whereas the nittos were 33"-ish

Edit --I think my nittos were the mud terrains though - mud-graplers maybe? was that the name? It's been six years or more.

 

Yea I have had trail grapplers... if I went with a MT I would go KM3 or STT Pro by Cooper... maybe the Yokohama.

that’s a big difference in snow to what the RG should provide

 

I don't think you'll notice 9 lbs per tire difference. The tire size changes your effective gearing, so any 33 will have that going against it. 33s are completely drivable though.

 

Have had both the Trail Grappler and Ridge Grappler in snow use. Trail grappler would slip on packed stuff, had no major issues with the Ridge Grapplers though.

 

It's said every 1lbs of un-sprung mass is like 10lbs in the car. I'd wager 9lbs of unsprung mass would be a significant difference. If that is 9lbs per tire? then yeah..that's a lot.

 

I think they are E rated. I am a little hesitant how the Trail Grapplers will do in the snow. Love them on the trails though for sure!!

 

Having run Falkens in both SL and E load, yeah there are some downsides to E load despite Marshall's post. Namely the E load was noticeably more jarring to drive and the weight was apparent even for daily use. I eventually swapped them out for the ridge grapplers and then for Cooper XLTs. Even going from the ridge grapplers to the XLTs and dropping about 5lbs per tire was noticeable for daily use.

 

again worked at a shop for 7 years (throughout Hs and College)... it makes a difference. Yes 9 per tire.
The ‘20 seems less gear sticky than my ‘08 and ‘19 though.

yea I am planning on a C preferably... unless there is another tire that out shines these two. For hundred tires though these two seem to take the cake.


I will start another thread on best music tire and eventually make the winners of both go head to head...

I need sports back

 

I think C might be best. D and E are just too big and there's really not much I can do to handle those sizes. A and B are a little light for me...

hang - on. are you talking tires? doh. Sorry.

 

Can you define "light trail" use?

If that includes anything in sharp rocks or areas of sharp sticks, in areas that will leave you far from assistance, I'd pass on the Duratracs. I know, a lot of guys run them and "they do fine" and they have no problems. My own experience (and experiences of many I found with google searches when I got back from a trip where I lost 3 of them) shows the risk of easily compromised sidewalls.

Gravel type roads not too far from help, then potentially worth consideration I suppose.

They did do pretty well in the snow. But also got quite loud once they had some miles on them.

Have not run the Ridge Grapplers, but see no like mention of numerous failures.

 

I feel that my Duratracs perform worse in winter conditions than other tires I’ve had. They’re fine in the dry and deep snow, but don’t perform as well in wet snow or ice as say BFG All Terrains or Dynapro Atm’s. My last set of tires before the Duratracs was a set of Laufen AT’s and those did much better in the snow than the Duratracs do.