Nitto Tire U.S.A., Inc., has released its new off-road tire, the Trail Grappler M/T. The tire blends some of the off-road performance of the Mud Grappler with the on-road comfort of the Terra Grappler, to create a tire that is both aggressive and quiet.
“The Trail Grappler M/T is engineered to be a trail-ready tire without compromising on-road comfort and performance,” said Anthony Lee, Staff Engineer at Nitto Tire. “We used advanced computer design and analysis to test the functionality of multiple designs before building the tire. This allowed us to engineer a tire that will perform to our customer’s expectations.”
For off-road performance, the sidewall combines a 3-ply high turn-up construction with a thick rubber compound that cushions the tire and helps prevent punctures. On the tread surface, the blocks are configured to provide additional biting edges that command lateral stability and enhance forward traction. When navigating tough terrain, the balanced void ratio and stone ejectors help clear debris from the tread to provide continuous traction.
For on-road comfort, Nitto’s engineers used advanced sound analysis equipment when developing the Trail Grappler M/T to reduce noise levels commonly associated with off-road tires. The internal construction and tread design also help optimize treadlife. Two wide steel belts provide a stable base for the tire and increase tread strength. This advanced construction provides optimal uniformity and reduces irregular wear. On the outer shoulder block the reinforced grooves maintain block stiffness to further extend the life of the tires.
The Trail Grappler is available now. Initial sizes will range from 32- to 37-inch overall diameters with popular sizes for full-sized trucks, Jeeps and SUVS.