Nitto Recon Grappler: The Perfect All-Terrain For Trucks That Are Used As Trucks

• November 27, 2024
• Story By
  Mike McGlothlin

It’s no secret that all-terrain tires own the pickup truck segment. Their unique balance between off-road performance and on-road manners makes them the perfect fit for America’s do-everything vehicle. Predictably, this means the A/T tire segment is crowded, and highly competitive. Not only do truck owners want an all-terrain tire that performs, but one that looks good doing it. When Nitto introduced the Recon Grappler back in 2021, it delivered on both of those fronts, but it also delivered on virtually every other meaningful tire metric.

The Recon Grappler’s huge tread blocks and deep voids break rank from traditional all-terrains in its class, and its pattern for traction has proven more than capable on the trail. But in addition to being well-suited for off-road ventures—and its looks suggestive of those off-road capabilities—the Recon Grappler operates stealthily at highway speeds, maintains its grip on the road over wet surfaces, and can be had with high load-carrying capacities. If the Recon Grappler isn’t the most versatile, all-around tire in the all-terrain market, it’s darn close.

Recon Grappler Hard Facts

All-Terrains And Trucks—A Natural Fit

Trucks like these arguably helped make the all-terrain tire market what it is today. A tire that can hold its own off road, that boasts a heavy-duty load carrying capacity, provides for quiet operation, and that brings exceptional ride quality to the table—all while lasting 50,000 miles (or more)—will always sell well in this segment. Perhaps that’s why Nitto’s Recon Grappler has been so successful. It’s an all-terrain that’s proven capable of performing above average in every type of environment, and in any season of the year. With 86 sizes available (for wheel diameters ranging from 16-inch to 24’s), there is a Recon Grappler for you and your truck.

Multiple Sizing Options, For Virtually Any Size Wheel

In the world of 20-inch and larger rims, it’s nice to know Nitto still manufactures a 16 for the trucks of old. As long as they keep supporting us, we’ll continue to run them on this ’97 F-350 workhorse. Plus-sizing things a bit, we mounted a set of LT305/70R16 Recon Grapplers to 16x8-inch Mickey Thompson Classic II wheels. This particular size, with an overall diameter of 32.8-inches and an overall width of 12.2-inches, is approved for rim widths ranging from 8 to 10-inches. It’s also worth noting that, like every tire in Nitto’s Grappler line, the dual sidewall theme continued with the Recon Grappler.

Designed For Hard Work

Sixteen (16) sizes of the Recon Grappler wear a load range F label on the sidewall, and our LT305/70R16’s are on the list. Thanks to a load index of 128, they boast a 3,970-pound load carrying capacity at maximum inflation pressure, which is 80 psi. That’s exactly the kind of load range and carrying capacity truck owners—at least the ones who use their trucks as trucks—are looking for. Next to the load index, the raised print denotes an “R” speed rating. This means our tires are rated for speeds up to 106 mph.

Bold Tread

The Recon Grappler tread pattern features both wide and narrow grooves—and they’re not just for looks. The design is intended to quell road noise as well as maximize traction. Its large tread blocks and shoulder blocks combine with strategically placed siping to ensure stable performance (and safety) in both wet and dry conditions. When the pavement ends, the Recon Grappler’s use of zig-zag style main and shoulder grooves provides additional biting edges for optimal traction. Aesthetically, the unique yet aggressive appearance of the tread pattern certainly doesn’t hurt matters.

Tread Depth & Wear

Comparable to competing tires of the same size within the all-terrain segment, the tread depth of our Recon Grapplers checked in at 16.3/32” (exactly as advertised). Tread wear is one area in particular that we believe the Recon will outperform the competition. After all, Nitto offers a 55,000-mile limited treadwear warranty on LT metric sizes and flotation sizes, as well as a lengthy, 65,000-mile limited treadwear warranty on hard metric versions. It’s a manufacturer-backed guarantee that oozes confidence in a product. With proper mounting and balancing, regular rotations, and routine pressure checks, expect a set of Recon Grapplers to outlive their generous treadwear warranty.

Sure-Footed, Quiet, Comfortable

The sidewall strength of a load range F Recon Grappler is pretty serious, and hooking on to a 10,000-pound camper (roughly 1,200-pound tongue) barely scratches the surface of what it means to put this tire to work. Aired up to 70 psi, we found the Recon Grapplers to be highly stable in our testing. We attribute some of this stability to the tread blocks, which come with a reinforced foundation intentionally designed to reduce flex and provide a confident, predictable on-road ride. Out on the highway, the all-terrains are all but noiseless, and the ride comfortable.

Similarities And Differences With The Ridge Grappler

Believe it or not, the Recon Grappler’s biggest competitor lives under the same roof: Nitto’s Ridge Grappler (right). Granted, one is an all-terrain and the other a 50/50 mud terrain/all-terrain mix (i.e. hybrid terrain), but the two share the exact same ratings in dry and wet conditions, as well as in quietness. Beyond that, both tires boast large tread blocks and zig-zag patterns that nearly mirror each other. However, thanks to its target of challenging the mud terrain competition, size-for-size the Ridge gets the edge in tread block height. After putting 15,000 miles on a set of Ridge Grapplers, we know the Recon won’t outperform the hybrid terrain off-road, but we fully expect it to tow better and make less noise rolling down the highway.

Road Noise And The Journey Ahead

Because we haven’t dipped the Recon Grapplers in mud yet (or seen snow), it’s kept us from directly comparing them to the Ridge Grappler in those environments. However, we do think they’re a smidge quieter, especially when vehicle speeds top 70 mph. This isn’t exactly a surprise thanks to the Recon’s tamer, more pavement-friendly, overall tread pattern. So, is Nitto’s Recon Grappler the ultimate all-terrain truck tire? In the years and miles ahead, we hope to have a much more scholarly answer for you. But for now, so far so good!