Nitto tires is set to carve inroads in the off-road tire market with the introduction of its latest all-terrain tire, the Terra Grappler.

Specifically designed for light truck and Sport Utility Vehicle applications, the Terra Grappler is geared for the enthusiasts who require looks and overall performance whether on pavement or roughing it up on weekends off-road.

To put the Terra Grappler through a test, a set of Terra Grapplers were provided to veteran off-road specialist Beeboy Bargas.

“The Nitto Terra Grappler All Terrain tire wears its ‘all-terrain’ badging so well. Even on pavement with its aggressive thread pattern, it still delivers very minimal road noise. It also has a good road holding characteristic on wet paved surfaces compared to its competition without sacrificing off-road performance on wet grass and wet rocks,” Bargas said.

Bargas explained that the Grappler’s highly flexible sidewall delivers good ride quality while on the road and also wraps its carcass around rocks for good rock grappling even with high tire pressures of 28 psi.

According to Bargas, the 8-ply rating of the Nitto Grappler ensures good payload capacity even on long haul drives.

“The over 3,000 kilometers of testing I did in all kinds of on and off road conditions in the mountains of the Sierra Madre and Cordillera’s to the lahar and sharp rock fields of Pampanga did not deliver any punctures.”

The heart of the Terra Grappler is Nitto's unique and patented tread design, which provides all-season performance on the road with all-terrain traction on dirt.

Tread-block coupling joints between the tread-block elements reduce excessive flex for better on-road traction and handling. Other design elements, such as coupling joints, high-density siping, and a balanced void ratio also aid in on-road handling characteristics, while enhancing traction off road.

The Terra Grappler as well as other Nitto tires are available at Concept One shop along Santolan Road in San Juan.