Bryan Irons
We tested a set of 295/60R20LT’s and like the Exo Grapplers they replaced, there’s a choice between two different sidewall designs.
Words and Photos by Bryan Irons
We typically do tire tests as soon as the manufacturer releases them to the media and we - the editors - try to get them tested and get you - the reader - our impression and information about them ASAP.
However, what about the long-term results of a set of tires? You normally don’t hear about what a tire is like after half the tread is worn and the carcass is broken in. You may be thinking you’re going to read about the praises of the new Nitto Recon Grappler and you’re not wrong. But, you’ll also read about our thoughts on a set of outgoing Nitto Exo Grapplers.
Bryan Irons
Our time with the Recon Grappler has just begun. We’re glad we selected this set for the Ram.
After running our 35 x 12.5 x 20 Exo Grapplers for about 75,000 km (46, 602 mi) with approximately 25 percent of usable tire tread left, our initial impression of this durable tire still holds true. Rain, sleet, snow, dirt and mud were all taken on and never hinted at any weakness in any particular area.
With regular rotations, these Exo Grapplers wore evenly at 30 PSI on our Ram 1500. What impressed us was the winter traction performance even with the tire getting lower in tread depth. We don’t normally experience this as the shorter the tread blocks get, the stiffer they become and can’t grip snow and ice as well as they once did. Not with the Exo. Winter road performance was consistent and predictable.
Bryan Irons
This set of rubber provided a more refined ride on our daily driver with the aggressive look that we like.
The durability of the Exo Grappler was exceptional and proved itself on day one when our former editor Budd Stanley gleefully drifted our Ram around rocky hairpins as we unsuspectingly watched in horror. The durability comes at a slight cost in ride comfort and road noise. We can’t say it was bad by any means, but once the new Recon Grapplers were bolted on, we saw the difference.
We tested a set of 295/60R20LT’s, which stand almost 34” tall and 11” wide. Like the Exo Grapplers they replaced, Nitto offers a choice between two different sidewall designs. We let Kelowna Transmission & Auto Repair know that we wanted the slightly more aggressive and angular design when we dropped the tires and vehicle off for mounting and balancing. The guys at the shop noted that very little weight was needed to balance the tires, which is always a good sign and something we have come to expect from a North American-made tire.
Bryan Irons
The aggressive and staggered outer lugs of the Recon Grappler act like scoops to dig you forward in soft or soggy ground.
When we left the shop, our first impression of the Recon Grapplers was the smooth ride on the highway and lack of noise. The Recon Grappler felt more like a “tween” tire despite being labelled an A/T. It’s more aggressive than your typical A/T tire, but it’s not quite in the mud-tire class.
The Recon Grappler’s staggered outer lugs and wide voids are what powered us through some pretty soupy, muddy conditions. Even though it’s not a ‘mud boggin’ tire’ by any means, a set will certainly hold its own. The siping and narrower voids in the centre of the tire carcass offer stable handling on hard-packed terrain. Touring around the local forest service roads, this combination made for a very predictable ride and never left us feeling like we didn’t have the right tire for the roads.
Bryan Irons
The multiple widths of the tread block voids and siping offer great traction on multiple surfaces and a quiet ride.
The M+S designation denotes that the Recon is better in mud and snow conditions than your average all-season tire. While the tires handled the wintery conditions in stride on the mountain highways, these conditions are not the Recon’s strong suit. We’ve certainly driven worse A/T tires and we should mention that there was no hydroplaning in the slush and the lug siping gripped the ice when it mattered.
Load ranges from C to F are available depending on the size but our E-load 10-ply treads were up to the task. The deep lugs did make the truck feel a little ‘squishy’ with four tonnes being towed behind it, but we were comparing it to the heavy-duty and half-worn Exo Grapplers. Not a fair comparison when hauling a heavy load.
Bryan Irons
Even with the muddy slop covering layers of slippery bark, we wouldn’t get the truck stuck - we were then ‘politely’ escorted off the private work site shortly after!
The daily grind and weekend trail running is where the Recon Grapplers truly belong. They offer a smooth ride and confident feel of control when behind the wheel but they also have an aggressive edge that’s not afraid of off-road duties. We originally thought the tire would wear quickly by how nice the ride is and how soft the lugs feel, but we’re not seeing any signs of that yet. Plus, the Recon Grapplers come stamped with Nitto’s 90,000 km (55,923 mi) treadwear warranty.
Our time with the Recon Grappler has just begun. At this point, we’re glad we selected a set for the Ram. That being said, the EXO Grapplers weren’t a downer and have given us fodder to reflect on. If we were planning on hauling heavy loads in constant winter conditions, the Exo’s would take home the blue ribbon. But we’re looking for a more refined ride for our daily driver with an aggressive look and still able to take us into the backwoods without issue. So, we’re happy to say that we’re looking forward to the remainder of our time with these Recon Grapplers, one road at a time.