Both the Hankook Dynapro MT2 and the Nitto Trail Grappler coming in mud-terrain category offer awesome options for your full sized truck such as Chevy, Ford F-250, Wrangler and Ram (speaking form years of experience with them). Let’s find out the better fit for you, out of both of these tires.
Being a tire engineer, form my testing, the Hankook MT2 comes out on top in sand performance, winter traction, comfort and fuel economy. And although its only by a tiny margin, its a better on-road tire here. The Nitto Trail Grappler on the other side, shines on rocky terrains, muddy tracks, and surprisingly it’s noise levels on highways are better. Furthermore, it’s stiffer compound also brings longer tread life.
Tire Sizes
The Hankook Dynapro MT2 comes in 15 to 22 inches wheels, with following specs:
- Speed ratings: Q only.
- Load ratings: C to F.
- Weight range: 45 to 90 lbs.
- Tread depth: 15.5 to 18.5/32″.
On the other hand, Nitto Trail Grappler comes with 53 total sizes in 15 to 26 inches.
- Speed Ratings: P or Q.
- Load Range: C up to F
- Weight Range: 61 and goes up to a whopping 116 pounds.
- Tread depth: 19/32″ to 21/32″.
Review this tire in detail (recommended): https://tiredriver.com/nitto-trail-grappler-mt-review/
Note: Both tires don’t have any treadwear warranty, nor they give out severe winter ratings, though M+S is available on all of their sizes.
Tread Differences
Starting with the Nitto Trail Grappler, the tire’s tread is very self cleaning and it shows.
In the middle there are 2 main ribs, forming 3 tough passing longitudinal grooves.
These contain hook shaped blocks, which are seen with sharp edges, notches, off-set sides, and solid foundational supports.
With their closed up structure (compared to outer shoulder section), these lugs offer most of the straight-running, directional grip to the tire on highways.
The shoulder lugs are blocky and elongated (bigger compared to middle ones), yet they carry similar tread features with sipes having slightly thicker slits.
These shoulders have their outer margins staggered.
Moreover, the tire has dual sidewalls (different pattern on each side). It’s actually common with all other members of the Grappler family too, just a FYI.
The Hankook Dynapro MT2 on the other side, although features a similar structure, things are slightly different.
Its tread although comes with similar 2 main ribs in the middle as well, they contain C shaped blocks having more curves to them (in comparison).
With closed up design they get to provide directional grip, whereas their interlocking pattern account for lateral traction as well.
Moving towards the shoulders, here lugs have a more open design. They are surrounded by wider tread voids, having bold stone ejectors in between them.
These blocks provide most of the off-road traction with their staggered outer margins, sidewall lugs and (bigger) tread voids.
Though their pattern isn’t still as aggressive as seen on Trail Grappler.
Dry Road Traction
Although mud tires, aren’t so great on roads, their capability can still be calculated by taken in to consideration, their grip, handling and overall steering sensitivity. Let’s check them all out.
Grip
The middle part of the tread tells a lot about how much directional grip can be rendered by a tire, as this is where most of the weight is concentrated (when rolling straight).
That’s why Hankook Dynapro MT2 offering you closer lug arrangement there, yields shorter braking distances, in comparison.
The lacking Nitto Trail Grappler on the flip side, has wider longitudinal and lateral tread voids between it’s L shaped lugs, and so here limited rubber to road connection is made.
Handling
The overall handling and lateral traction depends on 3 important things, tread flexibility, depth, and the shoulders/sidewalls.
And considering all these elements it can be easily explained, why my testing shows a superior performance on Dynapro MT2. The tire not only offers larger footprint availability form the sides, but with a shallower tread depth, it’s lugs don’t bend too much as the tire corners.
Whereas on Nitto Trail, the blocks have the tendency to flex a lot more, causing the tire to under and over steer further comparatively.
Moreover, it’s greater weight also acts as a catalyst to it’s lacking steering response.
Wet Grip
The Hankook Dynapro MT2 is a superior tire here, mainly because of its pliable tread and effective sipes. Let me explain.
Sipes, simply put are gaps (or slits in the tread) which soak up water particles by (expanding/contracting), and with multiple angles (given to these slits), they are less prone to getting stiffer with the tire’s maneuverability.
Furthermore, adding to that is the tire’s relatively softer tread compound. This allows the sipes to flex in a better way further.
In comparison, the Nitto Trial Grappler has a denser rubber, and less effective siping structure. These slits are rectilinear on this tire, and they get more rigid further with the tire taking sharp turns (for example).
Fuel and Tread Consumption
Both fuel and tread usage depends on rolling resistance a tire generates, so it’s not surprise to see that Nitto Trail Grappler being 26 pounds heavier consumes more energy, comparatively.
Though that still does not mean, it wear off faster too, as most people think.
The tire heavier weight is actually due to its denser and stiffer tread compound which takes longer to wear off.
Moreover, its comparatively longer life is also credited to its greater tread depth, which takes longer to reach down to 2/32″ of legal running limit (in USA).
Traction On Snow
Both tires are although not 3 peak mountain snowflake rated, that does not mean they would not be able to perform at all on snowy terrains.
In fact these mud tires are pretty great when it comes to aggressive snowy tracks, with deep fluffy snow.
Their thick lugs and tread voids yield amazing scooping abilities there, generating forward momentum with it.
Though still comparing both tires, I would have to go with Dynapro MT2, considering all factors, and testing these tires on multiple terrain types.
It’s tread is more thermal adaptive in comparison (meaning, its biters stay pliable with freezing temperatures), and it’s interlocking structure has more snow carrying abilities.
Off Road Traction
Different terrains present different challenges so I evaluated both these tires in all of the following conditions.
Muddy Tracks
With a more spacious tread structure, MTs usually have no problem at all here. Though still you see slightly better results on Nitto Trail Grappler, upon deep testing.
The tire has a better/wider map of longitudinal and lateral tread voids which easily let the mud out, while its biters and sharp edges cut through to break it down.
Moreover, it’s aggressive mud scoops, and thicker sidewall lugs provide superior mud scooping abilities as well.
The Hankook Dynapro MT2 on the other side, although has good enough mud scoops as well, it’s central area is pretty closed up, relatively. So it does not allow as mud to pass out of the tread comparatively.
Rocky Trails
Rocky terrain has a lot of variables, here you need powerful climbing abilities in a tire along with biting lugs to grip at multiple angles, moreover, you also need self cleaning grooves for sharp stones and gravel.
In case of durability, although both tires have 3 ply sides, the Nitto Trail Grappler is slightly tougher with it’s high turn up plies and thicker/stiffer rubber on top.
Other than that, the tire offer dual sides, and it’s lateral and longitudinal grooves combination supply superior gripping capabilities, comparatively.
On the other side, the Dynapro MT2 has the edge of having a pliable tread compound, its softer skin gets to mold over rocky surface better, and its lugs flex to provide decent biting abilities as well.
For Your Info: Cooper STT Pro (review), in the M/T category, is one of the best tires for rocks.
Soft Sand
Sand driving requires a tire with two main things, floating, and shoveling capabilities. And considering both, the Hankook Dynapro MT2 yields a much better performance here.
With its supple tread, which gets even more malleable with reduced air pressure, it provides extra footprint against the sand by expanding the sidewall lugs (mostly).
On the other hand, the Nitto Trail Grappler lacks due to it’s sharper sides and a biting rubber composition, and although its sidewall lugs are thick enough too, the tire’s weight is way a lot, so it’s still remains denser overall even with reduced air PSI.
And denser the tire gets, the more it digs, which is the worst enemy of sand traction. Though it’s paddling efficacy is similar to its counterpart.
Ride Quality
The ride quality of the tire is directly proportional to its baldness. That’s why the on-road tires are them most comfortable, then comes all-terrain, and then the most aggressive and least comfortable the mud-terrain tires.
These (MT) tires aren’t that stable on paved roads, and very loud.
Though still some are better than the other, and having said that, the Hankook Dynapro MT2 is a better tire here, it’s spongier compound is more soaking towards bumps and it’s relatively closed up tread voids don’t produce as much noise.
(Noise gets generated with air hitting the walls of the tread, so more voided the tire gets, the louder it becomes).
Key Takeaway
Let me conclude everything I discussed above.
So as the Nitto Trail Grappler features a tougher design here, it makes sense why it’s a better tire off-road, specifically on rocky and muddy terrains.
Whereas the Dynapro MT2 is a better highway tire, so comfort and fuel economy is better with it. Though it’s tread life isn’t as great as its counterpart.
