Tasked with exhibiting certain attributes, both the Pro Comp AT Sport and the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 are designed with innovative tread compounds to provide a favorable experience for light truck owners. Though finding which one is a better pick for you could take some time. Let me save you some of that.
Pro Comp AT Sport is generally a better tire here, as it offers better wet and dry grip, supplies you with superior comfort performance, and does great in the fuel and tread life department. Whereas the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 only comes out on top in winter traction and off-road in mud evacuation performance.
Table of Contents
Sizes (What To Know)
The Pro Comp AT Sport comes with following specs.
- Sizes: 15 to 20 inches rims.
- Speed ratings: Q and S.
- Load ratings: XL, C, D and E.
- Weight range: 40 to 80 lbs.
- Tread depth: 14 to 17/32″.
- Not rated with 3PMSF.
- 60k miles warranty on all sizes.
On the other side, the Nitto Terra Grappler G2, comes with following.
- Sizes: 17 to 24 inches rims.
- Speed rating: R, S, T and H.
- Load Ratings: SL to F.
- Weight range: 30 to 80 lbs.
- Tread depth range: 12 to 17/32″.
- Treadwear warranty: 50k miles for LT and 65k for P metric sizes.
- Winter ratings: 3pmsf and M+S.
Tread Differences
The Nitto Terra Grappler G2, is the updated version of the previous tire, and is now coming with thicker sipes and dual sidewalls.
Let me start discussing it’s pattern from the middle. So here there are 3 ribs seen, forming 4 zigzag longitudinal grooves.
The central most rib has blocks with wider geometry. They have “number 4” shaped siping, chamfered edges, notches and off-sets.
While the surrounding ribs have blocks of slightly smaller proportions, though they carry the similar looking siping and notches pattern.
Same goes for the shoulder lugs. But they are different towards outer edges, where they make traction scoops, and join down to the sidewalls.
On the other side, the Pro Comp A/T provides you with slightly more aggressive tread.
Just like its counterpart, although, there are 3 ribs in the center, making 4 longitudinal channels, the lugs on them have more biters.
The middle most rib has blocks shaped like Z, so they get to have sharp edges. Moreover, they also have a combination of lateral and interlocking sipes which are also full depth.
Moreover lugs have chamfered edges and since they are connected to each other, they supply ample directional grip on smooth pavements.
The surrounding U shaped blocks have the same story. They carry similar biters and siping pattern.
Though the shoulder lugs are very different, and the most packed up. They don’t make too wide of the lateral gap, and even those have connectors in between.
Though they are staggered on the outer margins, and connecting with thicker sidewall lugs.
Highway Performance
To evaluate their overall dry performance, I tracked their steering, cornering and gripping capabilities. Let me share my findings with you.
Dry Grip
On dry tar, although both tires do great, you still see shorter braking distances on Pro Comp AT Sport, relatively.
With its continuous running central most rib of Z shaped blocks, the tire offers decent rubber to road contact where it matters the most (middle part of the tread has the most weight concentration on it, when the tire rolls straight, that’s why this grip is also called directional grip).
The Nitto Terra Grappler, in comparison, has a more voided central structure with clear lateral grooves, breaking the connection between the road and the rubber.
Dry Handling
The dry handling is a mixture of two things, steering sensitivity and the overall lateral traction.
In case of lateral grip, the shoulders and sidewalls are considered, and here again the Pro Comp A/T with a more compact lug arrangement with reinforced foundations underneath supplies better results.
Moreover as the tire features 3 ply sidewalls, you get a firmer contact with the ground, and this accounts for faster steering response.
The Terra Grappler although has a stiffer compound that helps, it’s wider lateral gaps between the shoulder blocks don’t allow it to have as much steering feedback as it’s counterpart.
Fuel Consumption
Fuel Efficiency is mostly calculated by measuring the rolling resistance of a tire, which is contributed by overall structural weight of the tire, tread composition and pattern.
The Nitto Terra Grappler although has similar weight (across all sizes), in comparison, the tire still gets to lack in the fuel efficiency department.
It’s high rolling resistance generation is explained by its greater lug bending (which I also explained in the handling section above). The energy basically gets consumed/wasted in to the molding of the lugs.
The Pro Comp A/T on the other side, has a less voided structure, on the shoulders and central most area, so during directional and lateral movement, the tire consumes relatively less fuel on average.
Side Note: The Nitto Terra Grappler with 2 ply sidewalls weigh similar to Pro Comp, as it’s tread compound has greater rubber density in it.
Wet Traction
The overall wet traction has to do with water removal capabilities. And in that scenario the Nitto Terra Grappler is the one of the most lacking tires in the all terrain category (comparing with all others I reviewed, so far).
The tire may seem to have interlocking sipes from top, they are not like that all the way, so wet grip is very limited.
Moreover, with it’s more rigid tread compound, it’s sipes are further made less effective, as they can’t flex to soak up water particles (which is how they work).
The Pro Comp A/T on the other hand, is although pretty lacking in this department too, it’s wet traction is at least better than it s counterpart, and that’s mostly because it’s pliable tread allows for superior hydroplaning resistance, comparatively.
Tread Noise
Noise is highly dependent on the tread’s structure. And to put things simply, the voided the tire gets, the louder it becomes.
That’s why out of the two, the Nitto Terra Grappler with it’s balder design, renders for larger playground area for the air particles to come in and hit around, producing noise.
Winter Performance
Although the Nitto Terra Grappler offers very in-effective siping for wet traction, they are very capable for snowy terrains.
These sipes along with countless notches, and a map of lateral and longitudinal tread voids supplies this tire with snow holding abilities. They squeeze in snow particles within them and make contact with them on the ground, providing greater grip (as snowflakes are really sticking on each other).
Moreover, the tire also carries traction scoops on shoulders, and they paddle thorough deeper fluffy snowy tracks more effectively.
That’s why out of both tires, only this one gets to have 3 peak mountain snowflake rating.
The Pro Comp A/T Sport on the other side, has more of a vertical arrangement of lugs, and its packed up tread voids can’t hold as much snow in them.
Rugged Terrain Traction
Off road section can be better understood if we consider all of the different and popular terrain types one by one.
On Rocks
To drive on rocks, you need two things;
- Biting abilities from all directions.
- And strong inner and outer construction, as rocky terrain is the most puncturing.
And considering both, it makes sense why the Pro Comp A/T is a better tire here.
It offers 3 ply sidewalls, with it’s durable polyester casing, and it’s sidewall lugs further protect, and supplies with additional bite when you lower the tire’s air pressure.
Pro comp softer compound.
The Nitto Terra Grappler on the other hand, although features staggered shoulders, it’s sidewall lugs are very thin.
Though the tire offers similar directional grip when climbing rocks.
Mud Tracks
Mud needs self cleaning grooves, so it makes sense why you see better traction on Nitto Terra Grappler with a balder tread structure.
The tire basically offer mud, clear/wider longitudinal, and lateral pathways to leave out quickly, and it’s staggered shoulder lugs with “mud scoops” provide superior paddling throwing ground backwards and generating forward momentum with it.
On the other hand, the Pro Comp AT Sport forms greater rubber connection with the mud, and gets packed up much more quickly in comparison.
Sandy Terrains
When driving on sand, reducing the air pressure of your tire is a crucial step in achieving optimal performance. A lower air pressure allows the tire to “float” on the soft surface and maintain better traction.
Both tires although weigh almost the same, the Pro Comp is still less prone to digging, as for one, it comes with softer tread, and two it’s sidewall lugs have a thicker structure, and they spread out more lowering the tire’s density and with it sinking vulnerability
So What’s The Verdict?
Pro Comp AT Sport although may seem slightly more aggressive, off the two, the tire still manages to offer better wet and dry traction on smooth pavements, superior fuel economy, tread life and overall comfort.
Nitto Terra Grappler G2 on the other hand, is better only in two departments, winter traction, and mud performance.
