About Nitto
Nitto Tire was established in Japan in 1949 and became closely tied to Toyo Tire, which now owns it outright. In the 1990s and 2000s Nitto built its reputation mainly in the United States, through drag racing, drifting and the off-road and truck customisation scene, which led to the Grappler family of light-truck tyres. Nitto tyres are produced in Toyo's factories in Japan, the United States and Malaysia. In the Gulf, Nitto is sold through specialist 4x4 and performance tyre dealers and is especially popular with the off-road community.
Strengths
- Strong light-truck construction for heavy 4x4s
- Wide choice of off-road tyres from road-biased to extreme mud
- Popular sizes for lifted vehicles, including 33- and 35-inch fitments
- NT555 G2 offers good dry grip and a classic look for muscle cars
Weaknesses
- Expensive, often priced at or above BFGoodrich
- Heavy tyres increase fuel use
- Limited range for normal sedans and family crossovers
- Some sizes are special-order in the UAE
Nitto ranges and prices
| Model | Type | Rims | Price per tyre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitto Ridge Grappler | Hybrid all-terrain / mud-terrain | 16–24 inch | AED 850 – AED 1,500 |
| Nitto Terra Grappler G2 | All-terrain 4x4 | 15–22 inch | AED 650 – AED 1,150 |
| Nitto Recon Grappler A/T | All-terrain 4x4 | 16–22 inch | AED 700 – AED 1,200 |
| Nitto Trail Grappler M/T | Mud-terrain off-road | 17–24 inch | AED 950 – AED 1,600 |
| Nitto NT555 G2 | Ultra-high performance summer | 17–22 inch | AED 550 – AED 1,000 |
| Nitto NT421Q | Crossover / SUV touring | 17–22 inch | AED 480 – AED 850 |
Cars it suits
- Nissan Patrol
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Jeep Wrangler
- Ford F-150 Raptor
- Toyota Tundra
- Dodge Challenger
- Ford Mustang
- Chevrolet Camaro
Our ratings out of 10
- Wet grip
- 6
- Dry grip
- 9
- Comfort
- 6
- Quietness
- 5
- Tread life
- 8
- Heat resistance
- 9
Performance
Nitto's 4x4 tyres are among the strongest in the UAE market. The Ridge Grappler is a hybrid between all-terrain and mud-terrain that grips well on rocks and holds up at low pressure in sand, while staying more civil on tarmac than a full mud tyre. The Terra Grappler G2 is the quieter, road-focused all-terrain choice, and the Recon Grappler A/T is a newer, lighter all-terrain with good comfort. On the road side, the NT555 G2 gives strong dry grip and stable high-speed behaviour for powerful rear-drive cars, though wet grip is average. The NT421Q is a comfortable crossover and SUV tyre.
Durability and tread life
Nitto's light-truck tyres are long-lived: a Ridge Grappler or Terra Grappler G2 on a Patrol or Land Cruiser typically reaches 55,000–75,000 km in UAE use when rotated every 8,000–10,000 km. The thick LT casing tolerates heat and low-pressure desert driving well, which is why Nitto earns a high heat score. The NT555 G2 performance tyre wears faster, often 25,000–35,000 km on a powerful car. As always in the Gulf, replace any tyre at about 5 years from the DOT date even if tread is left.
Nitto in UAE conditions
Nitto is mostly found at 4x4 specialists in Dubai's Al Quoz, Sharjah's Industrial Area and Abu Dhabi's Mussafah, and popular sizes include 285/70 R17, 295/70 R18, 35x12.50 R17 and 275/55 R20. Because LT tyres run higher pressures, ask the fitter to set pressures for your vehicle's weight rather than copying the LT maximum on the sidewall; heavy Patrols on Ridge Grapplers usually run around 35–40 psi on the road and 15–18 psi on dunes. Larger sizes may rub on stock suspension, so confirm fitment before ordering.
Alternatives in the same class
- Michelin — AED 450–AED 1,050, France
- Bridgestone — AED 400–AED 950, Japan
- Pirelli — AED 450–AED 1,100, Italy
- Continental — AED 420–AED 1,000, Germany
