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Last updated 5/08/2024 - Originally published 5/08/2024
Written by SimpleTire
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While Hankook Tire is a South Korean tire manufacturer and one of the largest tire makers in the world, Nitto Tire, on the other hand, is a member of the Japanese brand Toyo. With over 50 years of experience, both brands excel in designing and developing tires under all-season, all-terrain, UHP, mud-terrain, and more categories. Whether passenger cars, SUVs, or light trucks, they have great tire lines to suit your needs.
The Hankook Dynapro AT Xtreme (RF12) and Nitto Terra Grappler G2 are among their famous AT tire lines that are designed for SUVs and light trucks. Whether rocky, rough, or challenging terrain, these tires offer excellent traction, durability, stability, and longevity thanks to their special tread compound and optimized tread pattern. Choosing between the two could be tough, so here we are to help you ease your buying decision. Let’s compare Hankook Dynapro AT Xtreme (RF12) vs Nitto Terra Grappler G2 based on our proprietary scoring system – SimpleScore – to know which is the best. Keep reading.
Introduced in 2021, the Dynapro AT Xtreme (RF12) is a capable all-terrain tire with a more aggressive design than its predecessor and yet delivers better on and off-the-road performance. While its high-depth sidewall blocks and cross-combined shoulder scoops boost off-road performance and resist cuts and abrasions, its noise-cutting tie-bars and staged block edges help make your ride quiet and comfortable. The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake-certified Hankook tire features multi-directional grooves and sipes that provide extra biting edges for enhanced performance in snow and wet conditions. The next-generation tire is backed by a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
With its great performance in handling, traction, and longevity, the Hankook tire scores 8.4 out of 10.
Debuted in 2014, the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is a decade-old tire but continues to impress with its on and off-road performance. While the full-depth sipes continue to maintain strong grip and traction as the tire wears, the staggered shoulder lugs provide extra biting edges for enhanced control. The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake-certified tire lends all-weather performance, be it rocks or snow. It features coupling joints that provide enhanced block edge rigidity as it connects the outer blocks with the center ones. The computer-optimized tread pattern reduces noise levels thanks to the variable pitch tread blocks. While regular tire sizes offer a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the LT-metric sizes come with a 50,000 mile warranty.
With a fantastic SimpleScore of 8.6 out of 10, the Nitto promises improved on and off-road performance, handling, durability, and longevity.
Traction defines the tire’s ability to maintain consistent contact with the surface without skidding. The Hankook and Nitto both promise adequate traction during on or off-road drives.
Boasting a formidable traction score of 8.4 out of 10, the Hankook features multi-directional grooves and sipes for better traction in any direction. The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified tire provides great snow performance thanks to the special biting block edges. While the cross-combined scoops on aggressive shoulders boost off-road grip and traction, the fantastic void ratio allows for enhanced grip in dry and wet conditions.
Similarly, the Nitto’s traction number read 8.7 thanks to the aggressive tread pattern that features full-depth sipes that not only enhance the aesthetics but also boost traction on dry, wet, and challenging surfaces. While the staggered shoulder lugs offer extra biting edges on off-road surfaces, the balanced void ratio helps in the quick clearance of water and debris to maintain consistent contact with the surface.
With a difference of 0.3 points, the Terra Grappler G2 beats the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12).
ADVANTAGE: Nitto Terra Grappler G2
The better steering feedback you get from tires, the more in control you are. This makes handling the second best aspect of a tire for a safer ride.
With an 8.3 handling score, the Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12) comes with a strong shoulder pattern and powerful central tread design that not only allows enhanced grip and stability but also ensures precise steering response on paved and unpaved roads.
The Terra Grappler G2 scores 8.6 out of 10 in handling as it features accurate steering response and enhanced stability. The solid shoulder blocks and optimized inner blocks not only look aggressive but also improve steering response and control on smooth and rough surfaces.
Despite putting on a decent show, the Hankook falls short of the Nitto, which manages to win the handling section, too.
ADVANTAGE: Nitto Terra Grappler G2
To gain the most out of your purchase, you need tires that offer a longer service life and a mileage warranty is a testament to a tire maker’s longevity claim. The Hankook and Nitto both excel in this criterion.
With an 8.8 longevity score, the Hankook tire features high-depth sidewall blocks that safeguard the tire against cuts during off-road expeditions. The durable construction and reinforced carcass allow the tire to last long, evident from its class-leading mileage of up to 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
On the other hand, the Nitto tire scores 8.7 in longevity featuring a tough tread pattern that resists cuts, chips, and abrasions. Boosting the block edge rigidity are the coupling joints that connect shoulder tread blocks with the inner blocks. With a new tread compound, the Terra Grappler G2’s compound delivers excellent wearability and an up to 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
The Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12) finally has a department to its name as it emerges as a better tire when it comes to durability and longer service life.
ADVANTAGE: Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12)
All-terrain tires are designed to offer superior traction and grip on paved as well as unpaved roads. They come with durable construction and cut and chip-resistant compounds for a longer service life. If you frequently travel off-road, these tires work the best, while if you spend more time on highways with your truck or SUV, highway terrain tires are the ideal ones to go for.
For mud and soft surfaces, mud terrain tires should be preferred while for consistent mud and off-road drives, you should go for rugged terrain tires. Some all-terrain tires come with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for reassuring performance in severe winter conditions of ice and snow.
Based on the overall SimpleScore, the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 takes the lead with a higher rating (8.6 vs 8.4) than the Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12). While Nitto wins the traction and handling sections, the Dynapro has longevity on its side. Let’s have a look at their prices before summing up our comparison.
For a tire size 265/60R18 114T XL, the Hankook tire costs $224 per tire with a set of four costing $896. On the contrary, the Nitto is tagged at $241 per tire and four tires will cost $964 (the difference is $68).
Based on the SimpleScore, you can go for the Nitto tire if you:
You should pick the Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme (RF12) if you
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.
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