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Last updated 10/30/2024 - Originally published 10/30/2024
Written by SimpleTire
Mickey Thompson began in 1963 in the relatively new tire market for drivers focused on performance and off-road driving. It has since grown to become one of the world's leading manufacturers of 4x4s, dragsters, classic muscle cars, and specialty competition tires. On the other hand, Nitto, an enthusiast tire brand owned by Toyo Tire Corporation, was established in 1949. It manufactures light truck tires like the Grappler series, the Motivo, N-Series, and Invo tire families for passenger cars, along with all-out competition and side-by-side (SxS) tires.
An all-terrain tire, the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T is designed for use on SUVs, Jeeps, and light trucks and offers drivers great traction, sharp handling, and impressive longevity plus an up to 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
Designed for use on light trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs, the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 is an all-terrain tire that offers drivers confident handling, solid traction, and great longevity plus an up to 65,000 mile limited manufacturer's tread life warranty.
Performance-wise, the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T and the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 are very similar. But how do these tires differ from one another? Here is a comparison of the handling, traction, and longevity of the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T and the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 using SimpleScore (SimpleTire's proprietary tire rating system).
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires
Mickey Thompson's most inventive hybrid A/T to date, the Baja Boss A/T boasts aggressive styling, low noise, long-lasting tread, and a smooth ride, all backed by a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty and Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification. Due to its pioneering asymmetric tread design, silica-reinforced compound, aggressive Sidebiters, and innovative PowerPly XD 3-ply, the Baja Boss A/T dominates off-roads, while also providing good on-road handling, performance, and tread wear.
On average, the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T sports an overall SimpleScore of 8.5 thanks to its impressive longevity, solid handling, and great traction.
Nitto Terra Grappler G2 tires
The Terra Grappler G2's confident off-road and on-road performance will get you where you're going, whether driving to work, hauling a trailer, or going for an off-road adventure. A few sizes of Terra Grappler G2 have a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for added all-weather performance. Like all Grappler tires, the Terra Grappler tire has a "lizard skin" texture on one side and a plain sidewall on the other, making it simple to alter the truck’s aesthetics.
On average, the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 has an overall SimpleScore of 8.4 thanks to its confident handling, impressive longevity, and strong traction.
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T vs Nitto Terra Grappler G2 on traction
Traction is crucial for tires because it impacts a vehicle's handling and performance, and the ability of a vehicle to efficiently accelerate, brake, and corner is attributed to traction—the grip between the tire and the road surface. Let's see how the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T and the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 compare in terms of traction.
The Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T features an asymmetric tread pattern that enhances grip, while the sidebiters offer reliable off-road traction and protection. In addition, T1 compound (LT sizes) and S1 compound (SUV sizes) offer great cold and rainy weather traction. As a result, the Baja Boss A/T sports a great traction score of 8.5.
On the other hand, for improved lateral traction, the Terra Grappler G2's staggered shoulder lugs extend down onto the sidewall. With hundreds of biting edges, full-depth sipes provide traction in wet or icy conditions and maintain grip even when the tread depth of the tire decreases.
They are closely positioned against one another in terms of traction; the Baja Boss A/T receives a great score of 8.5, but the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 wins the section with a slightly higher score (8.6).
ADVANTAGE: Nitto Terra Grappler G2
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T vs Nitto Terra Grappler G2 on handling
Tire handling is crucial because it influences how a car reacts to steering, braking, and acceleration inputs. It is an important factor in the performance and fun-to-drive element of a car. Let’s take a look at the Baja Boss A/T and Terra Grappler G2’s handling scores.
The Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T sports an impressive handling score of 8.4 thanks to the asymmetric tread pattern, which is optimized for reliable on-road handling. The T1 compound (LT sizes) and S1 compound (SUV sizes) provide solid wet handling and braking.
Likewise, the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 features a symmetrical tread pattern that improves its handling performance. As a result, it also gets a strong score of 8.6. Its full-depth siping improves wet handling.
In terms of handling, they are closely matched; the Baja Boss A/T returns a score of 8.4, while the Terra Grappler G2 outperforms it with an 8.6.
ADVANTAGE: Nitto Terra Grappler G2
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T vs Nitto Terra Grappler G2 on longevity
Tire longevity matters since worn tires can be hazardous, and eventually, degrade the performance of your car. Worn tires can make it harder for your car to grip the road in poor weather. So, how do the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T and Nitto Terra Grappler G2 stack up against each other when it comes to longevity?
Backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for LT-metric sizes, and a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for remaining sizes, the Baja Boss A/T instills confidence in its durability. T1 compound (LT sizes) and S1 compound (SUV sizes) offer long-lasting tread life and Powerply XD strengthens the angled third ply with a thicker denier cord, offering enhanced puncture resistance.
On the other hand, the Terra Grappler G2 incorporates a whole new compound into Nitto's Grappler series. Nitto maintains the adaptable all-terrain compound while enhancing treadwear durability by introducing new materials. It features full-depth siping which not only provides a functional benefit, but it also serves to maintain the beauty of the tread design as the tire wears. Additionally, it comes with a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for Euro-metric sizes and a 50,000-mile warranty for LT-metric and flotation sizes.
In terms of longevity, they are almost equal. The Terra Grappler G2 receives a strong longevity score of 8.7, but that could not beat the Baja Boss A/T (8.8).
ADVANTAGE: Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T
When to use each
If you drive on dirt, gravel, and paved roads frequently, all-terrain tires (A/T) might be the best option.
A combination of mud-terrain tires (M/T) and highway tires (H/T), A/T tires are excellent for regular driving in most types of weather and driving conditions including mud and dirt. The Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T and Nitto Terra Grappler G2 are made to perform in a variety of conditions, such as light snow, gravel, sand, and pavement. However, to handle extreme winter conditions, you should switch to winter tires.
Which one should you choose?
The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 scores an impressive overall SimpleScore of 8.4, while the Baja Boss A/T tops the list with an 8.5, putting them in close comparison. So, what is your choice? Which all-terrain tire will you go for? Let’s see the prices to help you make a better decision.
Comparing the prices of the 265/60R18 tire size, the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T costs around $268 per tire, and four such tires cost $1072, while the Nitto Terra Grappler costs around $241 per tire and four such tires cost $964 (a difference of $108).
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T if you:
- Drive a pickup truck like the GMC Sierra 1500, a heavy-duty truck like Ford F-250, or a full-sized pickup truck like the RAM 1500
- Prefer long-lasting tires (8.8 vs 8.7)
- Want a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake-certified all-terrain tire for effective winter performance
Conversely, you should choose the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 if you:
- Drive a compact four-wheel off-road SUV Jeep Wrangler, a full-size, three-quarter-ton pickup trucks like the GMC Sierra 2500, or a full-size, light duty pickup trucks like Chevrolet Silverado
- Want a better mileage warranty (65,000 vs 60,000 miles limited manufacturer tread life warranty)
- Prefer better handling (8.6 vs 8.4)
- Want better traction (8.6 vs 8.5)
- Want an affordable all-terrain tire
Mickey Thompson and Nitto make some of the most reliable all-weather tires in the industry. Both the Baja Boss A/T and the Terra Grappler G2 (certain sizes) carry Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification. While the Baja Boss A/T offers superior longevity, the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 provides better handling and traction. However, you can select a tire based on traction, handling, wearability, your driving requirements, and budget.
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.