Nitto Trail Grapplers K-Spec Tires - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine

Fred Williams Brand Manager, Petersen’s 4Wheel & Off Road

When Nitto offered us the chance to test a set of its new 40-inch Trail Grappler race tires we were a little concerned. These are unique race tires. They have a special rubber compound for added traction, they have a top-secret carcass that holds up great to trail abuse, and they are in a size not currently available from Nitto, 40x13.50R17. So why would we want to test a tire that no one else but Nitto-sponsored racers could get? Then Nitto came halfway and told us that this same tire size would eventually be available in the Trail Grappler for public purchase. We agreed to test them, even if we felt the rockcrawling traction may be off the record, per se.

After a long hot summer of testing them we are now really concerned, because we really like these tires. They ride great both on- and off-road, they are tough as heck, and as for that elusive race compound traction, it really feels like we are cheating in the rocks.

We bolted the 40-inch Trail Grapplers onto a set of Mickey Thompson Classic Lock black wheels with Inner Air beadlocks. We really like the look of these wheels, but the outer faux-beadlock ring (which we had sandblasted the black paint off of) took serious abuse during the Ultimate Adventure. The Inner Air beadlocks are difficult to install, and we actually had some issues with two rims slowly leaking around one of the Inner Air valve stems, but they worked well at locking the bead in place at low tire pressures.

Official word is that the tires Nitto will be offering to the public will look the same as these, but with a few changes. We expect them to arrive in early 2013.

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Specifications
Make & Model: Nitto Trail Grappler K-Spec
Size tested: 40x13.50R17
Type: Radial
Load Range: C
Maximum load (lb): N/A
Tread: N/A
Sidewall: N/A
Approved Rim Width (in): 81⁄2-11
Tread depth (in): 11⁄16
Tread width (in): 101⁄2
Section width (in): 131⁄2
Overall diameter (in): 40
Weight (lb): 107
Sizes available (in): Race spec 40, standard compound 31-38, 40 available in early 2013