Both Nitto Mud Grappler and Toyo Open Country MT are Mud Terrain tires especially designed for off-road performance. The main difference between these two tires is the size of their grooves. Nitto Mud Grappler has wide grooves compared to Toyo Open Country MT and this makes it more efficient for muddy tracks.
These tires were measured under the same-size, where the tread depth of both tires was same, which is 16.7 mm. While moving on-road, Mud Grappler did not prove to be a comfortable tire and the details are discussed in the comfort section.
Table of Contents
Comparing Toyo Open Country MT with Nitto Mud Grappler
Nitto Mud Grappler
Toyo M/T
Vs
Nitto Mud Grappler has wide tread design which provides better traction during the off-road ride; especially while moving on mud or snow terrains. It has wide grooves that clear off mud easily and help the tire to produce good traction. The high void ratio also permits it to clear-off mud and dirt efficiently by throwing it backwards to move in critical muddy conditions. Grappler has pointed tread blocks that work as stone ejectors and enable the tire to move on rocky paths. Plus, this feature also provides resistance from punctures and protects it from any damage. When we move towards the edges of this tire, the staggered of-set shoulders provide efficient handling. The extensive zigzag shoulder lugs deliver better off-road traction; along with it, anti-slip grooves are also specially designed for better lateral traction. The aggressive sidewall 15mm lugs provide excellent puncture resistance with the inclusion of mud creeping and sand crawling.
Toyo Open Country does not possess as wide grooves as of its competitor but still it performs good at snow or mud terrain because its grooves are deep and they throw the mud/snow particles backwards, clearing the way of the tire. It performs excellent on rocky terrains as it has bold stone ejectors that emit the stones from entering in the grooves. Due to dense tread blocks, this tire has more contact patch so it has good grip on the road and it produces good traction. It also creates less sound compared to its competitor as it has less spaces in between tread blocks.
On-Road Traction Comparison
A tire having more surface contact has better on-road traction. Toyo Open Country has denser tread pattern compared to Grappler so a dense pattern means narrow grooves and more tread blocks which in result increases the contact patch of the tire. As it has more area in contact with the road so the grip of the tire increases and overall traction is improved.
On the other hand, Nitto Mud Grappler has big spaces between its tread blocks so that’s why it has less contact patch compared to its competitor. Due to less contact area with the road the grip of the tire is not good and it has bad traction on road. But the wide grooves enable this tire to perform really well while hydroplaning as all the water passes through the grooves maintaining the contact of tire with the road.
Off-Road Traction
Nitto Mud Grappler is primarily manufactured for off-road adventures; as extensive grooves and more tread depth offer easy passage through the mud as grooves cut through the mud by throwing it backwards as the tire accelerates. The paddle-like dual lugs and substantial sipes and dimples add to efficient movement through muddy terrain. This tire also performs well on snowy terrains just because of its wide grooves and open shoulder design with optimized sidewalls. The grooves trap the snow in them and as the tire rotates it is thrown backwards, enabling the tire to grip. Overall, this tire has great performance on muddy and snowy terrains, its wide grooves also enable it to move on sand.
On rocky tracks, Toyo Open Country offers impressive traction because it has bold stone ejectors in between its grooves. These ejectors protect the tires from being damage and they emit small stones or pebbles from getting stuck into the grooves, making the grip better on rocky tracks. This tire performs exceptionally well on ice as well, all thanks to its closely placed blocks that increase its contact patch and consequently its grip is improved so it moves smoothly on ice. Open Country can perform well on mud and snow but not as good as its competitor as it has comparatively narrower grooves so less mud/snow particles are thrown backwards and the grip of tire is minimized. This tire cannot move on deep snow because of its close tread design.
Which tire is more Comfortable?
We found an almost equal level of comfort in both the tires. These tires with deep grooves provide a stable journey to the passengers. But, both of these tires have a rivalry when it comes to their noise level. Nitto Mud Grappler is too loud while driving on road. On the highway, the decibel meter showed 77dB at 30mph, and it gets louder and louder with the increase in speed. This is due to its large grooves as more air gets trap in them and air particles collide with tread, creating noise.
Durability and Treadwear
Both Nitto Mud Grappler and Toyo Open Country MT have 3-ply polyester casings that multiply stability, puncture resistance, and sharp steering response. In addition to it, Nitto Mud Grappler also has steel belts inside with nylon caps which increase its strength. The load capacity of both these tires varies because it depends upon the size. Nitto Mud Grappler includes about 21 tire ranges and holds a maximum weight capacity of about 4200 pounds. But Toyo Open Country MT holds a maximum capacity of about 3200 pounds.
Nitto offers five years of material and Workmanship warranty on Mud Grappler and 2/32inch of wear with free replacement. Nitto does not give any mileage guarantee for Mud Grappler. But it lasts roughly about 40-50,000 miles or above; it depends upon use.
Toyo also gives five years material and Workmanship warranty with free replacement for the initial 25% wearing. Moreover, Nitto also offers a No Regret guarantee (45 days-500 miles). One can replace it or can get cashback if not satisfied with it. The minimum mileage of this tire can be as low as 30,000 miles, and the maximum can be as high as 90,000 miles.
Pricing
The pricing of Nitto Mud Grappler is considerably higher than Toyo Open Country MT. You should choose the one which matches all your needs perfectly, according to the terrain you wish to drive on.
Conclusion
- Both of these are mud-terrain tires.
- Nitto Mud Grappler is better for muddy and snowy terrains.
- Open Country MT performs well on rocky terrains.
- Open Country MT is better for on-road driving as well.
- Nitto Mud Grappler creates much more noise than Grappler on the road.
