Cypress, Calif., Sept. 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fast Facts:
- Evolution of Nitto Tire's flagship all-terrain light truck tire.
- Refreshed tread pattern and rubber compound to improve traction and quietness.
- 50,000-65,000 mile limited treadwear warranty.
Ask any enthusiast what they want out of a tire and the answer you get is almost always proceeded by the word "more" - more traction, more stability, more sound abatement, more tread life, and more style. Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc., a leading manufacturer of off-road and street performance tires, has listened to enthusiasts and announced the evolution of the company's flagship light truck and SUV tire - the Terra Grappler G2. Available in both OE-replacement and plus-size fitments, the G2 was engineered to balance enthusiasts' all-around performance demands with unprecedented treadwear.
Although the G2 visually resembles the original Terra Grappler, the tire has been re-engineered inside and out. The Terra Grappler G2 uses a new rubber compound that's unique in Nitto's current Grappler line which significantly improves treadwear. In fact, Nitto's limited treadwear warranty for the Terra Grappler G2 covers 50,000 miles for LT-metric and floatation sizes and an eyebrow-raising 65,000 miles for hard-metric sizes.
Visual differences between the original Terra Grappler and the G2 are subtle. One stealthy improvement is reinforced coupling joints between the outer and center tread blocks. This increases block rigidity which promotes even wear across the tread. Further, the tire is equipped with full-depth siping. Not only do the full depth sipes offer a functional benefit, it helps maintain the appearance of the tread design as the tire wears. Wet traction is also augmented by continuous lateral grooves, which help expel water and also decrease braking distances.
To minimize the highway hum inherent in some aggressive tires, Nitto gave the Terra Grappler G2 noise-canceling variable-pitch tread blocks. Handling is improved both on- and off-road with balanced void ratios. For uneven terrain off-road, traction is improved by alternating "hill and valley" shoulder blocks to create more biting edges.
One signature Grappler feature that carries over to the Terra Grappler G2 is bold sidewall designs that are different on each side. One G2 sidewall pays homage to the original Terra Grappler with a thunderbolt pattern, though the G2 version is raised to look more aggressive than the original. The G2's flipside has a "blade" design, which integrates the sidewall lugs and shoulder tread blocks.
"The Terra Grappler G2 takes our flagship truck/SUV tire and gives our customers even more of what they want," said Alan Ngo, Senior Staff Engineer of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. "The new rubber compound improves treadwear, the tread pattern was re-engineered to retain on-road ride quality and off-road traction and the dual-design sidewalls continue the bold appearance Nitto customers expect."
The Terra Grappler G2 will launch on October 1, 2014 with 20 sizes, and ultimately be available in 55 sizes for popular 17, 18, 20 and 22-inch wheel diameter fitments. To learn more about Nitto Tire, please visit www.nittotire.com. Join Nitto Tire on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NittoTire and on Twitter at @NittoTire.
About Nitto Tire
Nitto Tire (www.nittotire.com) develops performance tires for all uses, including racing, off-road and street. Using state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities in both Japan and the United States, Nitto provides innovative and high-quality performance tires for the most demanding automotive enthusiasts. For more information about Nitto or its products, visit the company's web site or contact the company directly. Nitto is a registered trademark of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc., located at 5665 Plaza Drive, Ste. 250, Cypress, CA 90630.
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