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Last updated 8/19/2024 - Originally published 8/19/2024
Written by SimpleTire
Highway tires deliver durability and heat tolerance, they are solid and long-lasting tires that are often used on light trucks and SUVs due to their ability to handle the heavier weight of these vehicles and haul materials. These versatile tires excel in dry, wet, and winter conditions, making them popular for paved road use. Continental and Nitto are two names that have their following as they both deliver tires that perform well.
Both the tires are known to deliver as per the customer's expectations. They both offer good tread design, giving confidence and reliable traction on the road. The same is visible in their tire range of the Continental TerrainContact H/T and the Nitto Dura Grappler. Both of these tires are meant for use for light trucks, crossovers, and SUVs. While both tires offer great performance, one has to be better than the other, right? Let’s compare Continental TerrainContact H/T vs Nitto Dura Grappler tires using SimpleScore to show where each tire excels, and which one might be right for you.
Continental TerrainContact H/T tires
https://images.simpletire.com/images/q_auto/line-images/16891/16891-sidewall/continental-terraincontact-h-t.png The Continental TerrainContact H/T is designed for highway terrain and is suitable for use on SUVs, light trucks, and crossovers. It provides enhanced durability, improved fuel efficiency, and a quiet ride. Additionally, it comes with a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty and has a SimpleScore of 8.7.
Nitto Dura Grappler tires
Another great tire that can be considered is the Nitto Dura Grappler is also a highway-terrain tire designed for light trucks, crossovers, and SUVs that features durable construction, an all-season tread pattern, a quiet and refined ride, and a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer's tread life warranty and has a SimpleScore of 8.1.
Continental TerrainContact H/T vs Nitto Dura Grappler tires on traction
Traction plays an important role in taking care of grip on wet and dry roads, and a tire that delivers good traction also says good grip on the road. Both tires are designed to provide grip across various weather conditions. These tires aim to strike a balance between performance in dry, wet, and light snowy conditions. When comparing both the tires you will see that the Continental TerrainContact H/T is designed with symmetrical tread along with wide grooves that funnel water out of the tread to reduce the risk of hydroplaning on wet roads. Additionally, the TerrainContact H/T features TractionPlus Technology that balances traction and durability, plus Traction Grooves boost grip in light snow. This has helped this tire to reach an average traction SimpleScore of 8.5 which is great when it comes to performance.
The Nitto Dura Grappler, on the other hand, has a score of 8.4 out of 10 in traction. This is thanks to a special symmetrical tread design and a set of circumferential, and angled grooves that efficiently evacuate water from the tire's contact patch to resist hydroplaning and an advanced network of sipes to boost wet or wintry traction.
When it comes to winter weather traction, the Nitto Dura Grappler falls behind the Continental TerrainContact H/T.
ADVANTAGE: Continental TerrainContact H/T
Continental TerrainContact H/T vs Nitto Dura Grappler tires on handling
The handling of a tire is improved by different elements of the tire’s tread pattern, in addition to the tire’s overall design. Highway tires are designed to provide a balance of performance for a variety of weather conditions, including dry, wet, and light snow.
The Continental TerrainContact H/T sports a solid 8.5 SimpleScore for handling, which is largely driven by the tire’s wide circumferential tread grooves, allowing it to be more durable and improve its handling.
On the flip side, the Nitto Dura Grappler is a standing neck-to-neck with the Continental TerrainContact H/T for handling as the tire also comes with a SimpleScore of 8.5. Featuring an innovative design and a multi-rib tread pattern with linked tread blocks for extra rigidity, and durability that allows for even wear to extend the tire's tread life.
ADVANTAGE: Tie
Continental TerrainContact H/T vs Nitto Dura Grappler tires on longevity
Traction and handling play a crucial role in a tire’s life and so does longevity. It is equally important to traction and handling when purchasing a tire. The longevity of a tire depends on several factors, including the quality of the tire, driving habits, road conditions, and maintenance. Based on SimpleScore, this was the biggest gap between the two tires.
Starting with the Continental TerrainContact H/T offers an exceptional SimpleScore of 9.2 out of 10 on the longevity front. The tire’s tough, rugged rubber compound and reinforced construction work together to increase handling which allows for a longer tread life. Outside of that, it also features advanced technologies such as noise-reducing tread patterns, and durable construction, ensuring a quiet ride and long-lasting reliability.
Conversely, the Dura Grappler’s 7.6 SimpleScore in longevity shows that it lags way behind. The Nitto Dura Grappler also features a reinforced construction, and its innovative tread design gives drivers a quiet, comfortable ride, plus even wear to extend the tire's tread life.
Here you will notice an elevated steep of progress in terms of longevity for the Continental TerrainContact H/T over the Nitto Dura Grappler.
Although both the tires perform solid when it comes to longevity, the Continental TerrainContact H/T has an added advantage over the Nitto Dura Grappler as the TerrainContact H/T comes with 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty against the 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty from the Nitto Dura Grappler.
ADVANTAGE: Continental TerrainContact H/T
If you live in areas that receive heavy rainfall throughout the year, neither the Continental TerrainContact H/T nor Nitto Dura Grappler will provide optimal performance as they are not built to be used in extreme winter weather conditions. Their usage is limited to areas with heavy snowfall. What will work best here is a set of winter tires that will deliver improved traction and safety. That said, all-season highway tires are an excellent choice if you live in an area that only gets light snow.
Additionally, cautious driving habits and avoiding harsh conditions can help preserve the tread and overall integrity of the tires.
Which one should you choose?
So, which tire is the right option for you? When looking at SimpleScore, the Nitto Dura Grappler and Continental TerrainContact H/T are at 8.1 vs 8.7. As noted above, there are key differences between the two tires and these need to be weighed against each other to determine what’s best for you. Finally (and maybe, most importantly), pricing on these two tires is a bit different as Continental TerrainContact H/T tires cost at least $205 per tire while Nitto Dura Grappler tires cost at least $90 per tire. That means a set of four Continental TerrainContact H/T tires will cost you at least $820 for a set of four, while a set of four Nitto Dura Grappler tires will cost you at least $360. Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Continental TerrainContact H/T if you:
- Drive a light truck like the Ford F-150, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, or Chevrolet Colorado
- Want a tire that offers drivers a quiet ride and strong on- and off-road traction
- Want a tire with better traction (8.5)
- Are willing to pay a little bit more money for the above-mentioned difference
Conversely, you should choose the Nitto Dura Grappler if you:
- Drive a Ford Ranger, Jeep Wrangler, RAM 1500, or Toyota 4Runner
- Want a more affordable set of tires
Continental TerrainContact H/T vs Nitto Dura Grappler tires might not seem a close comparison on the surface, but the above clearly shows that either is a great option. Remember, both of the tire brands are some of the best tire manufacturers on the market, and that tradition continues with the Continental TerrainContact H/T and Nitto Dura Grappler. At the end of the day, the decision to buy one or the other depends on your vehicle, where (and how) you drive, and what you care more about in terms of traction, handling, longevity, and price.
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.