Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT vs Nitto Recon Grappler AT
- TR Score
- 8.2/10
- Owners say
- 88% · 3
- TR Score
- 6.3/10
- Owners say
- 66% · 1
The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT and the Nitto Recon Grappler AT have met in 3 independent tests and the record is level at 1-1. The Wrangler DuraTrac RT stopped 4.4% shorter in the wet; the Recon Grappler AT stopped 1.5% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Pick the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT for an SUV or 4x4 that regularly encounters snow, dirt and rain. Pick the Nitto Recon Grappler AT chiefly for predominantly dry-road driving if on-road feel and lower rolling resistance matter more; neither is a standout choice for consistently wet roads.
Where the Wrangler DuraTrac RT is stronger
- Stronger snow braking and traction in the 2026 test
- Better wet braking and aquaplaning resistance than Nitto in 2026
- Slightly quicker dirt handling in the shared off-road test
Where the Recon Grappler AT is stronger
- Slightly shorter dry braking distances in both tests
- Higher on-road driving score in the 2024 test
- Lower rolling resistance in the 2026 test
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Wrangler DuraTrac RT vs Recon Grappler AT at a glance
| Category | Wrangler DuraTrac RT | Gap | Recon Grappler AT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won3 shared tests | 1 | 1 level | 1 |
| Dry5 measurements | 1 | The Recon Grappler AT stopped 1.5% shorter in the dry (2 tests) | 3 |
| Wet7 measurements | 6 | The Wrangler DuraTrac RT stopped 4.4% shorter in the wet (2 tests) | 0 |
| Snow8 measurements | 6 | The Wrangler DuraTrac RT stopped 6.9% shorter on snow (2 tests) | 1 |
| Ice2 measurements | 2 | 0 | |
| Off road2 measurements | 2 | 0 | |
| Comfort5 measurements | 3 | 2 | |
| Value1 measurement | 0 | 1 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.2/10 | The Wrangler DuraTrac RT by 1.9 | 6.3/10 |
| Owner rating3 and 1 reviews | 88% | The Wrangler DuraTrac RT by 22 points | 66% |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 3 tests, 2024 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Wrangler DuraTrac RT | Field | Recon Grappler AT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tire Rack All Terrain Tire Snow Test | P17 of 30 | P17 of 30 | |
| The BEST All Terrain Tires for 2026 Tested and Rated | P5 of 7 | P7 of 7 | |
| 2024 Tire Rack All Terrain Tires On-Road Test | P11 of 12 | P8 of 12 |
Performance profile
8 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Wrangler DuraTrac RT
Recon Grappler AT
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. 14 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Wrangler DuraTrac RT
Recon Grappler AT
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Wrangler DuraTrac RT | Gap | Recon Grappler AT | Wins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 146 | 1.5% | 144 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||
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| 0.71 | 1.4% | 0.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 11.5% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 164 | 4.4% | 171 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 85.44 | 1.6% | 87.52 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 18.2% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 0.5 | 4.2% | 0.48 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 63 | 4.4% | 60.3 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 57 | 6.9% | 61 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 5.41 | 13.2% | 6.23 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 42 | 7% | 46 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 54.51 | 1.2% | 55.84 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | 0.6% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 45 | 2.7% | 46 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 5.52 | 7.1% | 5.94 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 74.68 | 1.2% | 75.59 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 2.5% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 6.7% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 2.4% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 56.01 | 0.3 dB | 55.75 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 9.9 | 17.2% | 8.2 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT scores 8.2 and the Recon Grappler AT 6.3 out of 10.
| Wrangler DuraTrac RT | Category | Recon Grappler AT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Dry | 35 | ||
| 30 | Wet | 22 | ||
| 36 | Comfort | 21 | ||
| 5 | Value | 48 | ||
| 78 | Snow | 36 | ||
| 91 | Ice | 76 | ||
| 89 | Off road | 33 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Wrangler DuraTrac RT | Category | Recon Grappler AT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 9 | ||
| 7.7 | Wet Grip | 3 | ||
| 8 | Road Feedback | 9 | ||
| 5.7 | Handling | 9 | ||
| 9.5 | Wear | 9 | ||
| 8.5 | Comfort | 9 | ||
| 10 | Snow Grip | 4 | ||
| 7 | Ice Grip | 2 | ||
Owners rate the Wrangler DuraTrac RT 88% from 3 reviews and the Recon Grappler AT 66% from 1. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT
- 88%from 3 reviews
- 106,500 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 Wrangler DuraTrac RT reviewsI use this tire on an 80 series Landcruiser that spend most of its time off road. The road manners are good, but I find the off road traction to be excellent. Packed snow and ice are not fantastic unless you have studs, but deep snow performance is excellent. When I off road in the winter, it is not uncommon to be driving through area with 2 feet of fresh snow and this tire is awesome. Noise is just ok, but it has a fairly aggressive tread, so a little hum is expected. Wear has been great as I got roughly 50k miles out of my last set even with all the off road driving. I didn't see a lot of tread chunking and I have not had a single sidewall puncture in 10 years with these tires (Yes, I am knocking on wood after typing that). Thick mud is the only 'weakness' for this tire as the self cleaning is not quite as good as my last set of BFG KM2's, but considering this is more of an all terrain rather than a mud terrain tire, I cut it some slack. Also does well in sand.
Nitto Recon Grappler AT
- 66%from 1 reviews
- 9,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 1 Recon Grappler AT reviewsThese tires ride extremely well on 1/2 ton. If you are in a very dry climate (desert southwest) they will serve you well. The ride is very good, quiet, and smooth on pavement. Very good for light to medium off-road trails and farm. Where the Recons fall short is wet traction and braking as well as snow and ice. The Recons balanced easily with less than 15 pounds of road force and less than 3oz on each wheel.
Final thought: A great buy if you are in a dry climate. For wet/snow, look elsewhere.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | Wrangler DuraTrac RT | Recon Grappler AT |
|---|---|---|
| Season | All Season | All Season |
| On the market since | 2024 | - |
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT and Nitto Recon Grappler AT are rugged all-season tires for SUVs and 4x4s, but their two shared tests point to different priorities. In the 2026 all-terrain test, Goodyear finished fifth of seven and Nitto seventh; in the 2024 on-road test, Nitto placed eighth of 12 and Goodyear eleventh.
The useful question is not simply which finished higher. Goodyear showed a stronger case for snow and loose surfaces, while Nitto earned better dry-road manner scores and lower rolling resistance. Wet-road results-and the size of the gaps-matter most when choosing between them.
Conclusion
Goodyear is the more convincing mixed-conditions choice. In 2026 it stopped 4.00 meters sooner in the wet, resisted straight-line aquaplaning better, and beat Nitto in snow braking, traction and dirt handling. The 2024 test was less decisive in the wet: braking distances were identical and lap times nearly so. Both tires were well behind the leaders for wet grip in at least one test, so Goodyear's head-to-head advantage should not be mistaken for class-leading wet safety.
Nitto makes a better case for drivers who mostly use dry roads. It braked slightly shorter in the dry in both tests, scored higher for on-road manners in 2024, and had lower rolling resistance in 2026. Its wet performance, however, is the clearest reason to hesitate, particularly where rain is frequent. Choose Goodyear for regular snow, dirt and varied weather; consider Nitto when dry-road feel and efficiency take priority. The practical dividing line is how often your journeys turn wet or wintry.
Wrangler DuraTrac RT vs Recon Grappler AT: your questions
Is the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT or the Nitto Recon Grappler AT the better tire?
The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT and the Nitto Recon Grappler AT have met in 3 independent tests and the record is level at 1-1. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT scores 8.2 and the Recon Grappler AT 6.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Wrangler DuraTrac RT or the Recon Grappler AT?
The Wrangler DuraTrac RT led 6 of the 7 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.4% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Recon Grappler AT led 3 of the 5 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.5% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Wrangler DuraTrac RT led 6 of the 8 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.9% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.5/10 for the Wrangler DuraTrac RT and 9/10 for the Recon Grappler AT.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Wrangler DuraTrac RT 88% from 3 reviews and the Recon Grappler AT 66% from 1.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Review the Wrangler DuraTrac RT Review the Recon Grappler AT
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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