Nitto Terra Grappler G2s feel unstable

**If there is already a thread somewhere on this (which I’m sure there is) that I just haven’t been able to find, feel free to direct me there!**

I’m discouraged as I’m having problems with *significant* feelings of instability at highway speeds with my 265/70/17 Nitto Terra Grappler G2s. Like scary sway and feeling as if I’m driving on marbles. If the road is not completely smooth or there is a little bit of wind? Forget it. It gives me such anxiety to drive above 65mph that I have to pull over sometimes. I’ve just had the lugs re-torqued and the alignment is (or so I’m told) spot on.

I’d say these tires have probably 500 miles or so on them at this point, and overall I have a much smoother ride after recent transition to the TRD Pro wheels and suspension upgrade to Bilstein 5100s all around. I’m new to all of this and don’t do my own work SO... what should I talk to my tire shop or lift shop about to help with this? I expected some trade-offs at highway speeds with getting AT tires but this is just depressing. Thanks in advance!

 

If i were you, i would take it to a different place, explain to them how it feels to you. Don’t mention the alignment, let them tell you what they think, see how they handle it.

 

Somewhere to start. Thank you!

 

Sometimes psi can cause issues if too high or low.

 

Did you lift it without upper control arms? This sounds like the effect of to little caster.

 

Interesting. I was told by the shop that I wouldn’t need to change out the upper control arms unless I went up to a 3” lift. Right now it’s only lifted 2” in the front.

 

Way late to this thread but yes to this.

I had an extremely floaty feeling and my truck (04’ Taco in this example) wandered all over the road. It was no bueno and when the wife drove it was terrifying.

After some posting to the forums, I decided to check the psi and it was like 55 psi. I had the tires rotated the day before my road trip and someone at Discount over inflated big time. I aired down, and voila...

 

100%! I actually went back to that same tire place because they had overinflated them *again* and he, of course, justified it saying they know best blah blah blah. They finally agreed to lower them after I offered them to go drive it and feel what it felt like at 45+ something psi and report back. At any rate, I don’t go back there and now just do it myself. Live and learn!

 

Get an ARB deflator and run them at 34-36.

 

Way late to this thread but weighing in just the same...

ive got Nitto G2’s on my truck (07 Honda Ridgeline - yes I know some don’t think it’s a truck) and am very happy with them. I’ve got about 30k miles on them and they have delivered solid handling at all speeds. I do check air pressure myself and run 32-34.

although I’m happy with them, will go with BFG K02’s on my 21 4Runner OR when I replace the Dunlop’s...

 

What load range are your tires?

Stock size SL rated tires should be run at 32, but LT tires at stock size "should" be run at 44 to maintain the proper load rating. This is the only reason I could see for them putting them so high.

 

Nitto Terra Grappler G2 Tire sizes & specs

https://www.nittotire.com/light-truck-tires/terra-grappler-g2-all-terrain-light-truck-tire/

fwiw

 

They are available in both SL and LT/E in that size.

 

Even so, the default 32-34 psi is more than sufficient for the load. I’d definitely go back to 32 cold and take it from there, see how it feels. Don’t forget you’ll go up a few psi after a while at highway speeds.

 

Is 32 giving the best wear, generally speaking? Mine arrived aired to 35 and move up to 38 on the open road. Suppose I should lose a few pounds

 

Right. But tire pressure is always measured cold.

The point is that LT tires require higher pressure than SL tires for a given load. A tire retailer will inflate tires accordingly. So, if those tires are load range E, that would explain why the tire dealer would inflate them to 44 PSI.

I would not necessarily run mine at 44, either. I'm just explaining why the dealer would inflate them so high. I had LT/C KO2's in stock size, and ran 35 and they rode great and wore perfectly.

 

@iamluckyb can you post a picture of your alignment sheet?

 

I always thought it made the most sense to start with the recommended pressure and adjust by how much weight I was hauling. Say you're hauling 500#, which is about 10% of the curb weight, I would add 3 PSI, or about 10%. This isn't technically the correct way, but it has worked well for me so far.

 

Mine came with the no longer available 265/70/17 Terra Grappler(not G2) so, I called Nitto and was told 35 psi cold. Suppose i'll take measurements across the tire every now and then and see how they're doing? either