Nitto Recon Grappler AT vs Sumitomo Encounter AT2
Ahead in each discipline
The Nitto Recon Grappler AT and the Sumitomo Encounter AT2 have met in one independent test so far, and the Recon Grappler AT finished ahead. The Recon Grappler AT was stronger in snow and ice.
Performance profile
5 measurements from the one shared test, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure.
Where each is furthest ahead
Recon Grappler AT
Encounter AT2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow.
Where each scores higher
Recon Grappler AT
Encounter AT2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Every measurement, side by side
Both tyres' figures from the one test that ran them together, on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The bar grows towards the tyre that did better.
| Measurement | Recon Grappler AT | Gap | Encounter AT2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Recon Grappler AT ahead | |||
| Snow Braking m | 23.35 | 0.6% | 23.5 |
| Snow Traction m | 13.87 | 7.7% | 12.8 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | 4.5 | 17.5% | 3.83 |
| Ice Recon Grappler AT ahead | |||
| Ice Braking m | 14.16 | 1.8% | 14.42 |
| Ice Traction s | 5.94 | 2.3% | 6.08 |
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 tyres shared.
Head to head in 1 test in 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Recon Grappler AT | Field | Encounter AT2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tire Rack All Terrain Tyre Snow Test | P17 of 30 | P23 of 30 |
Recon Grappler AT vs Encounter AT2: your questions
Is the Nitto Recon Grappler AT or the Sumitomo Encounter AT2 the better tyre?
The Nitto Recon Grappler AT and the Sumitomo Encounter AT2 have met in one independent test so far, and the Recon Grappler AT finished ahead. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Recon Grappler AT scores 6.3 and the Encounter AT2 8.4 out of 10.
Which is better in snow?
The Recon Grappler AT led 2 of the 3 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Recon Grappler AT 66% from 1 reviews; the Encounter AT2 has no owner reviews yet.
Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres 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 Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.