Mount Logan Off-Road in Logan, Utah, recently acquired a new Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited on which it installed a 2.5-inch Skyjacker suspension and LT295/70R17 Nitto Terra Grappler all-terrain tires. We borrowed it for a couple of days to see how everything works.
It works well. The LT295/70R17 Nitto Terra Grapplers are load range D (eight-ply) tires that are approximately 33.4 inches tall. Although they fit on a stock JK if you use the factory wheels, Mount Logan installed a 2.5-inch Skyjacker suspension and 1.5-inch wheel spacers to increase the track width a bit. The small amount of lift allows more articulation and uptravel.
The Terra Grapplers balanced up perfectly, requiring hardly any weight. We've found this to be the case with all Nitto tires we've ever used. They are among the truest tires available today. The Terra Grapplers are also heavier-duty than their D load range would suggest. With a maximum load of 3,195 pounds at 65 psi, the Nittos are entering load range E territory. They have strong sidewalls that will stand up to sharp rocks and sticks, but the sidewalls still bow respectably when aired down. Could they be the almost-perfect blend of strength and pliability?
The Nitto Terra Grapplers are a classic all-terrain tire. They work very well on wet and dry pavement, sand, rocks, and dirt. They don't work well in the mud. The tread blocks are siped and, while we didn't take photos of them doing so (it was too cold to get out for photos), they work very well in snow and ice conditions, supplying surprising traction in extremely slippery conditions. On the pavement, the tires exhibit little if any noise and ride very well. Mount Logan Off-Road reports braking performance improved over stock.
The JK Wrangler Unlimited was an eye opener too. We didn't go to Jeep's introduction of the new Wrangler on the Rubicon Trail, so we hadn't had a chance to drive one before now. We had heard that the 3.8L V6 was underpowered compared to the venerable 4.0L six it replaced, that it wasn't going to work off-road, etc. These turned out to be bogus complaints. While the 3.8 isn't a V8, it runs better than the 4.0L in our '06 Rubicon did - everywhere. On highway, the heavier JK Unlimited was able to hold 75 mph on cruise control through the mountains. Our '06 couldn't. In Low range, the V6 supplied plenty of torque. The JK has a drive-by-wire throttle with an accelerator pedal with a long throw. We wonder if maybe people aren't depressing the loud pedal a little ways, then complaining that there's no power. On the JK, you need to step on the pedal (go figure). Would we like a V8? You bet. Are we unhappy with the 3.8? No.
The new JK's instrument pod is easy to read and offers an onboard trip computer. The only instruments missing are a voltmeter and oil pressure gauge. | 
Mopar Accessories brings us the Jeep Trail Guide, a Garmin GPS that not only mounts on the dash but is removable for other adventures. It offers voice navigation, bread-crumb mapping, a speedometer and other information screen, and many other features that we think are pretty sweet. | 
The hard mount for the Trail Guide protects it when it's not in use. |