Take a Drive on the Dark Side
Sometimes life’s journey does bring you back to the beginning. Hopefully with less burning and limb loss than ol’ Darth Vader from Star Wars experienced. At least, that could be said of Texas Vehicle Exchange (TVE) in Carrollton, Texas. When the business started up over 25 years ago, TVE customized FJ Cruisers, Hummers, and other SUVs. In time, though, it morphed into all things Jeep-related. Over the years, they’ve grown into a major operation that does business not only nationwide, but across the globe. They’ve built out dozens of awesome custom off-road rigs. Now, they’re going back to where it all began; off-road SUVs.
This time there are some new players in the market, like the Defender, Land Cruiser, and Bronco. In this case, we’re talking about a 2024 Lexus GX Overtrail as a tester for a great new all-terrain tire.
Quicker, Easier, More Seductive
Maybe all of TVE’s success is why Nitto Tires reached out to them to test the new Terra Grappler G3s. As TVE’s Mike Braman put it, “We build tons of Jeeps and we’re a big dealer of Nitto tires. We’ve run Ridge Grapplers on almost everything we’ve built. Nitto came to us with the new Terra Grappler G3 to try and we were excited to do it. That tire sets off the look of that GX. We wanted an aggressive look and these pair perfectly.”
Like the name implies, the G3 is the third iteration of the legendary Terra Grappler tire. It’s Nitto’s most advanced all-terrain tire, with a totally redesigned tread pattern and new compound. It’s the sort of tire that inspires driver confidence and looks great doing it. We all know that more confidence on the road (or off) leads to more enjoyment, either at highway speeds or tackling terrain.
That said, TVE didn’t care for the idea of throwing such a cool new tire onto the stock wheels. That’s why they tapped four lucky Fuel Off-Road Charger wheels to carry the new rubber. Finished in Gloss Black, the 20-inch wheels are a terrific match to the G3s.
Here’s Where the Fun Begins
In fact, those were the only changes TVE made to the GX. Features like the electronically controlled locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, and Downhill Assist Control all work in concert with the Full-Time 4WD system.
This all ensures that the GX Overtrail has the traction needed to overcome challenging terrain. Between its visual appeal and off-road-centric design, the SUV is already a sweet, proven luxury off-roader. Add in the Terra Grapplers, though, and you make the Overtrail that much more fun to drive in all terrains.
The end result proves once again that you don’t need a full makeover to make a big difference. It’s a time-honored tradition of bringing just enough of the right change for what you want. When you’ve been building out off-roaders for 25 plus years, though, it’s only natural to circle back to what works.
