All New Falken Wildpeak AT4W Detailed Review

The new Falken WildPeak AT4w is a true embodiment of rugged performance and durability, crafted with Falken’s robust 3 ply sidewalls and DuraSpec Technology. But does this enhanced durability affect its highway performance? Well let’s find out.

Important Info on Sizes

The Falken Wildpeak AT4w comes in 15 to 22 inches wheels, with following specs.

• Total sizes: 96.
• Speed ratings: T, R, and S only.
• Load Range: SL, XL, C to F.
• Tread depth: 13 to 19.7/32″.
• Weight Range: 35.1 to 80 lbs.
• UTQG: 660 A B (on most, and 660 B B on a few sizes).
• Warranty: 60k for LT, and 65k for P metric sizes.
• All sizes have 3PMSF ratings only with M+S.
• Sidewalls are stronger, especially on sizes having DuraSpec technology.
• The bead protector and heat diffusers are seemingly better now.

Tread Design – What’s Changed?

The Falken Wildpeak AT4W, may seem very similar to the AT3W (its predecessor) in terms of tread design, but it has several small but key differences, that you should note.

First off, the tire now comes with a more aggressive outer edges, featuring proper staggered shoulder blocks.

These are also called mud scoops in the tire world, and they particularly off-road traction (especially when the tire is aired down).

Another significant change is in the siping pattern, especially on the shoulders, which is now simpler and lacks the wave-like design of the A/T3W.

This results in slightly weaker wet performance due to missing 3D interlocking sipes.

Though the tire really shines on dry and rocky terrains thansk to its multiple biting edges.

Compared to its predecessor, the A/T4w comes with a lot more biters on its Z and C shaped blocks in the middle, along with shoulder lugs.

Same goes for sidewall lugs, which although may look very similar to AT3w, have a lot more biters on them.

See all tires compared with Wildpeak AT4W.

Fuel Economy

Let’s check off fuel economy first of all, which seems to be on everyone’s mind lately.

Now fuel efficiency isn’t just about the weight of your vehicle, yes it plays an important role, but it’s far from the whole story.

The real deal revolves around how your tires interact with the road. Think about the friction created as they roll, how they convert kinetic energy into heat, and how the tread blocks flex, especially during turns.

Having said that, although the Wildpeak AT4w although weighs 5 to 15% more (compared to AT3w), its overall fuel economy remains similar to its predecessor.

This is because, even though the AT4w is heavier and puts more pressure on the tread lugs, its design is stiffer. And this stiffness means the lugs don’t bend as much and don’t waste energy in the form of heat.

Wet Traction

In the realm of wet traction, the role and design of sipes are crucial and cannot be emphasized enough.

These sipes basically trap air, and when they press against the ground, this air is expelled, creating a vacuum that pulls in water from the surface.

In other words sipes (just like grooves) clear off water from underneath the tread blocks.

So for superior wet performance its essential for a tire to be equipped with a generous amount of well-designed sipes. And yes these sipes need to be flexibile too, to generate an effective suction force.

Having said that, it makes sense why the newer Wildpeak AT4w is lacking behind here.

The tire although has similar number of sipes, its stiffer rubber does not allow those sipes to breath water in and out as effectively as they do on AT3w.

Plus with less aggressive siping structure (missing wave-like pattern as seen on AT3w’s shoulder lugs), the overall wet traction gets further compromised.

Side Note: Since wet traction is a big deal when it comes to A/T tires, the Wildpeak A/T 4W couldn’t make it to my list of best all-terrain tires.

Winter Performance

The Falken Wildpeak AT4W maintains its 3-peak mountain snowflake rating, suggesting high performance in winter conditions. But how does it compare to its predecessor in overall performance?

Well my testing shows some really mixed results, where the newer A/T4W provides relatively better performance on powdery/snowy terrains, but lacks behind on ice, compared to its older variant.

Basically the AT4w tire comes with relatively better sidewall lugs and proper staggered shoulder blocks which provide better snow shoveling, throwing deep snow backwards, and creating forward momentum with it.

Though the tire lacking those stepped edges and interlocking (wave-like siping) doesn’t provide that bite like it used to.

Plus its relatively harder rubber composition is less thermally adaptive, meaning the biters tend to stiffen up relatively more with freezing temperatures (lowering ice traction).

Tread Longevity

The durability of a tire is heavily dependent on the materials used in its construction and its overall weight. And here the Wildpeak AT4w provides pretty decent performance (outperforming its predecessor).

This explains the AT4W tire’s better warranty offering where you get an additional 5,000 miles for LT sizes and 10,000 miles for P metric sizes over its predecessor.

So what makes the tire better, even though its heavier? Well this is mainly due to the use of Kevlar in the tire’s composition, which stiffens the rubber.

Consequently, the lugs are less become less prone to bending under pressure, reducing the amount of heat produced, which is a primary factor that accelerates tire wear.

Durability

Durability is a highly needed thing when it comes to off-road tires.

And let me tell you, the new Falken WildPeak AT4W is stepping up big time in this arena.

This tire now comes with a 3-ply polyester casing, making those sidewalls pretty tough against punctures. Plus, with Falken throwing in their DuraSpec technology, you’re looking at extra armor against cuts and scrapes that the wild off-road loves to throw at you.

With DuraSpec, the polyester casing plies have a high-turn up construction, so the sidewalls get to have a more enhanced durability.

Overall Dry Performance

Understanding an all-terrain tire’s performance on dry roads necessitates examining its longitudinal grip and ability to corner, two key performance indicators. Let’s go through both, separately.

Directional Grip

Directional grip refers to a tire’s capacity to maintain grip and provide traction when moving in a straight path.

This aspect is typically gauged by assessing the tire’s braking performance, which largely hinges on the contact area provided by the tire’s footprint, (particularly from the middle).

Now this is where the Falken WildPeak AT4w has made some significant improvements. The tire comes with a very well engineered contact patch, ensuring robust engagement with the road surface and delivering almost 10% shorter braking distances compared to its predecessor.

Moreover since all lugs sit on secondary rubber layer, acting as reinforced foundations, you also get a better on-center stability as well.

Overall Handling

Tire handling involves both the lateral grip and steering responsiveness.

Focusing on lateral grip, it is largely influenced by the tire’s shoulder ribs and sidewalls and its pretty good on Wildpeak AT4w.

I mean the tire, despite its aggressive tread pattern with substantial voids around the shoulder lugs, manages to provide decent lateral traction (as seen by lateral g forces on tests).

Moreover, the AT4w also delivers exceptional steering responsiveness.

Now the key to steering response lies in the lug flexibility. Why? Well because softer lugs tend to delay in snapping back to their original shape after being deformed, which can slow down the response from wheels, once steering input is given.

The WildPeak AT4w addresses this by incorporating a stiffer rubber compound, reinforced with Kevlar, to minimize lug flex. This design choice ensures a more direct steering feel, eliminating the “floaty” sensation you get (from AT3w).

Off-Road Traction

To determine the tire’s off-road capabilities, I tested Wildpeak A/T4W out in following terrains.

On Muddy Trails

On muddy terrains you need wide grooves and a lot of self cleaning features, which basically prevent A/T tire from getting packed up with mud.

Now here, the Wildpeak AT4w does a decent job thanks to its enhanced biting edges and notch design, which facilitate superior mud clearance (basically breaking down mud particles so that they can exit via grooves easily).

Moreover, the tire also offers pretty aggressive staggered shoulder blocks, equipped with what are termed “mud scoops.

These throw mud backwards, creating forward momentum.

This feature is particularly beneficial for preventing the vehicle from becoming stuck, especially on deeper muddy paths.

Grip on Gravel

While off-road tires are built to withstand cuts, the absence of effective stone ejectors can allow sharp dirt particles to embed within the tire, potentially damaging it and reducing traction.

Now although the Wildpeak AT4w does not feature dedicated stone ejectors just like its predecessor, it still provides slightly better gravel performance (particularly at high speeds) thanks to its more durable tread design.

I mean the tire’s rubber is fortified with Kevlar and other compounds, enhancing its rubber’s strength-to-weight ratio.

This gives the tire superior chip resistance.

Rock Climbing

In navigating rocky terrains, two factors are paramount: durability and grip.

Why?

Well this terrains is where you get most of the sidewalls punctures, and you need multi-directional grip so that you can climb rocks effectively without overturning your truck.

Now the Falken WildPeak AT4w provides both of these and therefore ranks as above average among its all-terrain category.

It now comes with more biting edges, with notches facing in all directions on its shoulder, C and Z shaped blocks providing grip from all angles.

Moreover, the tire’s aggressive sidewall lugs and staggered shoulder blocks add to that grip, where they come in real handy particularly when operating with reduced air pressure.

On Sandy Dunes

In sandy environments, preventing the vehicle from sinking is the most crucial aspect, (which is usually managed by reducing tire air pressure).

Why its important? Well because you don’t the tire to dig in to sand (and get stuck), you need it to move forward.

Now here, the Wildpeak AT4w needs some improvements. The tire’s stiffer rubber compound cuts in to sand, and with its heavier build its relatively more prone to digging.

Though it does improve its overall traction with its staggered shoulder blocks and sidewall lugs with reduced air pressure, but yes, its still not enough to outperform its predecessor.

Ending Note

So in conclusion, the Falken WildPeak AT4w shows improvements in certain areas such as dry performance, tread longevity, and durability, with a stiffer design and the use of Kevlar enhancing its overall performance.

However, it falls short in wet traction, winter performance on ice, and off-road traction on sandy dunes compared to its predecessor, the Wildpeak AT3w.

Despite its heavier build, it maintains similar fuel economy due to its stiffer lugs and design.

Overall, while the AT4w excels in some aspects, it still has areas that require improvement to match or surpass the performance of the AT3w.