Both the Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse AT and the Falken Wildpeak AT3w are from All-Terrain (A/T) tires category and both offer a decent option for your light-duty and medium duty pick up trucks, along with full sized SUVs. Though in regards to commercial and highway traction, one gets to perform in more key areas then the other, lets find them out!
Being a tire engineer, from my opinion the Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse AT although has an aggressive tread pattern and high number of sipes, they are better optimized for snow, as the tire really lacks on wet, but other than that its great in almost all “pavement” areas, though off-road, Falken Wildpeak AT3w takes a bigger piece of pie, with it’s extra durability and more gripping biters.
Table of Contents
Tire Toughness
When it comes to all terrain tires, durability is very important, otherwise, these tires won’t last with sharp off road encounters.
And these encounters mostly damage the sidewalls, as they are for one, out there, and two, have less no. of plies in their internal construction.
Though still Falken Wildpeak AT3w provides you with a more powerful construction.
Although it features 2 ply polyester cover with 2 steel belts on top, just like the Wrangler Workhorse, it also comes up with 2 more cap plies in the middle, and 2 polyamdie layers on sidewalls.
So, on Wildpeak, you basically get 4 extra layers protecting the tire from everywhere, even sidewalls.
Tread Design
The Falken Wildpeak AT3w shows up with a truly exceptional design, with its wide and deep longitudinal channels formed by elongated shoulder blocks.
These shoulder lugs offer excellent wet lateral traction, thanks in part to their full depth interlocked sipes, which make them flexible in rain, as well as winter season (earning 3PMSFR).
They also provide dry grip, as they are the biggest in size (covering largest area of the tread), promoting superior rubber to road contact.
Moreover, these lugs are although not staggered, they still make pretty sharp outer extremities, and their U shaped sidewall lugs are much more thicker in comparison.
In the middle you see “Z” and “C” shaped lugs, they although carry different siping, have similar stepped edges and notches (as seen on the shoulder lugs).
Together they make a great web of grooves joining the outer longitudinal channels, promoting self leaning of it’s grooves.
On the other side, we have a less aggressive tire (in comparison), the Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse A/T. Let’s start things here from its sides.
It’s shoulder lugs (just the Falken’s boy), are not staggered, and make sharp stepped outer edges, which extend down in “V” shaped pattern forming sidewall lugs.
These lugs aren’t that thick comparatively, but they still get the job done with lowered air pressure.
From the middle these shoulder lugs form deep biters, and interlocking spies, though they don’t stay that way with wear, as you can see in the image.
Moving towards the middle, here you see 4 longitudinal channels, with the outer two being wider and the inner two having a lot of curves and sharp edges.
And in them are horseshoe shaped lugs with notches facing “nearly” in all directions and similar full depth siping.
Let’s check out some technical design specs of these tires, considering their sizes.
Tire Sizes Info
Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse gives you 15 to 22 inches, and those sizes have:
- Speed ratings: R, S, T and H
- Load Ratings: SL, XL, D and E.
- Weight range: 29 to 53 lbs.
- Tread depth: 12/32″, 15/32″, 16/32″.
- 3PMSF and M+S ratings.
- 50k miles warranty on all.
Falken Wildpeak AT3w on the other side comes in 15 to 22 inches and all sizes have following specs.
- Speed Ratings: Q, R, S, T, and H.
- Load Ratings: C to F.
- Weight Range: 35 to 79.4 lbs
- Tread Depth Range: 12/32″ to 19/32″ (averaging in 17/32″).
- Winter Ratings: 3PMSF and M+S.
- Warranty: 55k miles.
Wet Performance
Effective water removal is essential for achieving optimal wet traction, and reducing the risk of hydroplaning.
Both of these factors should be considered when evaluating a tire’s wet performance. So, lets start with grip.
Wet Grip
The key to wet road grip is siping and flexibility. And both together ensure faster water removal from the tread.
Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse A/T sadly, is not very good at it. That’s because although it offers ample number of sipes, it’s tread is not flexible at all.
It’s compound has less silica density, which promotes stiffness, and, all its lugs are joined up with each other with foundational supports.
Both of these factors resist the lugs to move even a tiny bit, and don’t allow the sipes to efficiently contract/expand to wipe water away.
On the other side, the Falken Wildpeak AT3w, is the best in the business when it comes to wet roads. This tire has all the key ingredients for it.
It’s tread is softer, it’s equipped with dual siping pattern (full depth and interlocking), and it’s channels are more airy.
So it makes sense why it performs better not only here, but is even coming on top when compared to other premium all-terrain options.
Aquaplaning
Aquaplaning, also known as hydroplaning, happens when a tire is unable to clear water from its tread quickly enough and begins to float, leading to a loss of traction.
And with this, it can further be explained why Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse A/T lacks so much in wet.
With closed/packed up lugs, its tread don’t allow water to leave sideways. That’s because all of its’ grooves are longitudinal.
The Falken AT3w on the other side, makes a web of grooves, and allows water to leave out in multiple directions. Moreover, the tire has deepest tread in the category (going up to 19/32″), so with that more volume is able to escape in short time.
Snow Performance
The crucial elements of winter traction include a tire’s ability to maintain forward momentum, corner effectively, and respond quickly to braking on various snowy surfaces.
And although both tires have 3 peak mountain snowflake ratings, the overall traction is seen better on the Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse A/T.
This tire basically offers more biters which efficiently bite in to the snow.
On the other side, the Falken Wildpeak AT3w with it’s deeper tread voids does better with deeper terrains, so it does not becomes a big snowball there, unlike the Wrangler.
Dry Road Traction
Off road tires compromise a little on streets, even when things are dry, as they lack in giving better steering feedback as well as directional and lateral traction.
But with on-road oriented design, these two aren’t so bad after all, lets check them out, discussing all these factors.
Lateral Traction
Lateral traction, or a tire’s ability to corner, is largely determined by the shoulder lugs (though tread structure and composition are also considered here).
Technically, the shoulders bear majority of the vehicle’s weight during turns, and so they must have a stiff enough composition there, and must also have a strong bond-making-ability with the road, as well.
With more compact shoulder lugs, and smaller tread depth, the Goodyear Workhorse does better in them both.
So a better contact is made with closed up tread voids, and with less tread depth along with foundational supports, its shoulder lugs also don’t get to flex a lot, keeping a firm on-road connection at all times.
Falken Wildpeak AT3w on the other side, has deepest tread in the category, and it’s softer composition simply allows more blocks movement, even though those lugs are made stable with ridges placement (in between lateral gaps) for improving stability.
Dry Grip
Directional grip, which refers to a tire’s braking and acceleration performance, is largely determined by “footprint” of the tread. And the larger the footprint, the better the directional grip.
So having said that, it makes sense why Wrangler Workhorse A/T offers shorter braking distances in comparison.
It’s lugs are more packed up together, especially from the middle, where most of the tire’s weight is emphasized, though this reminds me, the tire’s contact patch is also rounded, so you get further enhancement to that grip from the middle.
The Falken AT3w in comparison, is although lacking slightly, it’s directional grip is still considerable. That’s because it’s Z shaped lugs in the very middle with summer sipes on top, still keep the braking distances short enough to be considered “good”.
Steering Feedback
Steering response, often overlooked, is a crucial factor in overall handling performance, and is influenced by the tire’s weight and tread structure.
With more cap plies and extra polyamide plies on sidewalls, the Falken Wildpeak AT3w limits its response with its increased weight.
This weight of the tire enforces the lugs to flex more on corners, and this way energy is being consumed/wasted in to that, and not in the tire’s movement. That’s why it shows up with slower handling response.
The Wrangler Workhorse A/T on the other side, with more stable lugs in the middle and sides, combined with the consistent contact they form with the ground (with lesser voided pattern) offers better efficacy.
Fuel Economy
The fuel efficiency of a tire is determined, in part, by its rolling resistance, which is the force required to move the tire along a surface.
And factors that impact rolling resistance include the tire’s weight and tread composition.
The Falken Wildpeak AT3w generates a lot of rolling resistance with its softer rubber on top (which provides the stickiness with the pavement) and it’s not that easier to move.
Moreover, the 2 more cap plies plus the 2 extra polyamide layers on sidewalls brings it’s total weight up to 84 lbs (max), so with that, more pressure is emphasized on highways, amplifying the rolling resistance.
So it’s not surprising to see such an aggressive, and heavy tire consuming more fuel.
In comparison, Goodyear Workhorse A/T is very light because there are no cap plies in its construction, so naturally, its weight decreases drastically. In fact its weight is closer to an average passenger tire.
Moreover, this tire offers a more streamlined design which forms conventional 5 rib pattern, so it’s rolling resistance is also helped that way as well.
Comfort
The on road comfort is measured by a lot of factors, and here, Falken does better.
With a softer composition and a thicker rubber layer on top (going up to 19/32″), the Falken Wildpeak AT3w settles down the on road vibrations in a better way.
Whereas the Workhorse A/T, with stiffer composition and less thickness of rubber is not able to have the same absorbing abilities, so with this tire, ride feels firmer.
Off Road Traction
All-terrain tires must have a good balance between different terrain types, and on each there are different sets of skills required, let’s check them all out.
Sand Performance
To move on sand, tires need to have a unique design. They should offer a large enough contact patch, strong bead locks, and smoother sides.
All of these features allow tires to float better.
So, out of both tires, the Workhorse A/T weighing at just 50 pounds, and having smoother edges, does a better job.
Falken Wildpeak AT3w on the other hand, is not only heavier (79.4 lbs), but also shows up with sharper serrated sides with saw-tooth edges, and biting sidewall lugs (with sharp slanted U shaped pattern), so it digs more, rather than focusing on it’s forward momentum, rendering it poor on this terrain, especially when climbing.
Mud Traction
For good traction on muddy surfaces, a tire needs to have great evacuation capabilities, that’s why balder the tire, the better.
The Wrangler Workhorse A/T is the opposite, it’s lugs are very closely arranged, and even the little bit of grooves it makes are restricted with tie bars and connectors. So mud packs up in very quickly, on this tire.
Falken Wildpeak AT3w on the other hand, is more open, and gives tread depth up to 19/32″, so its allows better evacuation of slimy mud, without getting packed up, allowing it to have better mud crawling abilities.
Rock Climbing
Tires with softer tread compounds and strong sidewalls may be particularly effective at climbing on rocks due to their increased grip and stability. These tires are able to conform to the surface more readily and provide a secure hold, enabling you to navigate rocky terrain with confidence.
The Falken Wildpeak yields better results here overall, as it features stronger sidewalls, softer tread compound with numerous biters, and larger grooves which act as notches on their own.
Goodyear Workhorse A/T on the other side, although offers biters in the form of horseshoe lugs, it’s grip can’t match that of Falken AT3w.
Takeaway Points
Both all-terrain tires although look pretty aggressive, the Workhorse A/T provides a better grip on dry roads, superior noise reduction, fuel economy and off-road it’s also great on sandy dunes.
Falken AT3w on the other hand is superb on wet roads, and off road it shines on rocks and even a little bit of mud with its one of the deepest tread voids, reaching up to 19/32″.
