Both the Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme and the Falken Wildpeak AT3w are all-terrain tires with sidewall lugs extending 5-7 millimeters so with lowered air pressure, they are capable of yielding amazing off-road traction on multiple terrains, while still being good enough on smooth roads with their central closed up design.
In my view as a tire engineer, the Falken Wildpeak is a better tire to have on rugged terrains, as it offer more durability, powerful biters on both middle and sidewalls, and a lot of tread depth which keeps the grooves clean. The Hankook AT2 Xtreme on the other hand, provide greater on road traction, fuel economy, tread life and it’s snow performance is also pretty solid.
Table of Contents
Durability
Off-road tires must be able to withstand all sorts of harsh conditions on rugged terrains, making durability a needed characteristic.
And so to meet this requirement, almost all of the A/T tires are equipped with chip-resistant rubber and deep tread voids. And although that helps, they still need to be backed up with internal plies, especially underneath sidewalls, as that’s the weakest area.
So comparing both it can be seen why Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme with 2 ply polyester cover, (along with twin steel belts and nylon reinforcement), is not able to outperform its competitor.
As Falken Wildpeak AT3w features 2 extra layers of polyamide around on sidewalls, though other than that, you get similar construction like the Dynapro Xterme.
Outer Construction
Let me start with Falken Wildpeak AT3w. The tread design of this tire is expertly optimized for both on and off-road traction. Let me explain how.
As observing the lugs in the middle, it can be seen that they are tightly packed and have ridges on the sides, serving as supporting pillars, it becomes understandable why they offer good stability on roads.
And at the same time with their stepped edges and notches facing in all directions, they don’t get to compromise at all when it comes to all types of rugged terrains, may it be rocks, sand or even a little bit of mud.
Same goes for its shoulder blocks.
Its lugs have staggered outer margins and notches/stepped edges towards the middle.
Both of these combined with U shaped sidewall lugs, ensure the tire gets to have ample off-road bite.
Whereas with reinforced foundations and good enough footprint (as lugs here are bigger compared to the middle), the tire gets to provide stable connection with the road as well. So you get better lateral grip combined with good enough steering response.
On the other side, the Hankook Dynapro Xtreme features 3 columns of lugs in the middle surrounded with outer circumferential (wider) rings made by shoulder lugs.
Let me start off form the middle.
So here these 3 ribs features very biting geometry of blocks, though the central most has lugs which have dual functionalities.
These lugs are thicker/wider and have foundational supports underneath.
So where their ton of biters in the form of notches (facing both directions), stepped edges and off-set sides provide off-road traction, they also offer directional grip on smooth pavements with the needed stability.
Same goes for the shoulder lugs, these have ridges under them and their slanted design makes a very smooth transition of weight during turns enhancing steering response, so they are able to provide amazing grip on roads.
And at the same time with staggered outer edges, and thick sidewall lugs they produce a lot of biting on rugged terrains, especially with lowered air pressure.
Sizes Facts
Let me put things in a tabular form here.
| Falken Wildpeak AT3w | Hankook AT2 Xtreme | |
| Sizes Rims | 15 to 22 inches | 15 to 22 inches |
| Tread Depth Range | 12 to 19/32″ | 12.5 to 15.5/32″ |
| Weight Range | 35 lbs to 79.4 lbs | 28 to 76 lbs |
| Speed Ratings | Q, R, S, T, and H | S and T |
| Load Ratings | SL, XL, C, D, E, and F | SL, XL, C, D and E |
| Warranty | 55k miles on all | 60k for all sizes |
| 3PMSF | Yes | Yes |
Review Falken AT3w in detail: https://tiredriver.com/falken-wildpeak-at3w-review/
Dry Performance
An all-terrain tire’s dry performance can be analyzed by examining its traction, steering, and cornering capabilities. Let’s take a closer look at each of these important factors in more detail.
Longitudinal Grip
Directional or Longitudinal grip is indicated by the tire’s rolling traction when driving straight ahead, and is assessed through measurements of braking distances and acceleration times.
And here, the middle section of the tread is judged, as it carries most of the vehicles weight on it (while rolling straight).
That’s why it makes sense why Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme even with it’s aggressive outer area, provides slightly better grip thanks to it’s continuous running middle section (making consistent connection with the road).
Moreover, this central most rib is also wider compared to others, and so you get to have a more rubber-road surface area meet up, resulting in grip.
Falken Wildpeak AT3w on the other hand, although lacks slightly, is not too far off, as it’s biters everywhere and rectilinear sipes provide good enough traction values.
Dry Cornering
The ground-outer shoulder lug connection becomes a critical component in determining the tire’s handling and lateral traction during turns, as the weight shifts towards them and sidewalls.
This is why both tires are great here, with their packed up lugs arrangement, making very small lateral grooves and foundational supports underneath, allow for stability along with traction.
Wet Traction
Improved wet traction requires efficient water evacuation, which is facilitated by wet grip and resistance to hydroplaning, for the most part.
So let me analyze each component separately.
Wet Grip
For improved grip and stability on wet roads, a tire must incorporate both siping and flexibility in its tread design. As both of these elements really help a lot in to wiping water away quickly.
Sipes basically are simply slits on the tread, and they clear off water coming underneath by sucking particles in. Water is not compressible, so if its not wiped off in time, it would create a thin layer between the tread and the road and would cause loss in traction.
Having said that, it can be explained why Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme with so many sipes everywhere still lacks to its counterpart.
The tire basically has only rectilinear pattern of sipes, and as upon heavy braking/cornering, these sipes aren’t able to flex in a better way, and so water is not wiped off efficiently.
Falken Wildpeak AT3w on the other side, has dual siping pattern where the middle ones, deals with directional grip, and the outer ones are in charge of lateral.
Both work together to ensure, wet traction is not compromised. Moreover, it’s superior traction here can also be explained with hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning
The occurrence of aquaplaning is a direct result of the tire’s slow removal of water from its tread, leading to flotation, and so loss of traction.
And so with wider/deeper grooves, the Falken Wildpeak AT3w gets to remove water away much faster, comparatively.
Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme is not so efficient, as it’s grooves aren’t interconnected like the Falken, and the tread voids are not that deep as well.
And so less water cleared off, means more for the sipes to wipe off, and overall wet traction gets limited.
Snow Performance
Most of the all terrain tires coming in, including both here, have 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) ratings. You can read all about it here, but for now, just know that tires with this rating provide 10% better traction compared to all-season tires.
So both tires do great here. Though still, note that the Hankook Dynapro Xtreme does better with hard packed snow and even a little bit of ice, whereas the Falken Wildpeak AT3w is great with deeper terrains, with it’s multiple C shaped notches and stepped edges (both on the lugs in the middle and the shoulders).
Fuel Efficiency
Being a lighter tire in comparison, the Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme needs less energy to move around. Moreover, the tire also has a stiffer rubber composition with less silica in it’s compound. And this combined with it’s shallower tread depth, its lugs don’t get to flex too much upon cornering, braking and acceleration. And this saves energy.
Falken Wildpeak AT3w on the other hand, is not only heavier (which pushes the lugs to rub with greater force with the ground), but you also get to have a lot of tread depth with its softer compound.
So instead of rolling, energy gets wasted in to bending those blocks.
Tread Mileage
The life span of a tire’s tread is influenced by multiple factors, such as rolling resistance, tire composition, and tread depth. Let me explain how.
Consider this: Tires with a softer composition will have a quicker wear rate, and shallow tread can cause the rubber to burn off quickly to the 2/32″ limit. So this tells that there are two main things, wear rate, and wear time.
When it comes to wear rate, the Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme shows better efficacy, with it’s lower rolling resistance.
Whereas in terms of wear time, Falken Wildpeak AT3w with its a lot of tread depth gets to be better. Though still out of both, it gives 5k less mileage warranty in comparison (60k is seen with Dynapro).
For Your Info: The best tire for tread wear is General Grabber A/TX (explained), in all-terrain category.
Ride Quality
The comfort level of a ride is contingent on two important factors – the tire tread noise and the tire’s ability to absorb road imperfections through its tread design and structure. I’ll analyze each of these elements in further detail.
Tread Noise
For the most part, the flow of air, primarily through the grooves on the shoulders, creates unwanted noise associated.
These air particles basically generate two types of noise pollution, one is the whistling, that gets produced by air gushing in and out through outer lateral grooves, and the other seem like wobbling which is heard when air strikes the walls of the tread.
And in both cases, the Hankook Dynapro Xtreme provides you with quieter ride. It’s more packed up lugs give less space for air to move around, and it’s harder compound does not produce as much resonance in comparison.
Falken Wildpeak AT3w, on the other hand, gives the air more room, though still its pretty quite too, as it deals with that air with impressive pitch sequencing.
Comfort
The comfort level of a tire is determined by its capacity to manage road shocks, so the tire’s structure becomes a key factor. That’s why tires having a softer construction yield a smoother driving experience.
Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme with it’s harder compound can’t not dampen as much bumps as its competitor. Moreover, the tire has less tread depth to it as well.
This matters because in case of Wildpeak AT3W, the 3.5/32″ of more tread depth means more rubber thickness for the vibrations to settle in.
Also Read: Are all-terrain tires comfortable?
Off Road Performance
As each terrain type on rugged paths requires unique skills from these tires, I’ve divided this section in to those terrains.
On Mud
All-terrain tires that incorporate a tread design with wide grooves are better equipped to handle muddy conditions, as mud is quickly evacuated and prevented from packing into the tire.
Though in case of Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme that’s really not the case, as this tire presents with much more compact design in comparison, with consistent running rib in the middle (not dividing up in lateral channels connecting outer longitudinal ones). And the outer shoulder grooves packed up with ridges in between.
Both of these don’t allow the mud to follow as easily, especially through sideways.
Falken Wildpeak AT3w on the other side, not only presents with interlinked channels in all angles, it also has more tread depth so a good deal of mud is able to flow out.
Moreover, the tire also features staggered outer margins and thick enough lugs, and both of them act as mud scoops.
Recommended Read: Are all-terrain tires good on mud?
On Rocks
On rocky terrains a good tire would have a pliant tread and multiple notches combined with powerful sidewall lugs. And on Falken Wildpeak AT3w all of those features are available and very effective.
Starting form sides, this tire provides you withe U shaped (slanted) lugs and serrated outer edges (on shoulders), providing the highly needed lateral traction (especially with lowered air pressure PSI values).
And in the middle part of the tread you get multiple biters in the form of C shaped notches and stepped edges grabbing the rocky surface.
Moreover, as the tire’s tread is softer in comparison, and they have more depth to them, you get a bigger groove bite, providing you with greater chewing power.
Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme on the other hand, although is a good addition to Dynapro AT2, offering with thick sidewalls, they are still not thicker compared to Wildpeak. So the lack in lateral traction.
Moreover, with a harder rubber composition, it’s lugs aren’t that flexible to provide similar biting like the Falken.
On Sand
Where reducing the tire’s air pressure to create a “floating” effect on sand, other factors like the tread pattern, compositions and weight is also very significant.
That’s why the Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme with it’s “extreme” sidewall lugs is not able to outperform its counterpart.
My main complaint with this tire is its tread compound. It’s just very stiff in comparison, so even with lowered air pressure, they lugs don’t get to flex as much (comparatively).
Falken Wildpeak AT3w on the other hand, has sidewall lugs pasted on a larger area (increasing section width), it features a softer compound and it’s bigger groove mouth provide the paddle effect while climbing on sandy dunes.
Gravely Tracks
The presence of self-cleaning grooves in off-road tires is a crucial factor when driving on gravely roads. And most of it gets provided by stone ejectors.
Though they are missing on both tires.
But still, in case of Falken Wildpeak AT3w, the ridges on the central blocks, along with stepped edges on both middle ones and shoulder lugs, provide the needed “ejecting”, rendering it better in performance off the two tires.
To Conclude
The Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme is a better tire to have on pavements, its quieter, provides you with superior fuel economy and tread life, and is pretty great with hard packed snow, though both tires have 3pmsfr.
Falken Wildpeak AT3w on the other side, does better off-road in nearly all terrains with it’s tougher construction and self cleaning grooves. Though with its interlocking siping, it’s also pretty great on wet roads.
