Falken Wildpeak AT3W Review: The best all-terrain tires

Nothing irritates me more than excessive penny-pinching. If we’re talking about new tires for your trusted vehicle, I wouldn’t place my bet on the excessive cheap variety. The same holds true for rugged all-terrain tires. I know for a fact that tire makers go to great lengths in engineering a rugged set of tires. If the tire commands a higher price tag, it may have something more to offer other than a popular name brand. 

And this where things get very interesting. The market is virtually blooming with choices when it comes to all-terrain tires. Similar offerings from Nitto, BF Goodrich, Goodyear, Yokohama, and Dick Cepek are all competing for your money. But among the first tires to consider is the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W. 

This has nothing to do with ruggedness, traction, or all-terrain durability. It has something to do with the price. Falken is offering the Wildpeak A/T3W in the middle of the price range, and it does it while still having hybrid performance capabilities.

The Falken Wildpeak A/T3W is conceived by combining the rugged performance of all-terrain tires with the refinement of a highway tire. Sounds interesting, right? In this review, I did not focus on the actual off-road performance of the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W. Based on the looks alone, this no doubt one of the toughest and most capable off-road tires you can buy.

What I really wanted to find out is how the tire behaved on smooth roads. Is it really capable of comfortable cruising, or is just all hype?

Is it true? Is the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W a smooth performer?

The short answer is yes. If fitted to a large pickup truck like the RAM 1500 or F-150, the ride is comfortable and silent. However, it is not as refined as a set of H/T or highway tires at higher speeds. If your truck or SUV is mostly driven on paved roads, you are better off with a set of H/T tires. You’ll save a bit of money as well.

But if your truck is used for both work and play, you can’t go wrong with the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W. With these tires, you couldn’t ask for more in terms of all-road performance. It will only fail when faced with the toughest of obstacles such as deep mud and larger rocks. If this is the case, only a proper set of mud tires will do.

But when the roads turn from awful to smooth, this is where the fun begins for the Falken Wildpeak A/T 3W. It offers better comfort than other A/T tires. You can basically cruise all day at higher speeds without upsetting the comfort and refinement of your truck. Sounds nice, right?

If there’s a kink in the armor of the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W, it will have to be the road noise. It’s not the noisiest A/T tire out there, and it certainly cruises quietly at low to medium speeds. But if the speed rises, you can expect a bit more tire roar. 

But then again, it will depend on the NVH of your vehicle. If you drive an older truck or sport-utility vehicle, you can expect more road noise to intrude inside the cabin. Bit for newer models with better NVH tuning, the tire roar is no less bothersome than a mosquito bite without the dengue.

But in terms of smoothness, it is hard to fault the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W. It offers rugged performance when needed but it buttons down in normal driving. So far, so good. 

What are the features of the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W?

The Falken Wildpeak A/T3W is obsessively engineered to deliver a no-compromise A/T tire. It is constructed with an outer apex sidewall. This makes the tire more durable and more resistant to damage or punctures. It also acts as a heat shield to offer smoother and reliable performance in highway driving.

The heat diffusers of the tire are visible on the edges of the sidewall. This ensures the rubber remains cool as the tire rolls on the pavement. It ensures better stability especially when towing or carrying heavy loads.

The Falken Wildpeak A/T3W is equipped with the deepest treads in the A/T category. This is a bold claim and can only be measured using professional-grade knowledge and equipment. But what is visible are the array of rugged and rigid tread blocks. Take a closer look and you’ll notice the blocks are equipped with support ramps and step-down etching. This feature not only ensures consistent all-terrain grip and handling even as the treads wear down, but it also helps in stone ejection.

If you do a lot of mild to moderate off-roading in both dry and wet conditions, the silica-based tread compound and aggressive upper side wall will make sure to offer consistent and relentless traction.

How does it behave on snowy and wet roads?

Like a champ. This tire is more than enough for mild to moderate snow. The Falken Wildpeak A/T3W is granted the 3MPSF symbol. This marking is recognized by the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association. It simply means superior snow performance. In truth, this tire works great on snow-covered terrain. But it struggles a bit on deep snow, although it can sort itself out without needing a hitch. But if you’re expecting extreme snow performance, you’re better off with mud tires.

But on wet roads in smooth terrain, this tire is divine. The grip and handling are not compromised while the braking felt strong. The traction remains unaffected unless you perform silly driving maneuvers on wet roads. But on straight highways, the driving feels confident even in the presence of heavy and consistent rain. 

How about tire wear?

The Falken Wildpeak A/T3W also shines in terms of tread wear. You can expect a lot of driving with these tires. In fact, Falken is offering the Wildpeak A/T3W with a lengthy 55,000-mile treadwear warranty.

You can see more Falken Wildpeak AT3W Review here: By WNC Offroad