Firestone Transforce HT3 vs Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD tires

Prominent tire brands Firestone and Falken are front-runners when it comes to light trucks, commercial vans, and heavy-duty pickups. In the demanding highway terrain segment, fleet operators and commercial drivers require maximum load stability and resistance to irregular wear. We have taken two of the latest offerings in this segment: the Firestone Transforce HT3 and the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD.

Offered in LT sizing, the Firestone Transforce HT3 is designed for heavy-duty fleet trucks and features a new rubber compound to resist irregular wear and open shoulder slots for enhanced wet performance. The Transforce HT3 delivers a quieter ride and confident high-speed handling under constant load. On the other hand, the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD is a rugged, severe snow-rated commercial tire that utilizes 3D Canyon Sipe Technology and a Support Bridge structure for enhanced tread rigidity. This construction ensures high torque support, superior stability during heavy hauling, and enhanced durability against commercial hazards.

So, which one is the best between the two? Let’s do the Firestone Transforce HT3 vs Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD comparison based on our proprietary scoring mechanism - SimpleScore. It rates traction, handling, and longevity on a scale of 0 to 10.

Firestone Transforce HT3 tires

Launched in 2024, the Firestone Transforce HT3 is a durable all-season light truck tire engineered to handle the demands of both on- and off-road driving. Built with heavy-duty durability in mind, it features a rugged construction, reinforced sidewalls, and a wear-resistant rubber compound that provides reliable performance under challenging conditions. The tread design ensures consistent grip and responsive handling on highways while offering the necessary stability for unpaved roads.

Known for its enhanced wet traction, the Transforce HT3 is a dependable performer for commercial and light trucks, earning a solid overall SimpleScore of 8.3.

Get Firestone Transforce HT3 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD tires

Launched in 2018, the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD is engineered with a reinforced carcass and high-strength construction to handle significant towing, hauling, and high-torque applications. The Wildpeak H/T02 HD is a superb highway-terrain tire for light trucks, renowned for combining rugged durability with refined on-road manners. Falken’s key innovations, like 4D Nano Design and 3D Canyon Sipe Technology, stabilize the tread and enhance braking performance across dry, wet, and light snow conditions. Furthermore, the silica-enriched compound extends wet and wear performance, while the optimized, variable-pitch tread pattern ensures minimal noise for a quiet and comfortable ride.

Backed by an up to 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty (for LT sizes), it boasts an overall SimpleScore of 8.7, reflecting its enhanced grip, traction, and reliable year-round performance.

Get Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Firestone Transforce HT3 vs Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD tires on traction

Traction is necessary for heavy-duty vehicles, as loss of grip may lead to serious mishaps and loss of commercial loads. The Firestone and Falken both return solid traction figures, but one performs better. Let’s analyse the traction scores.

With an 8.3 traction score, the Transforce HT3 features a great tread design that helps efficiently evacuate water from the tread to maintain grip and stiffness in different driving conditions. Moreover, the use of ENLITEN technology further aids in improving the highway terrain tire’s performance.

On the other hand, the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD secures a superb 8.6 in traction thanks to its four wide circumferential grooves that boost wet braking performance and significantly enhance hydroplaning resistance by rapidly evacuating water from the tread. This strong grip in dry, wet, and light snow is further enhanced by the silica-enriched rubber compound and the advanced 4D Nano Design.

The Falken tire has the advantage straightaway over the Firestone tire in the traction section. It secures a win here.

ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD

Firestone Transforce HT3 vs Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD tires on handling

Highway driving requires consistent driving at decent speeds, making handling the next big aspect for tire selection. The Transforce HT3 and the Wildpeak H/T02 HD deliver impressive steering control and stability on paved roads, even when running with full load capacity.

The Firestone Transforce HT3 betters its performance and scores an 8.6 in handling. Thanks to its robust construction, the Firestone tire delivers enhanced stability, control, and steering response on and off the road. While the sturdy tread design maintains tire shape on different terrains, the reinforced sidewalls limit cut and chip impacts for improved handling.

Scoring an 8.6 in handling, the Falken tire has rigid tread blocks featuring a connecting "support bridge" that maintains tread pattern rigidity in the contact patch, delivering improved stability for both everyday driving and rigorous hauling or towing tasks. All LT-metric sizes are marked with the "HD" badge, confirming their heavy-duty construction.

The scores are levelled as both score 8.6.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

Firestone Transforce HT3 vs Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD tires on longevity

Longevity is what the commercial drivers crave. A tire that lasts long without compromising traction, braking, or durability is a preferred option for heavy-duty pickup or light truck owners. One of the highway terrains assures exceptional tread life, while the other returns a moderate service life.

Scoring an 8.0 in longevity, the Firestone Transforce HT3 is a decent bet for light truck owners wanting sturdy highway terrain tires with moderate tread life. Its cut and chip-resistant rubber compound and solid sidewall design promote adequate wearability for an optimum service life. However, the absence of a mileage warranty is a big downside of the Firestone tire.

Contrarily, the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD secures an incredible 9.1 in its longevity score, underlining its exceptional tread life and excellent value for money. Built to go the distance, the Wildpeak H/T02 HD is covered by an up to 75,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for P-metric sizes and 50,000 miles for LT sizes. This exceptional wear resistance is due to the 3D Canyon Sipe Technology, which interlocks the tread shoulders to resist wear caused by high torque and heavy loads.

The Firestone Transforce HT3 lacks the fire as well as the force to defeat the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD in the longevity race.

ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD

When to use each

Highway terrain tires are all-season tires designed primarily for light trucks, SUVs, and CUVs that spend most of their time on paved roads. They prioritize a long tread life, a smooth and quiet ride, and dependable all-season traction in dry, wet, and light snow conditions, making them ideal for towing and daily commuting.

While the Firestone Transforce HT3 is a great tire for those seeking solid year-round performance, the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD costs a little more but offers exceptional tread life, optimal handling, and traction.

Which one should you choose?

In a nutshell, the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD wins the comparison by defeating Firestone Transforce HT3 2-0, while the latter levels score in handling. However, you should check out individual traits before zeroing in on a particular tire. Let’s have a look at the prices to know which one is a better deal.

For the LT215/85R16 115/112R E size, the Firestone tire costs $160 per tire, while four tires cost $640. Similarly, the Falken tire costs $212 per tire, while four tires come for $836 (a difference of $196 on four tires).

Based on SimpleScore, you should purchase the Firestone Transforce HT3 if you:

• Drive vehicles like the GMC Yukon, Toyota Tacoma, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• Want an affordable highway terrain tire
• Prefer a tire that’s got equally capable handling (8.6 vs 8.6)

On the other hand, you should choose the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 HD if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Ford F-150, Honda Ridgeline, and Nissan Frontier
• Prefer a performance tire with better traction (8.6 vs 8.3)
• Want a tire with exceptional longevity (9.1 vs 8.0)
• Prefer a highway terrain tire with a limited manufacturer tread life warranty (up to 75,000 miles)

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.