Falken Wildpeak A/T4W launch post

Established in 1983 in Japan and a brand of Sumitomo Rubber North America Inc., Falken Tires has earned a good reputation in the tire market. Falken now offers high-quality tires that fall in categories like all-season, all-terrain, UHP all-season, UHP summer, winter, all-weather, mud-terrain, and more.

While all lines launched by Falken are competent and received an overwhelming response from enthusiasts and tire buyers, the launch of Wildpeak tires redefined the tire maker’s presence as a strong player in the all-terrain category. The Wildpeak tires marked the manufacturer as a prime caterer of tires for light trucks, SUVs, CUVs, and Jeeps. High-end features, year-round traction and grip, and the ability to deliver exceptional performance in challenging on- and off-road environments give the Wildpeak tires a different character altogether.

Introduced in early 2024, the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W, which was launched as an enhanced version of the Wildpeak A/T3W, surprised the tire industry with its impressive features, looks, and abilities. During the launch of Falken Wildpeak A/T4W, the manufacturer highlighted that they have picked up their best-selling tire (the Wildpeak A/T3W) and improved it further in different areas (will be discussed later). Indeed, it is a great move by the Japanese tire manufacturer to attract on- and off-road driving enthusiasts by offering an additional and better choice in the all-terrain tire category.

The name ‘Wildpeak A/T4W’ comes from the ‘four’ ‘Ws’ that stand for Wear, Winter, Wet, and Warranty, where ‘Wear’ denotes consistent performance throughout the tire’s tread life, ‘Winter’ stands for strong snow traction, ‘Wet’ signifies exceptional wet weather performance, and ‘Warranty’ is related to an attractive tread life warranty coverage.

Newer rubber compound, increased tread rigidity, and introduction of heavy-duty LT-rated sizes take these newly-launched Falken tires to the next level. Let’s talk more about the Wildpeak A/T4W in detail, and discuss the following:

• What are the advantages of the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W?
• How the Wildpeak A/T4W is better than the Wildpeak A/T3W?
• Who is the Wildpeak A/T4W best suited for?
• What are the drawbacks of the Wildpeak A/T4W?

Benefits of the new and improved Falken Wildpeak A/T4W

One of the newest all-terrain tires in the Wildpeak lineup, the A/T4W is designed and engineered to switch between the backcountry trails and the open roads, offering the drivers confidence to tackle any terrain.

The Wildpeak A/T4W offers many great benefits, which we have discussed in detail below:

• Improved towing performance – Falken did a fantastic job by increasing the tread rigidity and also introducing the heavy-duty LT-rated sizes in the Wildpeak A/T4W lineup, which results in improved towing experience as compared to the Wildpeak A/T3W.
• Increased off-roading ability – The staggered shoulder blocks of the Wildpeak A/T4W offer better traction in rugged off-road conditions, boosting the vehicle’s off-roading ability.
• Long-lasting on-road comfort – Falken’s advanced engineering took a leap with the advanced rubber compound used in the Wildpeak A/T4W ensuring increased tread life and better on-road comforts.
• Solid sidewall protection – Select sizes of the Wildpeak A/T4W use the three-ply DURASPEC Sidewall Technology that ensures robust sidewall protection while driving on the toughest terrain.
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified – The tire sports Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol that denotes the tire is certified for use in moderate to severe snow conditions, in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Thanks to the full-depth sipes and optimized compound, the Wildpeak A/T4W is able to achieve solid traction performance in harsh winter conditions.
• Impressive year-round traction and grip – In addition to the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W tires are also optimized to perform in dry and wet weather conditions, assuring the drivers an impressive year-round traction and grip.
• Extended mileage warranty – The Wildpeak A/T4W is backed by a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for non-LT sizes and a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for LT sizes.
• Increased vehicle compatibility – The Wildpeak A/T4W is available in up to 96 different sizes that range between 15- to 22-inch, making it compatible with a good number vehicles on the market.

But, what improvements does the Wildpeak A/T4W boast over the Wildpeak A/T3W?

No doubt, the A/T4W is loaded with all the same features and abilities like the Wildpeak A/T3W, there are improvements in certain areas that deliver enhanced performance. In addition, the Wildpeak A/T4W adds more sizes in its portfolio for a wider compatibility than the Wildpeak A/T3W. Let’s talk more about the improvements in the Wildpeak A/T4W as compared to the Wildpeak A/T3W, analyzing the newly introduced features and SimpleScore comparison between the two tires in areas like longevity, traction, and handling.

The A/T4W features an updated tread design, staggered shoulder blocks, a more sturdy sidewall, and an advanced rubber compound that contribute to a long-lasting tread life and wear resistance. When we take a look at the longevity SimpleScore, the Wildpeak A/T4W scores a 9.2/10 rating against the Wildpeak A/T3W’s 8.6/10 SimpleScore rating.

The all-new rubber compound, innovative tread pattern, shoulder blocks with sharper edges, self-cleaning grooves are also upgraded in the Wildpeak A/T4W. However, when it comes to SimpleScore in traction, both the Wildpeak A/T4W and Wildpeak A/T3W score similar but excellent 9.8/10 SimpleScore rating.

The Wildpeak A/T4W is offered with an updated Heat Diffuser technology that allows it to gain better stability than the Wildpeak A/T3W by eliminating heat from within the tire, awarding a slightly higher 9.5/10 SimpleScore in handling against the older A/T3W’s 9.4/10 SimpleScore in the same area.

Likewise, the Wildpeak A/T4W also offers better comfort on the pavement because of the better rubber compound and construction. The heavy-duty construction, new-gen compound, and the inclusion of Heavy Duty (HD) sizes improve the tire’s towing ability at higher tire pressures and higher load capacities.

Overall, as compared to the Wildpeak A/T3W, which has an overall SimpleScore of 9.2 on a scale of 10, the new Wildpeak A/T4 comes as a better choice in many areas, scoring a higher 9.5 SimpleScore rating.

Who is the Wildpeak A/T4W best suited for?

Now, let’s discuss who should consider the Wildpeak A/T4W tire. First of all, the tire is built and designed for a certain types of vehicles, which you must know before buying Falken Wildpeak A/T4W tires. If you own a light truck or an SUV and the rim size of your vehicle falls between 15- to 22-inch, then you can consider buying the Wildpeak A/T4W tires. Here’s the list of most common vehicles these Wildpeak tires are compatible with:

• Nissan Titan
• Chevrolet Silverado
• Ford F-150
• Jeep Cherokee
• RAM 1500
• Toyota Tundra

Some of the popular tire sizes of the Wildpeak A/T4W include:

• 225/75R15
• LT215/85R16
• 265/70R17
• 285/65R18
• LT265/60R20
• LT325/50R22

Now, let’s talk about the Wildpeak AT/4W from the utility standpoint. So, if you’re someone who typically drives on-road but need dependable tires that won’t disappoint on rugged terrains as well, the Wildpeak A/T4W could be a great choice for you. If you’re somebody who lives in a region that witnesses moderate to severe fall and you need a tire to combat that along with regular on-road use and occasional off-road adventures, then the Wildpeak A/T4W could be a great choice for you!

Remember, the tire offers best of both worlds – standard on-road driving and suitable off-road adventures, and this makes it a perfect fit for drivers of light trucks and SUVs, who are always ready to hit the roads or don’t hesitate to chase the trails.

Drawbacks of the Wildpeak A/T4W

No doubt, the Wildpeak A/T4W is one of the best bets in the all-terrain tire category and comes with noteworthy features that surpass not only its competitors but also its immediate sibling, the Wildpeak A/T3W. But, even a good tire might have certain shortcomings, which we have discussed below:

• ‘Silence’ isn’t its job – First of all, the Wildpeak A/T4W is built to hit the paved roads and rugged terrains, and therefore, it has been built hard and sturdy to combat the driving pressures. This is also one of the reasons, why it isn’t as padded as the traditional passenger car tires. So, if you wish to own this one, be prepared as the noise levels could be a bit on the higher side.
• Neglect ‘fuel efficiency’ if you want to experience best of both worlds – You’re buying a versatile tire already, why think of saving those extra bucks on fuel? Okay, we understand your concern for fuel, but traditionally the all-terrains aren’t the best choices on the fuel saving part. Especially, the Wildpeak A/T4W as it is built tough, for heavy-duty or rugged performances, alongside hitting the paved roads. So, it doesn’t comes as a great choice for the drivers who are particularly focused on fuel efficiency.
• Ride comfort shouldn’t be your expectation – These are Wildpeaks and they can go on- and off-road, and that’s how they have been built and designed. Therefore, their vibration absorption ability isn’t as high-rated as some of its strong areas. So, ride comfort shouldn’t be your expectation when you get them installed.

While there could be certain limitations attached to the Wildpeak A/T4W tires, their performance possibilities are limitless. Right from the roads to rocks, gravel, dirt, and snow, they are great!