Last Updated: November 14, 2024
After almost a year of searching for the best all-terrain tire I could put on the 4Runner, I decided to go with the Falken Wildpeak AT4W tires. Knowing that some of the previous Falken Wildpeak AT3W tires faced a recall due to safety issues, I did not get scared. Being a solid company, Falken surely handled the issues and improved when it came down to AT4W tires. While it's still a bit too early to tell if my assumption was true regarding safety, I have almost nothing but great things to say about this tire. Why “almost”? Well, one area in these tires hasn't performed well for me, but that might be 4Runner drivetrain-related more than tires-related. Nevertheless, Falken Wildpeak AT4W tires are one of the best tires for SUVs that money can buy. That being said, let's dig into the reasoning behind it.
- Load Range: C1 - XL
- Load Index: 99 - 129
- Tread Depth: 13" - 19"
- Warranty: 60,000 - 65,000 miles
- Max PSI: 35 PSI - 83 PSI
- Speed Rating: H - UP TO 130 MPH - T - UP TO 118 MPH
- Tire Aspect Ratio: 10.5 - 9.5
So far, I have tested these tires in literally every condition possible, and they truly haven't disappointed me. While I was torn between BFGoodrich KO3 tires, the Falken Wildpeak AT4Ws have a better warranty, look better, and are $50-$60 cheaper than KO3 tires. Yes, I had to resort to looks since both tires perform almost identically and weigh similarly.
Testing Conditions, Equipment, Results
- Vehicle: 2020 Toyota 4Runner Venture
- Tire Size: 275/70/17
- Terrain: Heavy snow, light snow, light ice, heavy rain, light off-road with snow, dry pavement
Falken Wildpeak AT4W Testing Results
- Heavy Snow Rating: 5.0/5.0
- Light Snow and Ice Rating: 3.0/5.0
- Wet Traction Rating: 5.0/5.0
- Dry Traction Rating: 5.0/5.0
- Uneven Pavement Rating: 5.0/5.0
- Overall Rating: 4.4/5.0 + 0.5 (added back since they aren't truly built to be a snow tire)
Falken Wildpeak AT4W Overview
To begin with, the expectations for Falken Wildpeak A/T4W were quite high, but the tire did not disappoint. I only had issues testing them when we received very light snow and the roads started icing. Sure, one can argue that all tires aren't flawless in those conditions, but I saw AWD vehicles fly past me without any issues.
It is an all-terrain tire designed to excel across diverse driving conditions, from smooth highways to rugged backwoods trails. With a focus on durability, traction, and comfort, this tire is engineered for versatility, making it ideal for vehicles like Chevy Silverados, RAM trucks, Jeeps, Toyota off-road models, and Ford F-series trucks. Its performance is backed by Falken's 65,000-mile warranty for non-LT sizes and a 60,000-mile warranty for LT sizes, ensuring long-lasting reliability.
Key Features
- All-Weather and All-Terrain Performance: The A/T4W features a Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake designation, ready to handle wet, icy, and snowy conditions. Its silica-enhanced tread compound and 3D Canyon Sipes improve traction, offering dependable grip on dry and slick surfaces.
- Rugged Durability: Falken's proprietary DURASPEC 3-ply Sidewall Technology, available in select sizes, boosts resistance to punctures and enhances the tire's ability to withstand the challenges of off-road environments.
- Enhanced Load Stability: Updated Heat Diffuser technology ensures heat dispersion within the tire, maintaining stability under heavy loads or towing. Combined with heavy-duty construction, the A/T4W can manage higher loads and tire pressure than its predecessor.
- Distinctive Tread Design: The tread pattern with staggered shoulder blocks enhances traction and traction, giving the tire a rugged, attractive look. This design aids in maintaining grip on rough terrain and improves handling in various environments.
Specifications and Options
- Size Range: Widths from 215 to 37, aspect ratios from 10.5 to 9.5, and diameters ranging from 15″ to 22″.
- Load Range and PSI: Options include load ranges from C1 to XL, with a maximum PSI between 35 and 83.
- Speed Rating: Available ratings include H (up to 130 mph) and T (up to 118 mph).
- Sidewall and Appearance: All sizes feature a Black Side Wall design, adding a sleek look to your vehicle.
Added Value
- Warranty and Protection: Falken's high mileage warranty and optional road hazard protection provide peace of mind with every purchase.
- Additional Services: Each tire includes free air checks, flat tire repair, and rotation, ensuring continuous value even after installation.
Whether conquering off-road challenges or cruising the open road, the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W delivers a hard-to-beat blend of capability, reliability, and style.
Falken Wildpeak AT4W Pros and Cons
So, what are these tires' positives and negatives? As you can tell by the rating, there weren't too many things that stood out as big negatives of Wildpeak AT4W tires; however, they are worth mentioning.
Pros
- Great traction on dry and wet pavement
- Incredible performance in deep snow (tested in over a foot of snow)
- Road noise is minimal, which is surprising for such an aggressive-looking all-terrain tire
- It performs well on the freeway; you need to look for differences to tell that it's not a street tire
- Incredible warranty of 60K up to 65K miles, which makes me believe that they last for a long time
- Well priced, almost 25% cheaper than KO2 tires
Cons
- Heavy weight, which will result in decreased gas mileage. I saw a decrease of 3mpg, but my data seems to be an outlier compared to other Wildpeak AT4W owners.
- They do not do well in light snow or icy conditions, although you might think otherwise if you have a spectacular AWD system.
Testing of Falken Wildpeak AT4W Tires
Purchasing Process – Where to Buy Falken Wildpeak AT4W Tires
I purchased these tires at Tire Rack and had them shipped to my house. There are two reasons for that:
- Tire Rack tires come with FREE road hazard protection, as shown in the screenshot above. That's the same thing that Discount Tire and other companies would charge you another $100 – $160.
- Since I currently reside in Denver, a Tire Rack warehouse nearby allows me to pick up my tires myself. If you choose, Tire Rack will give you an additional $60 discount.
Since I did not order the stock option for the tires, they cost me more than they would have if I had ordered the stock size for the 2020 Toyota 4Runner. I'm guessing that since it's not a super common size, it's not so readily available; therefore, the price is higher. For a factory-size tire, I would have paid $60 per tire less.
If you can pick it up yourself, you can get it as soon as you go to the warehouse. If you ship them, they have distribution centers around the country, so getting them even as quickly as one day is not abnormal.
Note: If you are switching from road tires to Falken Wildpeak AT4W tires, there is a good chance you will need an alignment. I took my tires to Toyota so that the dealer could do an oil change, swap the tires out, and do an alignment simultaneously.
Testing in Heavy Snow
I was eager to test the Falken Wildpeak AT4Ws on my 2020 Toyota 4Runner Venture in serious snow conditions, especially given all the good things I'd heard about these tires. Mother Nature didn't disappoint, and within two weeks of installing the tires, the Denver area got hit with a 4-day-long snow storm. With nearly a foot of fresh snow on the trail, I could feel the excitement (and a bit of anticipation) as we set out.
The Falken Wildpeaks gave the 4Runner a stable, confident feel on the road from the get-go. As I cruised through, the deep snow barely fazed the truck. Traction was spot-on; there were no sudden slips or struggles to regain control. Even pushing it a bit to see if I could see any weak spots, the 4Runner held its ground easily, and we powered forward without hesitation. Just bear in mind that since there was snow on the ground, I was driving with 4WD at all times. But then again, if you are looking into getting Falken Wildpeak AT4W, you probably do not have a two-wheel drive vehicle anyway.
The snow got deeper at one point, nearly reaching the truck's undercarriage. I braced for any sign of a traction loss, but the Wildpeaks kept gripping, and we cruised right through. At no point did I feel the need to slow down significantly or worry about getting stuck, which I've experienced before with other tires on the 4Runner (Michelin Defender). These tires bite into the snow, making every movement feel intentional and secure.
With the Falken Wildpeak AT4Ws, the 4Runner did not struggle in deep snow even once. The only issues related to snow were with very light snow paired with light ice. Let's get into that next.
Testing in Snowy and Icy Conditions
These conditions were the only ones where the truck didn't feel stable while rocking the Wildpeaks. The 4Runner was sliding sideways even while in 4WD and had major trouble stopping. I strongly believe this poor performance has more to do with the testing vehicle than the tires. My suspicion grew even stronger after speaking with some Subaru drivers driving their vehicles on Falken Wildpeak tires and having no issues in the same conditions.
That said, I ordered a new set of Rocktrix wheels along with Blizzak DMV2 tires, for which I will link the review once they are tested. As multiple off-road 4Runner friends told me if you want to truly feel safe and sound during winter, get yourself real snow tires.
Wet Traction Test
The Falken Wildpeak AT4W delivered strong traction and reliable stability in wet conditions. After the heavy snowstorm, the snow started melting quickly, flooding the roads. Did I think that the truck might hydroplane while driving through somewhat flooded roads? Not necessarily. Keep in mind that I was testing them with a pretty heavy truck.
The deep grooves of Falken Wildpeak AT4Ws and the tread design effectively channeled water away, reducing the risk of hydroplaning and maintaining grip through pooled water. There were quite a few folks on the road who overestimated their tires' capabilities or their driving abilities and ended up flying off the road. However, my truck kept moving steadily with no issues or near misses. During turns and braking, the tires held securely, providing a confident driving experience on rain-soaked roads.
Overall, the Falken Wildpeak AT4W demonstrated dependable wet-weather performance and made me forgive the tires for poor light snow performance. I was sliding quite a lot with Blizzak WS90s on black ice, which are dedicated snow tires, so comparing AT4Ws with a dedicated winter tire wouldn't even be fair.
Dry Asphalt Testing
The Falken Wildpeak AT4W performed extremely well on dry asphalt. One of my bigger worries was the sound that I thought all of the all-terrain tires made. However, the Wildpeaks didn't just provide great traction and a feeling of stability; they were also very quiet. I have driven a Ram 1500 truck on all-terrain Nitto tires, and I remember how bad that was. The Wildpeaks were incomparable.
The ride also felt very smooth compared to other all-terrain tires, making them suitable for daily driving on paved roads. Since the 4Runner is my daily driver, which I take on long trips, this was very important for me. It seems like Falken figured out a great balance of performance in all kinds of terrain as well as comfort while using their products.
Off-Road Testing
The tires performed well or just as expected during my light off-road testing. After all, they are more of an off-road focused tire than a street tire. I look at AT4Ws as road-capable off-road tires. I must take the truck on some trails during spring or next summer to fully test their capabilities in a more intense off-road setting. However, after reading countless reviews in forums or Facebook groups, I can tell these tires will not disappoint.
Who Should Purchase Falken Wildpeak AT4W Tires?
If you are in the market for a tire that will not disappoint you on regular roads and while off-roading, then Falken Wildpeak AT4W tires are for you. If you do not plan to go off-roading occasionally, the decreased gas mileage might not be worth the trade-off.
Living in Colorado, having an all-terrain set of tires is a must if you plan to get out in the wild. Knowing that you do not have to swap the tires constantly depending on where you are going and the added peace of mind of knowing that your tire can conquer pretty much any terrain is definitely worth it. And if that sounds like you, Falken Wildpeak AT4W tires are the right choice.
Driver Soul Tire Testing Methodology
We take pride in providing thorough and unbiased reviews of the latest tire models. To ensure our ratings are accurate and consistent, we have developed a methodology that considers various factors and incorporates statistical analysis.
- Performance: We test tires for their performance in various driving conditions, including wet and dry roads, snow and ice, and off-road terrain. We also consider handling, braking, noise, and ride comfort factors. These tests are conducted using standardized procedures, and the results are analyzed using statistical methods to determine the mean and standard deviation.
- Durability: We assess tire durability based on tread life, resistance to punctures and cuts, and sidewall strength. These tests are conducted using standardized procedures or data gathered from third-party websites where real users share their experiences with the products that we are reviewing. We then analyze the results using statistical methods to determine the mean and standard deviation.
- Value: We consider the tire's price and compare it to its performance and durability to determine its overall value. We pay close attention to the tire's reported life span and the ratio of those metrics to the price.
- Customer reviews: We consider the experiences and opinions of other drivers who have used the tire. We do our best to disregard what seems to be fake reviews (good or bad), and make judgement calls based on our ability to filter bogus reviews well. We are human; therefore, mistakes can be made. The best reviews we provide are always where we extensively test the products and share real-life experiences with our readers.
- Expert opinions: We consult industry experts and gather their insights and opinions on tires. An expert can even consist of someone with extensive knowledge of tire use and practical experience with them.
Our ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 5, with one being the lowest and five being the highest. We strive to provide detailed and comprehensive reviews that give drivers the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions. Overall, this methodology, which incorporates statistical analysis, allows us to provide accurate and reliable ratings for the tires we review on our site.
Bridgestone Falken Wildpeak AT4W Review – Bottom Line
The Falken Wildpeak AT4W is a well-rounded all-terrain tire built to handle challenging conditions easily. Throughout testing, it consistently delivered solid traction and stability, especially in deep snow and wet conditions, where it performed at a level that inspires confidence.
In this review, I've covered the A/T4W's strengths across different road surfaces and weather conditions. After testing, it's clear that Falken's design and technology hold up in real-world scenarios, offering dependable performance on and off the road. For anyone needing a tire that can take on a variety of terrains without compromising on-road comfort, the Wildpeak AT4W is an impressive choice that combines reliability with versatility.
