Falken Wildpeak M/T Tire Review and Rating

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Dry
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Wet
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Snow
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Comfort
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Noise
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Off-Road
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Pros

  • Marvelous off-road performance
  • Decent on the road
  • Noise levels are surprisingly good
  • Usable in winter conditions

Cons

  • Slightly firm ride at normal tire pressure
  • Noise levels increase as the tread wears down

Throughout the year, off-roading has increased in popularity, leading us to a point where more and more people started getting on board. The bigger the interest in the area, the more models car manufacturers had to put on the market, pushing the tire industry to follow the same path.

Cars and tires work hand in hand mainly because a vehicle needs a proper set of tires to deliver the performance promised by the manufacturer. Just like a sports car needs a UHP tire to stretch its legs, so does an off-road vehicle, but with a set of mud-terrain tires.

These types of tires are designed with off-roading in mind, meaning that road performance is secondary. As a result, you’re getting a tire that’s usable on paved surfaces and dominates unpaved ones.

Today’s review will cover a mud-terrain tire from the mid-range segment. We know that Falken makes excellent tires, combining performance and price, so it’s no wonder why it’s a popular brand. The tire we have for you is the Wildpeak M/T, which seems to promise a lot.

What are the features of the Falken Wildpeak M/T?

Considering that we’re talking about a proper off-road tire, most of the features here focus on that segment. To be fair, the Wildpeak M/T will be used primarily under those conditions, so it’s natural for Falken to aim toward making it better.

Falken Wildpeak MT Tire Review

Handling in off-road scenarios is crucial, and the first feature of the Wildpeak M/T revolves around that. As part of the tread design, Falken designed the central blocks with step-down supports, which keep them stiffer, thus improving handling. As a bonus, this design should also help keep stones from getting lodged into the tread, avoiding damage and premature wear.

Keeping the tire in one piece and undamaged in off-roading conditions is crucial, so there are some protective measures. The first one is the rubber compound, which is cut and chip resistant, meaning that the tire should survive in the harshest conditions. As an off-road tire, rock crawling is something that it’s designed to do, so you will be dropping the pressures significantly. To ensure that the sidewall remains undamaged, the tire also has sidewall protectors and additional shoulder blocks. Not only should these prevent damage, but they should also improve traction when the tire pressure is lower.

In muddy situations, the tread pattern is responsible for delivering traction, but a common problem is mud getting into the grooves, reducing the performance. To avoid that. Falken implemented defensive features in the grooves and made it self-cleaning. It should mean that the Wildpeak M/T will keep the tread clean and deliver the maximum performance it can.

The most common problem mud-terrain tires have on paved roads is noise. To remedy that, Falken optimized the tread pattern of the Wildpeak M/T, intending to make it quieter on the road.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

As a mud-terrain tire, the Wildpeak M/T won’t win any prizes on a track, so you shouldn’t expect anything more than acceptable performance in these conditions.

The performance you’ll be getting is enough for normal driving, and that’s about it. You can get usable traction and grip levels which shouldn’t slip too much, but don’t expect the tire to hold well if you accelerate aggressively or go into a corner at a higher speed. The Wildpeak M/T has decent stability on the highway, but you may need to make the occasional corrections.

When it comes to braking, the distances aren’t short when compared with a touring tire but are decent when compared with other mud-terrain tires. The Wildpeak M/T shouldn’t be driven at the limit or at extremely high speeds, so you should be fine in this regard.

The handling is okay for a tire from this category. It’s responsive enough so that you won’t wait a second before it starts changing direction, but you shouldn’t expect too much feedback, which is to be expected.

Dry Rating: 4/5

4/5

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

I have tested some mud-terrain tires that disappointed me in wet conditions, but the Wildpeak M/T seems to do a good enough job.

Like in dry testing, you shouldn’t expect loads of performance, so the Wildpeak M/T will provide you with the right amount for everyday conditions. With a more powerful vehicle, you will get a bit of slip when accelerating, but it’s not a massive issue. It doesn’t take much in the corners to get understeer, so you shouldn’t think about pushing it too hard. The same goes for the braking distances. They are acceptably short for a mud-terrain tire, so don’t expect miracles here.

The aquaplaning resistance is good, but it’s not something that is the best, and there’s a good reason for it. Since the Wildpeak M/T is a mud-terrain tire, you won’t be driving it at super-fast speeds, so as long as the speeds are within the normal operating range of the tire, the aquaplaning resistance will be excellent. Once you start going over that, the tire will begin to struggle and get restless.

Wet Rating: 4/5

4/5

How is it over snow?

Technically, the Wildpeak M/T is an all-season tire, so some performance in winter conditions is on the table.

On snow-covered roads, the performance is surprisingly good. The deep tread pattern, combined with the block design, means that the Wildpeak M/T can bite into snow and provide good traction. You can even get some decent performance on packed snow, and it won’t struggle too much in a deep one.

Slush is another area where the Wildpeak M/T won’t leave you stranded. You will notice some slip in certain situations, but it’s not too terrible, and the tire won’t have too many problems delivering performance.

Snow Rating: 4/5

4/5

Is it comfortable and refined?

I went into this test thinking that the Wildpeak M/T would perform poorly, but I was surprised. No, it’s not the world’s best touring tire, but Falken has done a decent job refining this mud-terrain tire.

When aired up at the standard pressure, the Wildpeak M/T is okay-ish with smaller road imperfections, but generally speaking, it’s a bit on the harsh side. It doesn’t smooth out the larger bumps, so you will feel more jolts and vibrations in the cabin. This can be fixed somewhat by lowering the tire pressure, but you have to do it right. If you go too much below, you’ll feel like you’re driving on a waterbed.

The noise levels are what surprised me the most. For a mud-terrain tire, I have to say that the Wildpeak M/T is acceptably quiet. There is some noise, that’s unavoidable, and for the most part, it’s a deep growl, but it’s not as intrusive as some of the other models I’ve driven in the past.

Comfort Rating: 3.5/5

3.5/5

Is it good for off-roading?

Off-roading is what the Wildpeak M/T is designed for, and off-roading is what it does best.

Driving on a dirt road is something that the Wildpeak M/T does with ease. The levels of grip and traction are excellent, and you won’t notice the tire slipping or struggling for traction. Naturally, if you floor it, the tire will let go, but as long as you’re not driving like a hooligan, the tire will deliver impressive results. The best part is that the handling is surprisingly good, thanks to the block’s step-down edges. They don’t flex too much, and the tire doesn’t feel wobbly when you’re changing direction.

In some slightly harsher conditions like mud, the Wildpeak M/T continues to deliver very good results. If you’re driving over shallow mud, you may not even notice it, as the traction will remain as on a dirt road. Even in deeper situations, the tire won’t struggle too much, and you won’t feel like you need more. The self-cleaning design does an excellent job, so you’re looking at consistent performance even after prolonged driving in muddy conditions.

Mud-terrain tires have an advantage over the rest of the off-road capable ones when it comes to rock crawling. The Wildpeak M/T has no problem driving over almost any kind of rock with the pressure dropped and deliver good performance. Falken’s compound and internal construction do an excellent job at keeping the tire in shape even when it’s aired down, while the blocks on the shoulders get their turn in the spotlight to deliver improved traction.

Is the Falken Wildpeak M/T ideal for sporty driving?

It’s a mud-terrain tire, so no sporty driving here. It may be usable in normal conditions, but there isn’t enough performance to be driven hard, nor does it have the handling characteristics to back that up. Also, you’ll be getting these tires for off-roading, so if you want a track performer, you’ll need to look in a different category.

Noise Rating: 4/5

4/5

Falken Wildpeak M/T Warranty

This goes without saying, but mud-terrain tires don’t come with a treadwear warranty, and the Wildpeak M/T is no exception. This applies even to the premium competitors in this class, so Falken’s model isn’t lacking in this regard.

Falken Wildpeak M/T Pricing: Is it worth the money?

In terms of pricing, the Wildpeak M/T is placed in the middle of the mid-range class, which is a strong side. It’s a bit cheaper than the Hankook Dynapro MT2 but more expensive than the Cooper Evolution M/T. This also means it’s noticeably more affordable than the Goodyear Adventure MT/R with Kevlar and the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3.

Value Rating: 4/5

4/5

Should I buy the Falken Wildpeak M/T?

Yes, if you’re looking at an excellent off-road performer usable on the road, the Wildpeak M/T is a hard tire to beat.

The usability on the road is what makes this such a good choice, mainly because advanced off-roaders will find an all-terrain tire lacking in the most extreme situations. With the Wildpeak M/T, you avoid that, as not only is it a good option on the road, it’s one of the best off-road.

Looking at the performance the Wildpeak M/T has to offer and the price, it’s evident that it’s a tough combination to beat.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

4.5/5

What Vehicles Will the Falken Wildpeak M/T Fit?

Here’s a sample list of cars that the Falken Wildpeak M/T will fit:

  • Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban Tahoe
  • Dodge Ram, Durango
  • Ford Bronco, Expedition, F-series
  • Honda Passport, Ridgeline
  • Hummer H1, H2, H3
  • Jeep Cherokee, Renegade, Wrangler
  • Land Rover Defender, Discovery
  • Mercedes G-class
  • Mitsubishi Outlander
  • Nissan Titan
  • Toyota Tundra, Hilux

Tire Sizes for Falken Wildpeak M/T

15″

  • LT 30X9.50R15 104Q
  • LT 31X10.50R15 109Q
  • LT 33X12.50R15 108Q
  • LT 35X12.50R15 113Q

16″

  • LT 235/85R16 120/116Q
  • LT 245/75R16 120/116Q
  • LT 255/85R16 123/120Q
  • LT 265/75R16 123/120Q
  • LT 285/75R16 126/123Q
  • LT 315/75R16 127/124Q

17″

  • LT 235/80R17 120/117Q
  • LT 255/75R17 111/108Q
  • LT 265/70R17 121/118Q
  • LT 285/70R17 121/118Q
  • LT 285/70R17 116/113Q
  • LT 295/70R17 121/118Q
  • LT 315/70R17 121/118Q
  • LT 33X12.50R17 120Q
  • LT 35X12.50R17 121Q
  • LT 37X12.50R17 124Q

18″

  • LT 275/70R18 125/122Q
  • LT 285/65R18 125/122Q
  • LT 35X12.50R18 123Q

20″

  • LT 305/55R20 121/118Q
  • LT 33X12.50R20 114Q
  • LT 35X12.50R20 121Q
  • LT 37X13.50R20 127Q

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