Fixing to pull the trigger on a set of new tires. Last two sets were Michelins. However, I’ve seen numerous FTErs choosing the Falken Wildpeak M3W (?). I have the OEM stock tire so I would be looking at the LT265/75/R16, 10 ply, load range E. I got a quote from Discount Tire beating another dealer with $800 out the door with life time R/B, free flat repairs and free road hazard. I think these are the all terrain tire. I don’t do any off-road stuff and no serious hauling/towing. I also think the tread depth is 17.8/32 with a tread warranty for 55,000 miles. I like Michelins but the they have changed their rubber compound some over the years and typically they are pricey. So, are you Falken owners happy with the performance so far? Don’t want to start a lengthy discussion but am interested in your opinions.
Thanks guys.

 

I've heard great things about the Falken Wildpeaks. I almost went with them but decided to go with Cooper AT3s again this time after being happy with them on my F350. They are a bit cheaper, offer a $70 rebate right now, and 5k mi more warranty. I don't think you can go wrong with either, though. They both seem to be great tires. Your preference.

 

I installed Cooper ST MAXX a while back on the recommendation from my brother who ran them for years on his F-150. I have about 40,000 miles on them of heavy towing and some off road use in the northwest of the country. They are aggressive looking, but do NOT sound like a mud tire rolling down the interstate. They have about 30% life left in them and I am very happy with their wear conditions and performance. Each time my truck is moved from the back of the property by the tree line, it goes down a grass/dirt hill and makes two 90* turns, over a culvert then up a steep grass hill to the blacktop. There is no way street tires would do this, not even with 4x4. I put it in 4x4 and L gear and just let it roll up or down the hills.

I like the Falkens too and considered them, but I have had great experiences with the Cooper ST MAXX. So much so I have begun switching all of our vehicles over to Cooper. The Subaru has Cooper on it and was going through 2' of snow like it was a walk in the park a couple of years ago when we were scouting camping sites in the Sawtooth mountains in ID.

A lot of choices out there for you, good luck with your choice and go with your gut feeling.

 

I’m running the FALKEN Wildpeak AT3/W, for actually 2 years this month and they still look great. I had been running the Coopers ATW’s but they discontinued them and switched to the Falkens. They have gone up in price but they have been an outstanding tire to date.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...eak-at3-w.html

 

Another Cooper AT3 fan here. Don't let the aggressive tread fool you, it's basically a really good 5 rib highway tire that can do more than expected off road.

That said Cooper was bought by Goodyear recently, so hard earned rep is up in the air for the future. I'd get tires dated before February when the sale was made.

 

Hopefully GY was simply absorbing the competition and the Cooper manufacturing processes and quality will remain as they have been. GY did a great job with the ST tire Endurance after their failure with the G614 and Marathon.

Hopefully they leave well enough alone.

 

Goodyear and Cooper were the only US-owned tire manufacturers. Interesting merger.

Falken (Japanese company) and Goodyear were once partners. (Some?) Falken tires are made in USA at plants that previously made Goodyear tires (NY I think?). Not sure which tires they make there or which may be made at other facilities or are imported. A good friend worked at the Fayetteville, NC Goodyear plant for awhile....

 

Thanks guys for all your input.
I pulled the trigger this morning and got the Falken Wildpeak A/T 3 W E set from Discount Tire. It was a tough choice between them and the Cooper S/T Maxx tire. I had not checked pricing to see if DT could beat a competitor’s price on the Cooper tire. I did get them to beat the other pricing for the Falken tire. Both tires look very similar, As Sous pointed out Cooper has a tread warranty of 5k miles greater than Falken. I also have the Centramatic balancers. On the drive home, mostly interstate, I did not detect any noticeable road noise and they do drive out great. I have typically been a Michelin tire guy, no blow outs or major tire failures but since I’m not using the truck for work traveling across the country anymore and how Michelin has changed their tires for our trucks, I decided to try something else.

 

Glad you didn’t buy Goodyear.......especially after the stunt they pulled before the election 😆

 

You could not go wrong with either of those and I am pleased to see you selected a tire that you feel will suit your needs and expectations based on your research. You will be happy with the Falken Wildpeak A/T.

Post up some pictures when you get them mounted, we like pictures!

 

Thanks again guys for all the input - FTE is just great. So, here are some pics. First I’ll share some info I discovered, maybe helpful to others down the road.
Sumitomo made the first tire (Falken) in 2016 in Buffalo, NY. They also have a plant in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. I haven’t yet determined where these Wildpeak tires are manufactured though. They have a silicone compound to help with the wear and some other thermal protection in the tire - maybe some is just hype.

Front driver’s side.



Thanks again. Oh, build date was 51st week of 2020 on all four.

 

I hadnt realized sumitomo made those, good news! I run sumitomos on my minivan, they have been excellent, best I have ever run , both winter, and all season touring/performance.

 

They look great, it’s a really good looking tire for being a true AT. I think you are going to be very impressed with the Falken’s especially running the Centramatic Balancers. I have almost 12k miles on my rears and they are wearing exceptionally well. Great wear pattern and almost identical wear on the back 4 tires. The Falken’s will be the first set of tires that I have run with the Centramatic Balancers already on the truck, so I am extremely interested to see if this helps with tire wear and longevity.
I’ve been running the Falken’s on my Subaru for years. The compound in the WILDPEAK provides for excellent winter traction with excessive wear during the heat of Summer.

 

I hadn't realized Sumitomo had a hand in the Falken tires either. Based on what my failing memory is telling me, Sumitomo was a reputable brand and alternative to higher priced sport/performance tires. I seem to remember considering a set of Sumitomo tires for our Audi S4 before we sold it.

Tires look great AugieTN and I am glad you were able to come to a conclusion and choice that makes you happy and gives you peace. Perhaps based on your recommendation and experience I will give the Falken a shot once the ST MAXX have their day to be replaced. Your thoughts, opinion and images make a difference here on the FTE.

 

Thanks guys. Today I discovered I have not done my due diligence researching these Wildpeak tires, mainly where they are manufactured. I asked the DT folks and they didn’t know. I could not nail it down thru the internet search either, except the first Falken tires were made in the Buffalo plant in 2016, so I ASSUMED they were made in one of their two plants......wrong. I figured that after almost all five years the Wildpeaks would have been made in one of their plants. However, I read on some Subaru forums that their Falken tires were made in Japan, China or Thailand. Some said it’s on the tires, so I looke at my Wildpeaks and sure enough in small letters it said “made in Thailand”. Well, I called DT and shared what I had found and my disappointment that these weee not made in the USA. I said I had been considering the Falken and the Cooper ST Maxx with a similar tread pattern and made in the USA, but a few dollars more per tire. I asked what would be a fair price difference for the Cooper tire and he said what about a swap.
mom seriously considering swapping for the Cooper AT Maxx.
I apologize for my lack of due diligence.


I do like the look and ride of the tires, But, I’m not comfortable with the Thailand made part.
oh well.
Must say DT made the offer first before I was actually ready to ask what they thought. This store was really customer friendly!