After putting roughly 10,000 (over 6k miles) kilometers on the new Falken Wildpeak A/T4W, I finally have a solid sense of what these tires bring to the table. From daily highway drives to off-road adventures across British Columbia’s higher-elevation trails, the A/T4W has seen just about everything… Snow wheeling, rocky climbs, and long road trips.
Replacing a proven favorite like the A/T3W was no small task for Falken, and naturally, expectations were high. So, how does the A/T4W hold up after real-world testing across mixed terrain and harsh conditions? Let’s break it down.
Table Of Contents
Overview
The Falken Wildpeak A/T4W is Falken’s next-generation all-terrain tire designed to build upon the success of the A/T3W. It aims to deliver better wet-weather traction, enhanced winter performance, and improved tread life while maintaining on-road comfort and quietness.
Before the Falkens, I ran Yokohama Geolandar G003 Mud Terrains in 295/70R17. Those Yokos were tough and capable off-road, but loud and a bit harsh for long highway stretches. Switching to the Falkens gave me a clear point of comparison — trading some raw aggression for refinement and versatility.
Running the A/T4W in 35×12.5R17 Load Range E set on my 5th Gen 4Runner, a fully built rig with steel bumpers, sliders, and skids, provided a perfect platform to evaluate how these tires handle both heavy weight and diverse terrain.
On-Road Performance
If you daily drive your 4Runner, this is where the Falken A/T4W really shines. Coming from the Yokohamas, the first thing I noticed was the drastic drop in road noise. Where the mud terrains would hum at every speed, the Falkens roll quietly, almost surprisingly so for an E-load tire.
On wet pavement, the difference is night and day. The A/T4Ws offer noticeably better grip and braking confidence, especially during heavy BC rain. Hydroplane resistance is strong, and they track straight even in deep puddles. The Yokohamas, by comparison, always felt a bit sketchy in those same conditions.
Highway stability has also been excellent. The Falkens feel composed at speed, no wandering or steering drift, and even with a fully armored rig, they maintain a planted feel through long corners.
Off-Road Performance
This is where I expected the Yokohamas to have an edge, given their mud-terrain DNA. But after multiple trips through rocky climbs, loose shale, and washed-out alpine trails, the Falkens have more than held their own. Their sidewalls feel impressively strong, I’ve aired down to low pressures multiple times without any noticeable bulging or instability. The tire’s footprint spreads predictably, offering good traction and control even in off-camber sections.
The tread design, although less aggressive than that of a hybrid or mud tire, still digs well into dirt and loose rock. They hook up when you need them to, and they clean out better than expected in soft terrain. In deep mud, the Yokohamas still outperform – that’s where a dedicated MT earns its keep. But for the other 95% of off-road terrain I actually encounter, the Falkens deliver dependable traction with a far smoother ride to and from the trailhead.
Winter & Snow
Winter performance is often where all-terrains fall short, but not here. With the 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snowflake) rating, the Wildpeak A/T4W handles snow and slush confidently. I’ve tested them in multiple snow wheeling trips at high elevation, where temperatures dipped well below freezing. The tires consistently found grip in packed snow, icy climbs, and even during descents. Compared to the Yokohamas, the Falkens provided better braking and steering feel, and far less spinning when easing onto the throttle.
While they’re not a substitute for a dedicated winter tire on sheer ice, they’ve proven perfectly capable for an overlanding rig that sees year-round adventure.
Durability & Tread Wear
At 10,000 kilometers, the Falkens are wearing evenly with very minimal tread loss. Impressive considering my 4Runner’s weight and the mix of terrain I’ve covered. The compound resists chunking even after repeated runs through sharp rock trails. The sidewalls remain unscathed, showing no cuts or bruising despite close contact with jagged rock faces.
This is one area where I’ve noticed clear improvement over the Yokohamas, which tended to develop minor sidewall scuffs and uneven edge wear sooner. Balance has also remained solid. No vibrations creeping in, even after several tire rotations. It’s clear Falken built these with long-term use in mind.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Excellent wet traction and braking performance
- Significantly quieter and smoother than most E-rated 35s
- Strong, durable sidewalls that handle abuse well
- Predictable handling both on-road and off-road
- 3PMSF is rated with excellent snow performance
- Even tread wear with no chunking
Cons:
- The tread pattern could look more aggressive for aesthetic appeal
- Not as effective in deep mud as full mud terrains
Final Thoughts
After thousands of kilometers of use across varied terrain, the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W has proven to be one of the most balanced all-terrains I’ve ever run. Coming from the Yokohama Mud Terrains, the Falkens brought refinement without compromise, trading some of the mud-only aggression for a tire that truly excels in everyday drivability, wet traction, and snow performance.
If you’re running a fully built 4Runner and want a tire that can confidently handle an unpredictable mix of weather and terrain, the Wildpeak A/T4W deserves serious consideration. They’ve held up to everything I’ve thrown at them. And based on how they’re wearing so far, I wouldn’t hesitate to run them again.
