Falken Wildpeak AT3W Problems (Explained)

Falken tires didn’t even enter the US marketplace until 1985, and while that may seem to be a long time ago, it means that Falken is a relative newcomer to the US.

Belonging to Sumitomo Rubber North America, Falken is starting to put out some top-of-the-line tires, such as the Falken Wildpeak AT3W. But, it’s not without its own problems.

The biggest problem with the Falken Wildpeak AT3W Tire is that it does not provide the most comfortable riding experience. It’s a good tire, in terms of technology, but lacks the ability to absorb shock, transferring most of that to you. It also lacks any real mud and sand traction. The 4D Nano is a bit disappointing as well.

There are a lot of good things to be said about the Falken Wildpeak, but comfort is simply not one of them.

It’s a shame, really, since the lack of comfort on the road will turn a lot of consumers away from what is otherwise an exceptionally good tire. 

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What Is The Falken Wildpeak AT3W Tire?

The AT3W is an all-terrain tire, which is a bit of a misnomer since it doesn’t perform as well as most would assume when it comes to sand and mud.

It has a pretty aggressive aesthetic and resembles nothing less than a sleek but somehow craggy boulder. 

Falken did their best to pack as much technology as they could into this tire.

While all tire companies exaggerate the “epicness” of their tire’s features, the Falken Wildpeak certainly has a watered-down version of everything that Falken tabulates and then amplifies.

It comes with a 55,000-mile warranty, which is on the mid to mid-low end of the industry standard.

If you decide to go for this tire, it is available in 15” through 18” and a 20” size as well, skipping the 19”. 

Pros	Cons
Great on-road performance	Very uncomfortable riding conditions
Above-average off-road performance	4D Nanotechnology is underwhelming
Rugged Tread blocks	Poor traction on soft terrain
Silica Tread Compound
Not as noisy as other tires in its class
Excellent braking ability
Heat diffuser technology
Advanced 4D Nanotechnology

As you might have gleaned from the pros and cons of the Wildpeak AT3W, Falken attempted to pack a lot of features into this tire, making it as well-rounded and truly all-terrain as they possibly could. 

We didn’t mention the 3D Canyon SIPE Technology in the pros because it was honestly getting a little ridiculous, but you get the point.

There are many reasons to fall in love with this tire if it weren’t for those 2 glaring issues that will seriously damage the tire’s reputation in the end. 

Common Problems With Falken Wildpeak AT3W

We take a look at the issues that the Falken Wildepak AT3W is known for below:

Disappointing Ride Quality

Everybody knows that when you pack on some tires that are designed with a little bit of off-road attitude, it will make for a noisy ride.

Couple that with the fact that the tire has some rugged tread blocks and deep tread wells, and the passage of air and the friction it creates is going to be loud. 

Although it will make some noise, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W is not known for being an exceptionally loud tire, even when you throw in its aggressive sidewall profile.

For long-distance trips, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W road noise is considered to be mildly irritating.

What it does do, however, is make for an uncomfortable ride. This is especially true if you are going for a long-distance drive and your backside is going to be firmly planted in the driver’s seat for a few hours. The Falken Wildpeak AT3W ride quality isn’t the one you’ve probably expected.

It’s heavy, makes enough noise to grate on the nerves, and doesn’t absorb rocks or even slight potholes very well.

That means that this tire is going to leave most of that up to your shocks. Some may have shocks that are better than others.

However, this tire is gaining a reputation for being uncomfortable across the board. 

It’s definitely an unfortunate aspect of the tire, especially since this tire is considered to be exceptional, especially in snow, heavy rain, or extremely dry weather. 

If you’re still unsatisfied with the Falken Wildpeak AT3W noise, you can install some sound-dampening mat made of butyl on your car doors, trunk, and/or wheel arches & installing vibration dampers on the car floor, which will surely make your car quieter.

The 4D Nanotechnology is Underwhelming

One of the aspects of tires and tire companies that we mentioned briefly above is that they love to get all overwhelming and melodramatic when it comes to marketing certain features on their tires.

After all, 4D Nanotechnology sounds pretty incredible, right up there with a flexible smartphone. 

The tech is designed to reduce fuel consumption, improving your overall city and highway mileage.

As it turns out, 4D Nanotechnology, as cool as it sounds, is really just a false advertisement.

You can switch these tires around with just about any all-terrain tire you want, and you will notice that your overall mileage doesn’t change. 

Companies like Falken understand that large tires with aggressive tread patterns place a lot of real estate on the asphalt.

To counter this, they’re always releasing some new technology or another that claims to improve highway mileage. 

However, Falken has the same problem as all the rest.

How do you create a big tire with aggressive tread, deep tread wells, and a sidewall that looks like it’s designed to batter down concrete walls without sacrificing fuel mileage?

The simple answer is that there is a fine line between reducing the amount of rubber that creates friction on a highway while still maintaining a particular class of tire and tread profile.

Falken’s Wildpeak AT3W fails in that regard. 

Poor Traction on Soft Terrain Like Sand or Mud

One thing you don’t want to do with this tire is trying it through some beach sand or into the mud. The Falken Wildpeak AT3W sand and mud performance is pretty poor.

As good as the tire is in nearly every other category or circumstance, sand and mud are not a part of that equation. 

The tire is poorly rated by both consumers and professional reviewers alike, all across the board, regarding sandy and muddy terrain.

The latter is a little strange, especially when you consider this tire performs extremely well in light snow, slush, and ice.

It also performs very well in rain or even heavy rain. 

When it comes to mud, however, it is wholly and utterly defeated. 

Are There Ways to Improve the Falken Wildpeak AT3W’s Faults?

Some tires are faulty due to misuse, some are faulty because they are installed on a vehicle that can’t take advantage of their capabilities, and some are simply faulty because of their design. 

The latter is the case with the Falken Wildpeak AT3W. When a tire is faulty, there’s not much you can do about it one way or another.

The best thing that you can do is properly maintain the tire. Here are some things you should look out for:

• Have your tires properly inflated

• Check your tire air pressure monthly

• Rotate your tires regularly every 5,000-6,000 miles
• Get a wheel alignment every year

• Assure that your tires are balanced correctly

Yes, the AT3W is known for being somewhat uncomfortable.

However, if that’s all there is to it, the worst thing that you can do is fail to properly maintain the tire, such as keeping the air pressure within the manufacturer’s specifications.

If you don’t, then the problem will simply be exacerbated, which you certainly don’t want to happen. 

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Are Falken Wildpeak AT3W Good in Snow?

The Falken Wildpeak AT3W offers adequate traction and handling in normal snow conditions, even though it might not be the ideal option for cruising in thick snow.

Are Falken Wildpeak AT3W Directional?

Falken Wildpeak AT3W tires are symmetrical. This means they can be mounted and rotated in either direction since both halves of the thread pattern are the same.

Are Falken Wildpeak AT3W Good For Towing?

Falken Wildpeak AT3W tires are excellent for towing even heavy loads. The bottom sidewall’s heat diffuser technology reduces the temperature to safeguard the internal tire elements.

Final Thoughts

In far more ways than not, the Falken Wildpeak AT3W is an excellent all-terrain tire.

Its warranty may be a little on the inferior side, but you will get a lot of work out of this tire before its days are numbered.

If you plan on spending a lot of time on the road, this tire may not be suitable for you due to its reputation for being uncomfortable. 

Sources

https://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Reviews/Falken/WildPeak+AT3W

https://worldtirereview.com/falken-wildpeak-at3w-reviews/