Tyres/tires: Falken Wildpeaks AT4 review

[TheDocAUS]

BACKGROUND
Over 30,000km driven in the IG with the BF Goodridge KO2's (KO2) tyres fitted.

Over 150,000 kms with Coopers ST Maxx tyres (ST Maxx) on the Nissan Patrol.

CONTENDERS at TYRE SIZE 265/70/R17
The tyres I considered to replace the KO2's were:

• BF Goodridge KO3's (KO3) - the leading contender, thanks to @globalgregors;
• Coopers ST Maxx - my long-term trusted AT tyre; and
• Falken Wildpeak AT4's (AT4) - the new boy on the block, suggested by the Tyre Shop.

The ST Maxx was the first tyre dropped, as it was a lot more expensive than the other two brands, even on special. The ST Maxx’s real strength was a 3 ply sidewall, but now the KO3's and AT4's also have a 3 ply sidewall. I never got a flat using ST Maxx’s, so I want a 3 ply sidewall.

The current KO2's still had plenty of tread, but I needed three tyres for my Stockman Extreme Offroada trailer and a second spare for the IG. I will not buy new tyres for the trailer, so I did over 30,000km in the IG first. There is still plenty of KO2 tread left for a spare and trailer use.

As an aside, the IG is much kinder on tyres than the old Nissan Patrol, which was brutal. The KO2's were still in really good shape with even wear across all 4 tyres (rotated every 10,000km).

This meant new tyres for the IG.

I looked at a lot of videos and reviews between the KO3's and AT4's. It was a hard decision but I went the AT4's because they had a stronger carcass and they were also AUD45 less each tyre. A saving of AUD180 overall. The AT4's seemed to give me everything I valued in the ST Maxx, but for less. I only had to give up the white lettering which the KO2, KO3 and ST Maxx all have.

Watching a video comparison of the KO3 and AT4 at a larger tyre size the AT4 was more robust and heavier than the KO3. As I was buying the tyres to head Outback and The Kimberley I went with the stronger carcass. Someone not going remote may prefer the lighter KO3.

The AT4 carcass reminds me a lot of the Cooper ST Maxx carcass. Less so the KO3, even with the 3 ply sidewall.

INITIAL OBSERVATIONS
I ran the original KO2's at 35 PSI cold, after 5 minutes use they would be around 40 PSI. The AT4's are set at 35 PSI cold. A Cooper's rep previously told me the ST Maxx was fine at 35 PSI rather than 40 PSI cold, due to the strength of the carcass.

I have only done local travel, dry roads and nothing above 70km on the AT4's so far. My initial observations verse the KO2's are:

1. better grip;
2. no rubbing with a small Eibach springs lift (a Ranger Raptor, at the tyre shop, had to go down 2 tyre sizes when fitting the AT4's to avoid tyre rubbing);
3. the new tyres feel sure footed and have good dry road traction and braking;
4. you get more feedback from the road surface, which may be the firmer side walls and tread blocks.
5. improved steering response, turning seems sharper and more responsive. Again, it may be the firmer side walls and tread blocks.
6. I can no longer feel the treads and sidewall squirm a little like on the KO2's (especially at very low speeds on hard surfaces). This is to be expected as the AT4's, as well as the KO3's and the ST Maxx's, all have 3 ply sidewalls;
7. driving on smooth roads feels good;
8. the ride is harsher over rough roads. This was expected as the ST Maxx's did the same. It may improve after the new tyres get some kilometers into them and settle in;
9. there was one big unexpected difference, tyre temperatures. After 40 minutes of driving up to 60 or 70kph, the PSI only went up by 2 PSI, not 5 PSI like the KO2's after just 5 minutes. This also meant lower rim temperatures. This seems to be a benefit of the AT4's stronger carcass, thicker tread, heavier weight and larger size, compared to the KO2; and
10. for snow/ice/sand/moderate rocks look here.

No highway, wet road or offroad driving yet, but that is something I will look at closely, as well as heat soaking into the carcass on longer drives.

Lower tyre temps will be a bonus, but I now need to consider whether I increase the PSI to 37 or 38 PSI cold.

A thank you to the Tyre Shop for suggesting the Falken AT4's.

 

[TheDocAUS]

RESERVED

Highway use
Wet road use
Offroad use
Long term review

 

[pmatusov]

I put > 15k miles on my 255/80R17 AT4Ws. Far better than factory Bridgestones, so far excellent in snow/ice/sand/moderate rocks. Very little mud (it is rare in our neck of the woods). Excellent wear, suggesting the useful lifetime near 45-50k miles.
I would also say they are far "rounder" than the last sets of BFG A/T and M/T I had.