Anyone Run Falken Wildpeak 3Ws?

[JTHunter]

As we're talking tires here, maybe you folks can suggest some tires for me.
I have a 2008 Ford Ranger with just under 10K miles on it and it is on the original tires.  Last year, the body shop that was repairing the truck saw some small cracks on the sidewalls, just above the rims.  Then, last winter, it seemed as if the traction I had of wet or snowy pavement wasn't as good as the previous winter.  There is still a fair amount of tread left (1/8"+ above the treadwear indicators) but I'm thinking the compound is getting stiff with age and that may be the reason for the poor traction.
As you can see, it doesn't get driven much but there are a few times when I'm hauling a load of firewood in it.

Thoughts, opinions, and suggestions?

[Angel Eyes]

Not an authority on tires, but the material will develop cracks (esp. the sidewalls) as the tire ages, even if there is plenty of tread left.  If those tires are 16 years old, they probably need to be replaced.

[dogmush]

What kind of driving? Where? What conditions? Do you load the bed often? Budget?

Be warned, tires are one of the commodities hit pretty bad by inflation  (heh) and decent tires in light truck sizes are likely to be $150-$250 min.

For comparison,  my off-road hybrid F-150 tires are $400 a piece.

[JTHunter]

What kind of driving? Where? What conditions? Do you load the bed often? Budget?

Be warned, tires are one of the commodities hit pretty bad by inflation  (heh) and decent tires in light truck sizes are likely to be $150-$250 min.

For comparison,  my off-road hybrid F-150 tires are $400 a piece.

Good grief ! 
No, the bed doesn't get loaded often, probably no more than 4-5 times a year.
Most driving has been on paved surfaces but there have been time when I was on grass-covered dirt or gravel.  But those were always for short distances only.

[dogmush]

Here's the list of tires Tire Rack throws me for a 2008 Ranger XLT: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?tireIndex=0&autoMake=Ford&autoYear=2008&autoModel=Ranger%20Regular%20Cab%202wd%20XLT&autoModClar=&width=225%2F&ratio=70&diameter=15&sortCode=39700&skipOver=true&minSpeedRating=R&minLoadRating=S&performance=ALL

From that page, if it were my truck I'd lean towards the Yokohama Geolander A/T or the Khumo Crugan. I'd go Yoko if I wanted more dirt road/ grass field performance,  and the Khumo's if I was more worried about quiet highway performance.

If those are a little rich for your budget (this sounds like a low use truck) the Falkens or Hankooks are also good choices.

Be sure to check Tire size (in case I got your trim level wrong) and read some reviews on the specific Tire before purchase.

[zxcvbob]

Most shops won't service a 10 year old tire.  I'm a little worried about the OEM spare tire on my 2007 pickup that I don't drive much, but at least it's a 10 ply tire and will probably never go on the ground.  You need new tires.  I ought to get a new spare tire but probably won't replace it until I get new road tires.

Also take a look at 215/75R15s.  They are just *slightly* taller than 225/70s and have the same load rating. 

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Falken&tireModel=WildPeak+A%2FT+Trail&partnum=175TR5WPATT&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

[JTHunter]

Here's the list of tires Tire Rack throws me for a 2008 Ranger XLT: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?tireIndex=0&autoMake=Ford&autoYear=2008&autoModel=Ranger%20Regular%20Cab%202wd%20XLT&autoModClar=&width=225%2F&ratio=70&diameter=15&sortCode=39700&skipOver=true&minSpeedRating=R&minLoadRating=S&performance=ALL

From that page, if it were my truck I'd lean towards the Yokohama Geolander A/T or the Khumo Crugan. I'd go Yoko if I wanted more dirt road/ grass field performance,  and the Khumo's if I was more worried about quiet highway performance.

If those are a little rich for your budget (this sounds like a low use truck) the Falkens or Hankooks are also good choices.

Be sure to check Tire size (in case I got your trim level wrong) and read some reviews on the specific Tire before purchase.

Thanks Dogmush.  I'd have to check the tires on it now but I think you got the sizes right.
Next question - is Tire Rack online only?

[JTHunter]

Most shops won't service a 10 year old tire.  I'm a little worried about the OEM spare tire on my 2007 pickup that I don't drive much, but at least it's a 10 ply tire and will probably never go on the ground.  You need new tires.  I ought to get a new spare tire but probably won't replace it until I get new road tires.

Also take a look at 215/75R15s.  They are just *slightly* taller than 225/70s and have the same load rating. 

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Falken&tireModel=WildPeak+A%2FT+Trail&partnum=175TR5WPATT&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

Thanks Bob.  The truck is the "extended cab" with "suicide doors" on both sides and, even though it's a 2WD, it rides high already and I have to "climb" into it using the steering wheel for "leverage". 

[zxcvbob]

Tire Rack is online only; they ship the tires to an installer in your area; often a new car dealer.  I don't remember if installation is included in the price or if you pay the installer.

Thanks Bob.  The truck is the "extended cab" with "suicide doors" on both sides and, even though it's a 2WD, it rides high already and I have to "climb" into it using the steering wheel for "leverage". 

I understand.   I'm really tall and have long legs, but the previous owner of my truck put tires on that are 4 sizes over.  It also might be lifted a couple of inches; I'm not sure.  I have to climb up into it.  215/75s are only 2/10" taller than 225/70s, so the truck would sit 1/10" higher.  :D

[bedlamite]

From that page, if it were my truck I'd lean towards the Yokohama Geolander A/T or the Khumo Crugan. I'd go Yoko if I wanted more dirt road/ grass field performance,  and the Khumo's if I was more worried about quiet highway performance.

Not quite the same, but I've got Yoko Geolander X-AT on my Jeep. I won't be getting them again. Good off road, OK in deep snow, terrible on wet roads and normal winter driving here in WI. 20K miles and they are wearing much faster than the BFG KO2 I had before. The BFG was better in every way.

[Calumus]

Bumping this again as I’ll be replacing the tires on the Grand Cherokee in the next couple of weeks due to the crap Goodyears that came on it wearing much faster than i think they should have. Jeep’s at 43k miles, and all 4 tires show significant wear on the outer 3” of tread and considerable wear in the center of the tires. Rotating every 5k miles seems to have done nothing. I was set on the Falkens that Ben got; but they’re being discontinued and replaced with the AT4W. From what I’ve seen and read, the new ones are noticeably worse in both snow and wet than their predecessors, plus they’re supposedly almost impossible to balance. Wet traction is the main reason i choose them over the BFGs in the first place, the KO2s are terrible in the wet and apparently the new KO3s are more of the same.

So now I’m between either rolling the dice on 5 new AT3Ws and hoping that nothing happens to any of them before they’re all worn and not being able to find a replacement, or probably the Toyo Open Country AT3s. I saw that a couple of you are running these. Any reviews on wet and snow traction out of them? My wife usually only drives the two days a week she goes in to the office, then an occasional outing with friends around town; but she won’t react well if the thing is squirrelly in the rain.

[bedlamite]

Since my last post, I picked up a set of fallen at3w for my jeep. They were on closeout for $280 each in size 285/75-17.  Lot bigger than stock, but I'm converting to Ford super duty axles this winter.

[Ben]

I was set on the Falkens that Ben got; but they’re being discontinued and replaced with the AT4W. From what I’ve seen and read, the new ones are noticeably worse in both snow and wet than their predecessors, plus they’re supposedly almost impossible to balance.

I think the 4s came out like a month after I bought the 3s. I haven't read any reviews on them, but if their wet/snow performance is worse, that sucks. That happened with the Hankooks I had on previously - they went to an updated model, and everybody said the severe weather performance went to hell. Which is why I went to the AT3Ws.

It's frustrating that updates seem to always decrease performance. The Toyos would have been my likely choice if I didn't get the Falkens. Hopefully they don't update to an AT4 with the same performance degradation.

[Kingcreek]

I run the toyo at3w on my Jeep rubicon. 255/80-17
They have been great in snow and rain wet pavement, ride very nice and quiet, pretty good in mud off-road. They are wearing well at 20K with a 5way rotation every 10k miles.
They seem to grab and hold rocks and gravel a little more than I like.
Mine are an E range tire but with 2 ply sidewalls they aren’t heavy and ride more like a D range.
I would buy them again. I don’t drive the Jeep a lot but when hunting and fishing I use it like a Jeep. I seldom need to use the front mounted Warn winch and I get into some pretty jeepy places. Over logs and across a creek sometimes. I also have to back into the strip mine lake to launch my fishing boat, like up to the rock rails deep, water over both axles with a mud bottom.

[cordex]

I was set on the Falkens that Ben got; but they’re being discontinued and replaced with the AT4W. From what I’ve seen and read, the new ones are noticeably worse in both snow and wet than their predecessors, plus they’re supposedly almost impossible to balance.

I ran into the same reviews on the AT4Ws and decided against them.  For me the killer was the number of reviews indicating nasty vibration at highway speed even after multiple balancing appointments.

I've ordered the Toyo Open Country A/T III E1 instead but don't have any experience on them to share.

[bedlamite]

I've heard Falken changed the AT4W to be better with heavier trucks, with a 3 ply sidewall and gave up some of the wet traction for stiffer tread blocks.

[Calumus]

Well, i ordered the Toyos. Big deciding factor was that my mechanic (who’s also a client and a friend) gave them to me at his cost. They were $219 a piece vs $290 on tirerack. I will say they are some good looking tires.

[Ben]

Well, i ordered the Toyos. Big deciding factor was that my mechanic (who’s also a client and a friend) gave them to me at his cost. They were $219 a piece vs $290 on tirerack. I will say they are some good looking tires.

That's a great price! Let us know what you think of them after driving a while - especially after some Winter conditions.

[dogmush]

Bringing this back up, I'm tire shopping again.

I might just get some more Nittos, but The internet pitched me a Falken R/T as a possible replacement.  They are a  Hybrid A/T tire, competing with the Ridge Grapplers I have on the truck right now.

Anyone ever run them?

https://www.falkentire.com/wildpeak/rt