Barcelona4runner
New member
I might go bigger when it’s time for new rubber but that’s a long ways away.
New Falken AT tire (A/T3W)
- Thread starter weeeee
- Start date
I might go bigger when it’s time for new rubber but that’s a long ways away.
MAST4R
New member
I agree, that's what is most impressive about the Wildpeaks, especially at that price point.
Good to have that additional info about ST Maxx, thanks. Discount Tire, too, tells me that the Maxx is actually a "commercial' hybrid off-road tire" and thus biased towards offroad use.
mlnhtrang
Member
i remember seeing 265 with lift somewhere and it looked tiny. yours doesnt look back at all from that angle.
Horsethief
New member
That looks great! Honestly I don't think it's even worth it to try to go much bigger on these.
SnowYeti
Member
I love these tires!
First up was my Avalanche, SL version
Then my wife’s JK Unlimted, C
Yesterday I mount some to SCS Rays 10 for the 4R, stock size
Having run both rubber compounds here are my thoughts. The C loads are still amazing in snow (I drove through some deep nasty covered icy rutted snow two weeks ago that would have stopped most) in the JK. But the SL version is better on ice.
The Jeep has Duratracs before, same size and load. 33”. The Falkens are much better in snow and ice even in the harder rubber compound. They run smoother are not as loud on the highway. They are a little bouncier, but I have not done a chalk test yet to figure out their ideal pressure. The Duratracs also cornered a little better on the road.
The Avalanche with the SLs has been amazing this winter. Yeah snow and ice tires might be a little bettter on ice. But if you research most of those tires that get great ratings only have the soft compound roughly in the out 1/3 so when you wear them down they become all seasons, and pretty bad winter tires there after. Been there.
I go to a garage in Loveland CO that is more of a race car shop, SCR. Love these guys! They work on my sports car. Garage is full of BMW, Fararri, Mazda, etc race cars. The interesting things these guys all drive Toyota’s, 4Rs, FJs, LandCruisers, all modded. I had my tires mount here because they have the best equipment in Northern Co for balancing. The funny thing is they have almost completely switched over to the Falkens, even their friends and family. As soon as I started to say I wanted to order “Fal....” he finished my sentance. They matched Discount Tire prices without me even asking, and had them delivered same day! Dang they look great on the Rays 10, can’t wait to get them on.
I am sure this has been mentioned, but tire sizing as advertised and molded into the tire does not mean they are the same size, sometimes not even close. Tire Rack measures every tire they carry for the true size. Unfortunately they don’t carry these. I can tell you they are much bigger that the crappy stock tire. Stock tires are for a smooth mall crawl ride, better gas mileage for marketing, government, etc. I have even found that OE tires of the same make, model, and size are smaller that the same aftermarket tire.
First up was my Avalanche, SL version
Then my wife’s JK Unlimted, C
Yesterday I mount some to SCS Rays 10 for the 4R, stock size
Having run both rubber compounds here are my thoughts. The C loads are still amazing in snow (I drove through some deep nasty covered icy rutted snow two weeks ago that would have stopped most) in the JK. But the SL version is better on ice.
The Jeep has Duratracs before, same size and load. 33”. The Falkens are much better in snow and ice even in the harder rubber compound. They run smoother are not as loud on the highway. They are a little bouncier, but I have not done a chalk test yet to figure out their ideal pressure. The Duratracs also cornered a little better on the road.
The Avalanche with the SLs has been amazing this winter. Yeah snow and ice tires might be a little bettter on ice. But if you research most of those tires that get great ratings only have the soft compound roughly in the out 1/3 so when you wear them down they become all seasons, and pretty bad winter tires there after. Been there.
I go to a garage in Loveland CO that is more of a race car shop, SCR. Love these guys! They work on my sports car. Garage is full of BMW, Fararri, Mazda, etc race cars. The interesting things these guys all drive Toyota’s, 4Rs, FJs, LandCruisers, all modded. I had my tires mount here because they have the best equipment in Northern Co for balancing. The funny thing is they have almost completely switched over to the Falkens, even their friends and family. As soon as I started to say I wanted to order “Fal....” he finished my sentance. They matched Discount Tire prices without me even asking, and had them delivered same day! Dang they look great on the Rays 10, can’t wait to get them on.
I am sure this has been mentioned, but tire sizing as advertised and molded into the tire does not mean they are the same size, sometimes not even close. Tire Rack measures every tire they carry for the true size. Unfortunately they don’t carry these. I can tell you they are much bigger that the crappy stock tire. Stock tires are for a smooth mall crawl ride, better gas mileage for marketing, government, etc. I have even found that OE tires of the same make, model, and size are smaller that the same aftermarket tire.
Decipher
New member
MAST4R
New member
Hey, that's very interesting! I have read a lot about tires but had not come across anything saying that 1/3 of the tread gets the softer compound. Where should I look? This got me interested because the wear of my Falkens does not seem linear.
I am losing the first 2/32nds in no time. No time being 4,000 miles. It happened on the new set last spring and on my new rear tires this spring (1/32 in 2,000 miles so far). But my fronts where 8.5/32 2,000 miles ago and are 8.5/32 now.
I thought last year that I lost 2/32nds quickly due to 600 offroad miles in AZ and UT in very harsh terrain and the same this spring until I measured the fronts and found them to be the same!
in sum, wear slowed down tremendously once the tires were under 10/32nds. By contrast my KO2s seemed not to wear at all the first 3,000 miles or so and then they started to wear down faster eventually averaging 4,000 per 1/32 over from new (12/32) to when I sold my Outback (8/32).
I would really like to read more about the compounds being different in the outer layers.
Thanks!
And, yes, I measured the Wildpeaks to be like 1" wider than the stock tire, crazy!
Spanky4R
New member
I'm scheduled Wed for UCA's & bmc if necessary.
SnowYeti
Member
I am not sure about the Wildpeaks. But it would make sense, having a soft rubber all the way might make them handle terrible. I could not find anything saying they were using dual compounds. I had hoped not since the LT version has a deeper tread.
I found out about this from a tire dealer years ago when my Blizzack tires all of a sudden where terrible. Then I reaserched it and found it to be common. Some tires don’t do this but add plastic shards to act like studs instead. Dunlop, Yokohama are a couple, I have worn those down heavily and they maintained their ice performance. But, things change all the time.
My other tire irratation is Dicount Tire. They removed all of their snipping machines, why, because it extended the life of snow tires. This was told to me about a month ago from an irritated DT employee.
MAST4R
New member
Thanks, so were you told that specifically about winter tires (the dual compound)?
There is no doubt that the Wildpeaks lose tread extremely fast at first (at least with offroad use) and then stabilize. I have been getting progressively better wear as the tires age.
In terms of traction, I use my locker preventively and also MTS so I still have no issues.
As for road traction, well, Arizona. And I drive it very gently thus I cannot tell if cornering or braking is worse without having ever pushed it.
SnowYeti
Member
A quick search returned this from Tire Rack. Just an example.
How Long Will Blizzak Winter / Snow Tires Last?
The Blizzak WS-tires' Multicell tread compound comprises the top 55 percent of the tires' tread depth with a standard winter tread compound comprising the remaining 45 percent. When Blizzaks are approximately 50 percent worn, their "snow platform" tread depth indicators "connect" selected shoulder tread blocks to indicate that the Multicell tread compound is almost worn out, and that the enhanced snow and ice performance is about to end.
We have personal experience on a wide range of vehicles from sports cars to SUVs. Our experience, and that of our customers, indicates that Blizzak winter / snow tires will typically provide 12,000 to 15,000 miles of winter service before wearing out their Multicell tread compound. Therefore, Blizzaks are providing an estimated three to four winter seasons of wear from their Multicell tread compound for the driver who drives an average total of 15,000 miles per year (with 3,000 to 4,000 winter miles per year).
Blizzak winter / snow tires are not recommended to be reinstalled when their tread depth has worn down to the "snow platform" tread depth indicators before the start of the winter season.
MAST4R
New member
265 70 17 SL is up 9$ and E-load about 20 on Discount Tire Direct.
But in that size, I am pretty sure the tires have been going back and forth between 130sh and 140sh for P metric. No idea about 285.
Also, the new one I bought is made in the US. That was a surprise to me as all others and the related Sumitomo tire are made in Thailand.
bamma
New member
This is for Falkens winter specific tires, not their AT tires that are snowflake rated. My understanding is the current at3w has the same compound throughout.
jcalvert86
New member
I read a lot of this thread,and I am still confused about a couple of things.
I have a 2018 ORP,going to put Fox adj suspension all around and level the front out with a 2" lift in the rear via the spring,so I guess a 2.5" front lift..still not sure about that. I have Konig Countersteers (not on yet,waiting for lift and tire choice)
Going to end up putting dedicated winter tires on my stock rims next year,so these new tires I just need to be good in the rain..I thought I was all set on these Falkens in 275,until I read a few posts ago about the guy slipping on very little snow and not good braking on wet pavement.
I guess my question is will 275 cause a rub because of the lift ? If I am reading some posts correctly,and that handy graph,275's on stock suspension and stock rims will not rub at all.
So thinking on getting this size at the moment,but the more I read the more my mind changes
LT275/70R17 $208 each,damn..
Going down to 265 they are $142..Now Im even more confused.
Will the stock tire size on these Falkens look stupid with a lift ?
I have a 2018 ORP,going to put Fox adj suspension all around and level the front out with a 2" lift in the rear via the spring,so I guess a 2.5" front lift..still not sure about that. I have Konig Countersteers (not on yet,waiting for lift and tire choice)
Going to end up putting dedicated winter tires on my stock rims next year,so these new tires I just need to be good in the rain..I thought I was all set on these Falkens in 275,until I read a few posts ago about the guy slipping on very little snow and not good braking on wet pavement.
I guess my question is will 275 cause a rub because of the lift ? If I am reading some posts correctly,and that handy graph,275's on stock suspension and stock rims will not rub at all.
So thinking on getting this size at the moment,but the more I read the more my mind changes
LT275/70R17 $208 each,damn..
Going down to 265 they are $142..Now Im even more confused.
Will the stock tire size on these Falkens look stupid with a lift ?
