New Falken AT tire (A/T3W)

[Decipher]

I HAD to go with a 33” tire, even though load range C has struck the perfect balance. I’m taking a chance with Load range E, knowing full well they are overkill for the Runner. When I’m off the beaten path, I don’t want to have any shred of doubt about the strength of my tire. I’ll report back in another day or two with my honest opinion since I ran SL P metrics with great success and comfort. Stay tuned.


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[Decipher]

I read through all 1400+ posts including my old posts about how great the SL tires were. Since discount tire dropped the ball on my order, I’m looking at switching back to the SL 285/70-17 but man I’m split...


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[MAST4R]

If you go from 265 to 275 in a P-metric you will add weight anyway because obviously the tire is bigger. What I did was purchase 24.5 lb SCS Ray 10 wheels which are 4.5 lbs less than stock wheels to make up some of the difference. You can even go lighter with SCS F5's.

Yeah, no kidding, tires in 275 70 17 just are heavier, it is what it is.

But 255 75 17 are the same size with very intriguing lighter options.

I read through all 1400+ posts including my old posts about how great the SL tires were. Since discount tire dropped the ball on my order, I’m looking at switching back to the SL 285/70-17 but man I’m split...


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If you do go E in 33", have you considered 255 80 17? It is 53 lb.

Back to P, again, I am as big of a fan as anyone, but for me it all comes down to value, ultimately.

I just looked at the 285 70 17s, nothing terribly exciting, honestly. I have no idea what I would pick if I had to but

here is a dark horse for you: this will probably be the best by far for your normal needs AND is a D-load tire instead of E. No idea what kind of offroad it will handle well but they do claim some special sidewall feature on their site. I would expect this to be the best you can get for rain and slush/etc


Nokian Tire Rotiiva AT Plus Tires | Truck All-Terrain Tires | Discount Tire Direct

 

[ProfessorP]

Sitting at the installer’s shop right now having my “2nd tier” Falken A/T3W tires installed on my “2nd tier” TR4 Off Road. I’m pretty sure they’ll serve my “2nd tier” off road driving needs just fine.

Well it looks like I spoke too soon. I’m headed back to the installer on Monday 5/6. The set of 4 new 265/70 R17 A/T3W tires that were installed on Thursday 5/2 sound terrible. One or possibly more tires is making a pulsating sound at 40-60 mph. At 70 and up there’s also increased vibration, but the sound levels out mostly. I believe it’s coming from the rear. It almost sounds like a tire with separating tread or an old worn tire that’s starting to cup.

Honestly, the Falken tires that were installed on my Runner are far from quiet. I would say they’re louder than the Ridge Grapplers I put on the F150. They’re way louder than the factory Dunlops. I hope I just got a bad tire or two and the obnoxious noise I dealt with over the last few days and 240 miles isn’t indicative of typical AT3Ws.

 

[MAST4R]

Well it looks like I spoke too soon. I’m headed back to the installer on Monday 5/6. The set of 4 new 265/70 R17 A/T3W tires that were installed on Thursday 5/2 sound terrible. One or possibly more tires is making a pulsating sound at 40-60 mph. At 70 and up there’s also increased vibration, but the sound levels out mostly. I believe it’s coming from the rear. It almost sounds like a tire with separating tread or an old worn tire that’s starting to cup.

Honestly, the Falken tires that were installed on my Runner are far from quiet. I would say they’re louder than the Ridge Grapplers I put on the F150. They’re way louder than the factory Dunlops. I hope I just got a bad tire or two and the obnoxious noise I dealt with over the last few days and 240 miles isn’t indicative of typical AT3Ws.

I cannot hear any noise from mine, honestly. I have got 6, the 4 I bought last spring, the new one that replaced the one I lost and the former spare. No noise I can hear.

I guess others may have more sensitive hearing but your case does not sound right. I once had a set of Geolander ATS so poorly installed by a Sears shop that my Subaru dealer could not believe where and how they put the weights, screwing the balance completely. I was getting a really bad vibration. Once properly installed the ATS were super smooth. Hopefully, it is either a bad tire or bad installation.

 

[Thai]

Well it looks like I spoke too soon. I’m headed back to the installer on Monday 5/6. The set of 4 new 265/70 R17 A/T3W tires that were installed on Thursday 5/2 sound terrible. One or possibly more tires is making a pulsating sound at 40-60 mph. At 70 and up there’s also increased vibration, but the sound levels out mostly. I believe it’s coming from the rear. It almost sounds like a tire with separating tread or an old worn tire that’s starting to cup.

Honestly, the Falken tires that were installed on my Runner are far from quiet. I would say they’re louder than the Ridge Grapplers I put on the F150. They’re way louder than the factory Dunlops. I hope I just got a bad tire or two and the obnoxious noise I dealt with over the last few days and 240 miles isn’t indicative of typical AT3Ws.

Get it Road Force balance. IF it still vibrates, then it is the tire. If it is noisy (regardless of balance), then it is the tire.

Your expectations were too high. The open voids and ridges on the tread & sidewall guarantee that it is a noisy tire.

Falken is a good tire...maybe even a very good value. But Falken didn't break the mold or have any special sauce in it that would make a fairly aggressive AT tire into mild-mannered highway luxury cruiser.

 

[Decipher]

MAST4R, I haven’t considered that size but I’m keeping all options on the table. I’ll look now.

Just looked...meh. Not a fan of the pizza cutters and I’d rather deal with the few extra pounds for the proper stance.

As far as the excessive noise, something isn’t right. Sound is surely subjective, so it’s always hard to say if something is actually universally quite. That being said, with over 1400 posts of people reporting these as being quite, I’m convinced you have an issue with your set. Keep us posted on the outcome.

I’m putting these against the Cooper AT3 XLT right now.


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[ProfessorP]

Get it Road Force balance. IF it still vibrates, then it is the tire. If it is noisy (regardless of balance), then it is the tire.

Your expectations were too high. The open voids and ridges on the tread & sidewall guarantee that it is a noisy tire.

Falken is a good tire...maybe even a very good value. But Falken didn't break the mold or have any special sauce in it that would make a fairly aggressive AT tire into mild-mannered highway luxury cruiser.

According to the installer it was road force balanced. I picked the shop because they’re listed as having the Hunter Road Force Elite. Not sure if they actually used it or not.

My expectations were based on so many reviews online claiming that the tire is quiet. I knew that they wouldn’t be as quiet as a highway tire. I think I’m dealing with a bad tire or bad installation. Noise I can handle, but a rhythmic, fluttering “woo woo woo woo” with vibration doesn’t sound right based on almost every online mention of the AT3W. I’ve had A/T tires on most trucks I’ve owned for years. This set is the loudest and that doesn’t sound right based on the glowing reviews.

 

[Decipher]

Your instincts are correct. Something is way off. You have tires that are bad, an installation that is crap, or both.


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[jpratt847]

Its weird Falken isn't making great offroad tires. Their 615rt was always a solid tire for the autocross track day racers.

Great track day intro tire too. I use to run them on my integra

 

[DenverTiger504]

According to the installer it was road force balanced. I picked the shop because they’re listed as having the Hunter Road Force Elite. Not sure if they actually used it or not.

My expectations were based on so many reviews online claiming that the tire is quiet. I knew that they wouldn’t be as quiet as a highway tire. I think I’m dealing with a bad tire or bad installation. Noise I can handle, but a rhythmic, fluttering “woo woo woo woo” with vibration doesn’t sound right based on almost every online mention of the AT3W. I’ve had A/T tires on most trucks I’ve owned for years. This set is the loudest and that doesn’t sound right based on the glowing reviews.

After 3 road force balances, the balancing was just not going to happen with my set. You'd be better off returning them sooner than later. If your installer gives you grief on the return, contact Falken. I believe they have a 30 day satisfaction guarantee.

 

[ProfessorP]

After 3 road force balances, the balancing was just not going to happen with my set. You'd be better off returning them sooner than later. If your installer gives you grief on the return, contact Falken. I believe they have a 30 day satisfaction guarantee.

Did you swap them out for a new set of Falkens or go with something else? If you went with a different tire, what was it?

 

[DenverTiger504]

Did you swap them out for a new set of Falkens or go with something else? If you went with a different tire, what was it?

At that point in time, I was frustrated and wanted to wash my hands of the Falkens and E load tires in general so I went with Ridge Grapplers in the standard load. If I went the route of the P/standard load Falkens, I would probably be happy with those too.

 

[Decipher]

I just called my Discount Tire to talk to them about my concern with the Load Range E and he said the standard load and E are so close in weight ratings that I won’t even be able to tell a difference with ride quality between the two. I told him I wasn’t so concerned about weight as I am stiffness of the tire. He’s like, their ratings are so similar you’ll be okay.

Ugh.

This is why I’m over these guys. They beat any other price in this instance provided they hold to it when I physically go in to the store but that’s it.


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[DenverTiger504]

I just called my Discount Tire to talk to them about my concern with the Load Range E and he said the standard load and E are so close in weight ratings that I won’t even be able to tell a difference with ride quality between the two. I told him I wasn’t so concerned about weight as I am stiffness of the tire. He’s like, their ratings are so similar you’ll be okay.

Ugh.

This is why I’m over these guys. They beat any other price in this instance provided they hold to it when I physically go in to the store but that’s it.


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If I am not wrong: the E Load Falken 285/70/17 is listed at 59lbs per tire. The P metric/SL is listed at 51Lbs. The P/SL 285/70/17 Ridge Grappler is 49lbs. The C load RG is 55lbs.

In my opinion, there was a noticeable difference in acceleration and stiffness going from the E load Falken to the SL Ridge Grapplers. I am not sure if there will be a noticeable difference for someone going from a 55lbs C load Ridge Grappler to an 59lbs E load Falken or vice versa. If discount will allow it - trial and error may be the remedy.

 

[mteolus]

I just called my Discount Tire to talk to them about my concern with the Load Range E and he said the standard load and E are so close in weight ratings that I won’t even be able to tell a difference with ride quality between the two.

Unless you've personally driven on all of them, it is impossible to know for sure. All you can do is give an opinion based on what you have heard from customers or what you have read. That's like going into REI and asking them which boot is the best. How would they know, no way they have backpacked in them all. But they will give you an opinion.

 

[Decipher]

In my case, I HAVE used most iterations of the tires mentioned. They offer a 30 day satisfaction guarantee but I really don’t have the time to keep sitting around a shop while the swap tires.


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[mteolus]

In my case, I HAVE used most iterations of the tires mentioned. They offer a 30 day satisfaction guarantee but I really don’t have the time to keep sitting around a shop while the swap tires.


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FWIW, my C-load KO2's might be a tad noisier than the stock Duratracs but not much. On grooved concrete highway pavement though less noise as the Duratracs were pretty loud (whine).

 

[SpeedyKevin]

I just called my Discount Tire to talk to them about my concern with the Load Range E and he said the standard load and E are so close in weight ratings that I won’t even be able to tell a difference with ride quality between the two. I told him I wasn’t so concerned about weight as I am stiffness of the tire. He’s like, their ratings are so similar you’ll be okay.

Ugh.

This is why I’m over these guys. They beat any other price in this instance provided they hold to it when I physically go in to the store but that’s it.


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If you can wait 2 weeks, my friend just ordered his P-rated AT3Ws and I can compare them to my LT E ones

 

[Decipher]

Thanks but I can’t wait. I have to get my Ridge Grapplers back in a timely fashion. I’ll try the load range E out and see. So many guys run E in different tire models that it can’t be unbearable. We’ll see. I have an appointment tomorrow to get them mounted. I’ll keep an open mind and let the tires do the talking.


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