As an insider, I'll squash a few (weird) rumors.
Falken Tire, is a subsidiary of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, a Japanese company. Sumitomo/Falken makes all of it's tire in their own Factories, they do not buy private label from their competitors. Factories are laid out throughout Asia, with much of the US supply coming from Thailand. There is no correlation to any Cooper or Hankook tires (they suck anyways).
Dunlop is actually a brand of ours. Before SRI was established in the US, SRI decided to enter into partnerships with Goodyear, and gave away parts of the Dunlop brand. We are slowly getting those parts back as partnerships end, but Goodyear is resisting.
The Wildpeak AT3W is an all new design, and is not a "minor" change to the previous Wildpeak AT1 or AT2. Those lines have been discontinued and are slowly being sold out. The AT3W was released on February 1st of this year, however not all sizes have reached the US yet. The new tread design is one of the deepest tread depths on the market and the tires have a border line Mud tire look, while maintaining an excellent A/T on road feel and wear. Much of the technology in this tire is brand new and at the top of the industry, and data is showing that these tires are testing well above our competition, and even above the likes of the heralded KO2. All sizes carry a 55k mile tread warranty including the LT sizes, and all sizes carry the Severe Snow Rating.
Once you see these tires in person you will be impressed. I can go on, but I won't, because you already think I am biased. Just know that I have worked for other manufacturers, and right now, this is what I would put on my 4Runner regardless of my employer.
One last thing, Nitto is part of Toyo Tire. The corporation has the unique policy that they will not sell Toyo's to a Nitto dealer and vice versa.
