Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail 225/60R17
Test vehicle: 2017 Subaru Forester Limited
Starting tread depth: 11/32
Tread depth, 10,000 miles: 9/32
Weight per tire: 29.3 pounds
Disclaimer
Falken sent me tires to test and review at no cost. I was not paid for this review, and my results are displayed honestly and without influence.
I am one of the many Subaru lifers out there, due, in part, to the fact that my Subaru(s) has saved my life on more than one occasion (literally). It gets me where I need to go, both on-road and off, with decent gas mileage for a compact-crossover SUV. I bought my 2017 Subaru used, and the factory OEM Geolandar Yokohama G91 P225/60R17s were still on it and performing fine, even at the 30,000-mile mark, with only minimal cracking on the rear tires. I’d never put A/T tires on any of my Subarus before and was curious how much of a difference they would make.
The Falken Wildpeak is one of the all-terrain-tire darlings for the compact SUV market, known for enhancing the vehicle’s on-pavement and trail performance alike due to their crossover-specific design. The Wildpeaks were only 5 pounds heavier (each) than the Yokohamas, helping to minimize the difference in fuel efficiency to a mere 1-mile reduction (from 27.9 to 26.9 mpg on average).
Day one, fresh rubber.
Road Performance
On my first time behind the wheel after the new-tire installation, I was startled at the difference in how the Wildpeaks performed on pavement—it was as if I could feel the tires gripping the surface below, with only a negligible increase in noise, vibration, and harshness levels. When it came to pavement performance overall, during heavy rains is when I noticed the most improvement over the previous tires; the Wildpeaks worked in concert with Subaru’s AWD system to virtually eliminate the hydroplaning that can sometimes happen in Arizona’s monsoon season. The tires performed equally well in winter, exhibiting superior grip as I successfully backed out of my driveway in 3 feet of drifting, unshoveled snow, thanks in part to the tire’s USTMA Severe Snow Rating and increased tread depth.
I was nonplussed by the tires a few times on extremely steep roads with loose gravel (such as in Bisbee, Arizona, the state’s miniature version of San Francisco), where the Falkens struggled to gain (dry) traction during slow-speed start-ups from a parked position. But that was my only complaint in 10,000 miles.
Off-pavement Performance
As to trail use, off-road traction also improved with the Wildpeaks; these tires are meant to be taken off-pavement, and you’ll find the rugged 2-ply construction and heavy-duty upper sidewall features make them up to snuff for most anything you dish at them. Where the Wildpeaks shined for me, though, was on the sand beach tracks of Sonora, Mexico, near Puerto Peñasco, offering a superior grip that allowed me to travel and take turns at a higher speed than I would have imagined (while still exercising caution). The deep, biting edges of the 3D Canyon Sipe Technology goes down to the casing, allowing for an increased amount of traction in all types of conditions and surfaces and consistency in traction performance as the tire wears down. I found that the tires did particularly well in mud, too.
With 10,000 miles on the Wildpeaks, they still look practically new.
Tread Wear and Depth
At 10,000 miles, tread wear was even, likely enriched by Falken’s proprietary silica-based rubber compound and optimized tread design; tread depth was par for the course. Any signs of chunking were absent, and frankly, the tires looked practically brand new.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the perceived cosmetic value of these A/Ts as well. I know several other Subaru owners with Falken Wildpeaks on their vehicles, and perhaps the most commonly favored perk I hear about is that it toughens the appearance of the Subaru. I would, of course, lean to a tire’s capability over looks, but it is true that the Wildpeaks add a certain je ne sais quoi. Throw in the 65,000-mile limited tread life warranty, and you’re hard-pressed to find a better tire for your crossover.
I took advantage of the sky-high trade-in values this year to swap my 2017 for a 2022 Forester, and since the wheel size had changed from year to year, it was easier to take the OEM Falken ZIEX ZE001 A/S tires than keep the Wildpeaks. The ZE001s are excellent tires in their category, but in the words of a certain hair-metal band of the 1980s, “You don’t know what you got till it’s gone.” It turns out I miss my 2017 Subie, but more so, my Falken Wildpeaks. I’m eyeing a new set as I write this.
$190/tire | falkentire.com
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