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Wildpeaks for the Wildtrak

By Chris Morton

Changing tyres is a little like getting a new haircut. You don’t know if you are going to like it until it’s done and then you are stuck with it until it grows out. With so many tyres available on the market it is sometimes easier to stick with the ol’ faithfuls than take a risk and try something new.

As part of our camera truck build, we needed to source a new set of shoes for the Wildtrak that would offer us great on-road performance as well as excellent handling and stability when in the dirt. A chance meeting with Dimitri from City Discount Tyres in Joondalup led us to investigating Falken’s WILDPEAK AT3W. Further online research and the occasional carpark chat with owners of the same tyres soon gave us the confidence to commit. The tyre combines an aggressive offroad ability and rugged terrain driving without compromising on the bitumen. Its optimised tread pattern and silica compound (in passenger spec) offer outstanding performance in the wet, with the tyre even carrying a snow rating (meaning that the rubber compounds are suited for extremely low temperatures and the tread pattern doesn’t encourage snow build up.) For the more popular light truck (LT) spec tyres, they come with up to 25% deeper tread and more cut-resistant tread rubber improving off-road life. Aggressive upper sidewalls provide enhanced stability and handling along with preventing stones becoming trapped in the grooves. Rugged and rigid tread blocks enhance protection from sharp rocks and added off-road traction at lower pressures or in off-camber situations. We spoke with Mick Small, Falken Tyres Australia’s resident tyre expert on the subject of what makes a tyre tough. “Traditional tyre manufacturers have used a ply rating to demonstrate tyre load capacity. Unfortunately, users tend to relate this as a measure of off-road ability, e.g. the higher the ply rating the better. With

City Discount Tyres in Joondalup fitting the new Wildpeaks to the Wildtrak.

advances in technology this is no longer an accurate gauge. As an example, the AT3W Wildpeak only has a 2-ply rating and the Wildpeak MT mud terrains, 3. The composite strength of all the material used in the sidewall is more critical than the amount of plies alone. In some cases, manufacturers could build a high ply rating tyre, with less rubber and overall mass to improve on road handling. Just because it’s a 10 or 12-ply rating tyre doesn’t necessarily mean it’s tougher, it just means it can carry more load.” He goes on to say, “The area of rubber closest to the bead has been specifically engineered to withstand chaffing and also has a reinforced shoulder.” With the bead area of a tyre accounting for the highest incidence of failure in rock crawling, Falken’s Heat Diffuser Technology built into the Wildpeak is critical. Another example of Falken’s technology investment into their tyres is the 3D Canyon Sipes. Its main purpose is to tie the blocks together, reducing irregular wear for longer life, but gives high levels of grip for wet and snow driving. The design also assists greatly in providing stability to the tyre block, reducing the incidence of uneven wear. One final word from Mick, “Tyres manufacturers state that there are three things that will directly influence tyre performance: speed, load and pressure. These three need to cooperate or your tyres will die. If you constantly run at high speed with heavy loads, then the best thing you can do is ensure that you have the correct tyre pressure.” Overall, we have been extremely impressed with the tyre’s performance. Road noise is extremely low and their handling has not disappointed whether it be on bitumen, gravel, rock or mud. As an added bonus and testament to how tough these tyres are, Wildpeaks purchased from City Discount Tyres have a replacement warranty within the first 12 months (and within 25% wear) for any side wall stakes that occur.

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