The snow-ready Falken Wildpeak AT4W is Falken’s newest all-terrain, built on the AT3W’s proven winter and off-road chops. With updated tread blocks and sharper wet-road manners, it’s clearly aimed at drivers comparing the AT4W vs AT3W — keeping the snow traction people loved, while refining ride comfort and everyday handling. It still carries that aggressive look trucks and SUVs wear well.
The easy-cruising Nitto Terra Grappler G3 leans more toward the daily-driver side of all-terrain: smoother, quieter, and lighter, yet still versatile enough for weekend trail runs. It’s a go-to for SUV and half-ton pickup owners who want A/T style without giving up comfort.
Time to put both tires through the same yardstick and see what shakes out.
🛞 Falken Wildpeak AT4W
The AT4W is designed to be a true “do-it-all” tire. It stops shorter in the wet and dry than many rivals, corners confidently, and still handles dirt, gravel, and light mud. It’s not as winter-strong as the KO2 it replaced in some tests, but it’s a balanced choice for mixed-use drivers who want safety and all-terrain style.
See Wildpeak A/T4W Deals on Tire Rack
See Wildpeak A/T4W Pricing on SimpleTire
🛞 Nitto Terra Grappler G3
The G3 is more refined. It’s quiet, rides smoother, and is lighter on fuel compared to more aggressive A/Ts. Wet stopping distances were among the shortest in our benchmark, and it delivers solid dry-road manners. Off-road it won’t match chunkier designs, but as a daily-driver tire with all-weather capability, it makes a strong case.
All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet
Finding the ideal all-terrain tire among the plethora of options available can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, my team and I have taken on this challenge head-on. Besides our hands-on experiences with these tires, we also analyze thousands of customer reviews and test reports.
Please note that: Light-Duty is 1500 series, Medium-Duty is 2500 series and Heavy-Duty is 3500 series. If you do towing or hauling, I recommend considering at least Medium-Duty tires.
Mobile users can scroll the table to the left to see the whole data.
Table of Contents
📊 Head-to-Head Test Data & Rankings
| Metric | AT4W | Rank | G3 | Rank | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Stopping (60–0 mph) | 132.0 ft | 4/12 | 126.0 ft | 1/12 | G3 |
| Dry Cornering (g-force) | 0.72 g | 6/12 | 0.74 g | 3/12 | G3 |
| Noise & Comfort (1–10) | 6.58 | 7/12 | 6.33 | 9/12 | AT4W |
| Wet Stopping (60–0 mph) | 171.0 ft | 4/12 | 158.0 ft | 1/12 | G3 |
| Wet Cornering (g-force) | 0.57 g | 5/12 | 0.61 g | 1/12 | G3 |
| Wet Traction (Standing) | 0.52 | 5/12 | 0.57 | 1/12 | G3 |
| Winter Stopping (25–0 mph) | 82.3 ft | 11/12 | 86.9 ft | 12/12 | AT4W |
| Snow Acceleration (0–12 mph) | 49.1 ft | 12/12 | 45.2 ft | 6/12 | G3 |
| Ice Stopping Distance | 47.5 ft | 4/12 | 47.8 ft | 5/12 | AT4W |
👉 For the full benchmark, see our Best All-Terrain Tires for 2025 guide.
🚗 Dry Performance — G3 Stops Shorter
📊 Test Data:
AT4W: 132.0 ft (4/12) | 0.72 g (6/12)
G3: 126.0 ft (1/12) | 0.74 g (3/12)
Driver Feedback:
The Terra Grappler G3 felt more nimble and reassuring in traffic. Stopping power was immediate, and cornering felt tighter with less steering correction. AT4W was steady and predictable, but it lacked the sharpness of the G3.
🧠 Root Cause:
Nitto’s G3 uses a more continuous tread rib and lighter carcass, which means less block squirm and more rubber in contact with the pavement. The AT4W has chunkier shoulders and voids designed to self-clean on trails, but that sacrifices some outright grip on clean asphalt.
🏁 Verdict:
For daily commuting and highway use, the Terra Grappler G3 is the stronger dry performer. The AT4W still feels safe, but the G3 delivers the confidence you notice in stop-and-go traffic or quick lane changes.
🌧️ Wet Performance — G3 Dominates
📊 Test Data:
AT4W: 171.0 ft (4/12) | 0.57 g (5/12) | 0.52 (5/12)
G3: 158.0 ft (1/12) | 0.61 g (1/12) | 0.57 (1/12)
Driver Feedback:
The G3 really shined here. Braking in the rain felt confident, steering inputs were direct, and traction from a stop was among the best. AT4W was still solid and much better than older Falkens, but it couldn’t match the crisp wet response of the G3.
🧠 Root Cause:
Nitto engineered the G3 with a higher-silica tread compound and tighter siping pattern. That allows it to clear water efficiently and keep tread blocks stable under load. The AT4W has improved wet grip compared to the AT3W, but it’s still tuned more for versatility across surfaces rather than pure wet asphalt safety.
🏁 Verdict:
If you drive in wet climates (Florida, Pacific Northwest), the Terra Grappler G3 is the clear safety pick. AT4W is good, but G3 is best-in-class in our wet tests.
❄️ Winter & Ice — A Split Result
📊 Test Data:
AT4W: 82.3 ft (11/12) | 49.1 ft (12/12) | 47.5 ft (4/12)
G3: 86.9 ft (12/12) | 45.2 ft (6/12) | 47.8 ft (5/12)
Driver Feedback:
On packed snow, the G3 launched better and gave more traction accelerating, but the AT4W stopped shorter on ice. Both struggled more than KO2-class winter-leaning A/Ts.
🧠 Root Cause:
The AT4W focuses on ice grip with compound tuning, but that cost it snow acceleration. The G3’s siping and rubber blend gave it a small advantage pulling away in snow, though braking wasn’t as confidence-inspiring.
🏁 Verdict:
Neither is a snowbelt specialist. G3 is better for traction in moderate snow, while AT4W is the safer pick for icy mornings.
🪨 Off-Road — AT4W Has the Edge
Driver Feedback:
On gravel and dirt, the AT4W felt more composed, especially when aired down. The Terra Grappler G3 handled light trails but felt more like an “all-season-plus” tire once conditions got rough.
🧠 Root Cause:
The AT4W uses reinforced sidewalls, larger shoulder voids, and deeper tread for off-road bite. The G3, while capable, is designed with more closed shoulders and a lighter carcass, which limit its performance in rocks or deep mud.
🏁 Verdict:
For weekend overlanding or frequent trail use, AT4W is the tire you want. G3 is best for gravel roads, fire trails, or mild dirt work.
🎧 Noise, Comfort & Fuel — G3 More Refined
📊 Test Data:
AT4W: 6.58 (7/12)
G3: 6.33 (9/12)
Driver Feedback:
At highway speeds, the AT4W felt marginally quieter and smoother over expansion joints. The G3 was still comfortable but transmitted slightly more road texture into the cabin.
🧠 Root Cause:
AT4W benefits from advanced pitch sequencing and casing compliance, reducing hum and harshness. The G3’s lighter design boosts MPG but passes a little more vibration through.
🏁 Verdict:
For noise/comfort, AT4W has the edge. G3 is still refined for an A/T, but Falken is quieter.
📏 Size & Fitment Availability
Falken Wildpeak AT4W: Wide LT & P-metric lineup (16–22″), suitable for half-ton to 1-ton trucks and SUVs.
Nitto Terra Grappler G3: SUV and half-ton oriented, fewer LT options, more crossover-friendly.
💬 What Drivers Say
“G3 feels smoother and quieter than older A/Ts, and my MPG ticked up.”
“AT4W is heavier but confidence-inspiring off-road.”
“In the rain, G3 just stops better, no question.”
🚙 Best Application
AT4W → Best for trucks and SUVs needing durability, off-road toughness, and a balance of wet/ice safety.
G3 → Best for daily-driven SUVs/half-tons where comfort, MPG, and wet braking matter more than off-road bite.
🧠 Final Verdict — Which Should You Buy?
Choose Falken Wildpeak AT4W if you:
Want stronger off-road capability and sidewall durability
Need better ice stopping security
Drive heavier trucks where stability matters
See Wildpeak A/T4W Deals on Tire Rack
See Wildpeak A/T4W Pricing on SimpleTire
Choose Nitto Terra Grappler G3 if you:
Prioritize short wet/dry braking distances
Drive mostly pavement miles in SUVs or half-ton pickups
Value comfort, MPG, and everyday usability with A/T style
See Terra Grappler G3 Deals on Tire Rack
See Terra Grappler G3 Pricing on SimpleTire
I hope the article was helpful. Let me know if you need any further help!