Toyo Open Country AT3 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W are the top two replacements in the market for sure. Since both have very similar tread designs and close-rated winter performances, they’re in the center of best all-terrain tire debates. Hello to people, who are thinking to move on from KO2. I’m here to help you. Let’s begin!
At a Glance
| Toyo Open Country AT3 | Falken Wildpeak AT3W | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Squishy and snowy regions, camping and hunting, working trucks, 3/4 ton or above light-trucks, responsiveness | SUV and LT owners who are looking for an aggressive appearance, quiet ride(especially for p-metric sizes) |
| Pros | Insane wet and snow traction, long-lasting rubber, mild & severe off-road traction | Insane wet and snow traction, mild off-road traction |
| Cons | Slightly noisy ride | It can’t handle severe off-road conditions very well, you might feel a bit delayed in steering |
| Available on | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Falken Wildpeak AT3W is a more on-road-oriented tire in this comparison. It offers a bit cozier ride. Well, that’s the only feature that Falken can overperform Toyo. Due to its stiff sidewalls, Toyo Open Country AT3 offers better cornering stability and off-road durability. Furthermore, its tread lasts slightly more than Toyo Open Country AT3. Both can handle mild off-road very well, though, I recommend Toyo Open Country AT3 if you need severe off-road traction.
All-Terrain Tires Cheat Sheet
Finding the most suitable one for you among thousands of tires is very difficult.
My team & I have analyzed 100 different tires and generated this ‘Quick Answer Sheet‘ for those who don’t wanna spend too much time during tire selection.
Before we start, here are the incredibly helpful articles I highly recommend to take a look at;
- How to keep tire noise down:
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise - How to Air Down Tires?
https://www.discounttire.com/blog/airing-tires-down - What to Expect from 3PMSF Tires?
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/mountain-snowflake-symbol
Below the table, you can find my favorite tires that I have classified according to your needs.
If you’re in a hurry, here are the tires worth every penny;
- Toyo Open Country AT3 – Best All-Round & Longevity
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W – Best All-Round & Squishy Regions
- BF Goodrich KO2 – Best All-Round & Off-Road Adventure
- Falken Wildpeak AT Trail – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Severe Off-Road
- Nitto Recon Grappler – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
- General Grabber ATX – Best All-Round for 3/4-ton or above trucks
- Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac – Best On/Off Road tire for 3/4-ton or above trucks
- Cooper Discoverer 4S XLT – Best Commercial All-Terrain Tire & Hauling and Towing
If you’re looking for something at a bargain price;
- Vredestein Pinza AT – Best All-Round for CUV/SUV & Smooth and Quiet Ride
- Kenda Klever A/T2 – Best All-Round for Medium & Light Duty Usage
- Kenda Klever R/T – Best All-Round for Heavy-Duty Usage
Depending on your needs, also the below articles might help;
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-3-4-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-mud-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-rt-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-tires-for-snow-plowing/
I highly recommend checking the below pages out before making any purchase:
- DiscountTire Deals:
https://www.discounttire.com/promotions - TireRack Deals:
https://www.tirerack.com/specialoffers - SimpleTire Deals:
https://simpletire.com/tire-deals
Table of Contents
Tread Appearance
Depending on your expectations, tread appearance can be a piece of indicative evidence. Furthermore, people will judge your tire with cover, not performance.
Toyo Open Country AT3 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W have similar tread patterns. The only difference that you can see is shoulder wideness. Falken Wildpeak AT3W has wider outboard shoulders. They look cool but can cause irregular wear. Luckily, this isn’t the case for Falken Wildpeak AT3W. Moreover, its broader shoulder blocks create a slight advantage regarding handling.
Well, even though both have S-shaped center lugs, Falken Wildpeak AT3W’s lugs are a bit smaller. With a half-eye, you might think Wildpeak AT3W has less void area, hence, worse loose ground traction. That’s wrong. Falken has a lot of small gaps, while Toyo has larger but fewer gaps. Though, the void area volume is the same.
Regarding sidewalls, Falken has beefy sidewalls. Even though these sidewalls don’t go through the bead, still, they work as a solid sidewall protector and help loose ground traction. On the other hand, Toyo’s sidewalls go through the bead. Hence, their effect on loose ground traction is a bit more than Falken Wildpeak AT3W. Yet, Toyo Open Country AT3’s sidewalls are a bit shieldless due to thin sidewall protectors. Though worth reminding, this claim is only valid for p-metric sizes.
Verdict,
- Toyo Open Country AT3 is a broader and taller tire
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W‘s shoulder and sidewall design look dope.
- Toyo Open Country AT3’s center section looks more aggressive
Durability
Since they are built to perform in severe conditions, durability is essential for all-terrain tires. In this case, I generally prefer USA-made tires. However, things are a bit different this time.
Regarding online customers, both fellows do not have an issue with durability. Yet, I wanted to stay on the safe side and talk with my friends who worked for Toyo and Falken.
Here is the deal,
- If you’ll go with LT sizes, Toyo Open Country AT3 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W are extremely durable tires.
- For passenger metric tires, Falken Wildpeak AT3W is a bit more durable since it has high ply turn-ups wrapping around the bead and rising back up
Note: One of our SL Toyo Open Country AT3 has sidewall damage due to a hit sidewalk. However, the warranty process was the easiest ever. Toyo immediately replaced our tire with a new one.
Noise Comparison
Road noise on the highway is a common problem for all-terrain tires. Due to the lug-based design, tires create some noise mostly after 50mph.
Unlike most all-terrain tires, these two have really satisfying manners regarding road noise reduction. Inter-locked center lugs and narrowed gaps help them to reduce noise.
So, I was talking about it in the tread appearance section. Toyo Open Country AT3 has bigger and fewer lugs. Hence, the gap between the two lugs is higher than Falken. Especially, in the center section.
Narrowed center gaps always mean better noise reduction.
Toyo Open Country AT3 is a slightly more vocal tire. Though worth reminding, the noise level of Falken might increase with wear. Wildpeak AT3W has a deep tread. These kinds of tires tend to make more noise at the end of their tread life.
Note: This section is for everyday users. If you’re an overlander, your chances of hearing the sound these two make are very slim.
A side note here: Even though some tires tend to make noise because of their tread patterns, it’s still possible to keep your tire noise down.
I’m leaving a perfect explanation below from DiscountTire for those who need it;
How to Keep Tire Noise Down? –>
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise
Riding Comfort
Toyo Open Country AT3 has a more blocky pattern than Falken Wildpeak AT3W. That’s for sure. So, in that case, I can say Falken Wildpeak AT3W has better riding quality. Yet, I have another reason.
Well, the difference is minor but Falken’s bead apex technology makes this tire a bit more flexible and obviously smoother than Toyo Open Country AT3.
Falken Wildpeak AT3W is a more smooth tire. However, if comfort is your priority, you might wanna go with XL sizes instead of SL sizes.
Dry Performance
I’ve made the most of the dry performance evaluation on the above sections. But I left steering response, cornering, and dry traction for here. In this section, I would like to talk about these features.
Both tires have awesome reviews on e-commerce sites. Yet, Falken Wildpeak AT3W is weighter. Therefore, they will not balance as easily as Toyo’s. That might cause some shaking and decrease your handling in further wearing levels.
In a nutshell, these tires are head to head in this section. You can pick either one. Well, the price difference direct me to Falken’s.
Dry Traction
Due to their blocky patterns and notched rubber, all-terrain tires generally don’t have any issue with dry traction. Well, the equation is similar out here.
Toyo Open Country AT3 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W have extremely well dry traction. I strongly recommend both of them.
Steering Response
Continuity of the center section is the key to rapid steering response. Since we’re talking about all-terrain tires, this continuity is impossible to reach.
So, in this case, if you’ll look closely, you can see that Falken try to create a center rib as much as they can. Moreover, the footprint of Wildpeak AT3W promises a better steering response.
Moreover, when I check the UTQG ratings, I see that Falken Wildpeak AT3W has a higher rating which means it has a stiffer compound. Stiffer compounds always work better regarding handling.
Falken Wildpeak AT3W has quicker steering response.
Cornering Stability
Cornering stability could be an issue for all-terrain tires if the manufacturer can’t optimize sidewall stiffness with a bead stiffness. If the bead and shoulder sections are too stiff compared to the sidewalls, you may feel the floating feeling while cornering in the high velocity.
Since both tires have a strong internal sidewall structure, Falken Wildpeak AT3W and Toyo Open Country AT3 have solid cornering stability. However, the tread depth of Wildpeak AT3W is too high. For this reason, it has slight stability issues while cornering.
Toyo Open Country AT3 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W are trustworthy options in this case. Though, Toyo Open Country AT3 offers more.
Wet Performance
Wet performance contains two different dimensions. Wet traction and hydroplaning resistance. Wet traction is not hard to get for all terrains. Yet, hydroplaning resistance can be cheeky due to heavier vehicles.
Both tires are working equally well on wet surfaces. Hmm, let’s say Toyos are slightly better. Hydroplaning resistance is a game-changer out here. Most of the users say Falken’s has low hydroplaning resistance. On the other hand, Toyo is a beast in either dimension.
I recommend Toyo Open Country AT3 for all-day long.
Note: Hydroplaning is vital for a safe ride under the pouring rain. However, it might occur even with the best tire. Maybe you can’t prevent it but if you know what it is and how to deal with it, you can easily stay on the safe side.
Here is an extremely efficient guide about ‘How to Deal with Hydroplaning?‘ –> https://www.discounttire.com/learn/hydroplaning
Wet Traction
Wet traction is related to compound stiffness and the sipe density. In this case, both tires have enough UTQG rating for reliable wet traction.
Side note: The tires with over 700 UTQG generally have traction issues on wet and snow.
Since both tires have a similar footprint and compound stiffness, their wet performance is close-rated. In this case, Falken Wildpeak AT3W’s sipe density is superior. Yet, its compound is also stiffer.
Well, I think these two are balancing each other.
Toyo Open Country AT3 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W have alpha plus wet traction. They’re leading their segment. I strongly recommend both.
Hydroplaning Resistance
Hydroplaning resistance is also known as aquaplaning resistance. It’s simply the water evacuation capability of the tire. If the tire can’t get water out of the tread, it loses the connection with the road and that might cause vital accidents.
In this case, circumferential grooves and open shoulder blocks work best. Luckily, both tires have a compatible design.
Toyo Open Country AT3 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W have elegant hydroplaning resistance.
Note: Hydroplaning is vital for a safe ride under the pouring rain. However, it might occur even with the best tire. Maybe you can’t prevent it but if you know what it is and how to deal with it, you can easily stay on the safe side.
Here is an extremely efficient guide about ‘How to Deal with Hydroplaning?‘ –> https://www.discounttire.com/learn/hydroplaning
Winter Performance
It’s a battle between two tires with 3-peak mountain snowflake marking. Those tires are a phenomenon on snow. Well, they will not pick you up to Everest but will satisfy you on daily driving.
Alright, I love Toyo’s winter performance. It’s the truth. They are heroic. But, I was pretty impressed by Falken’s. They clean up really well and that will increase your traction on deep snow significantly. Here is the little video about Falken!
Regarding light snow,
It’s similar to wet traction. Both are extremely trustworthy tires. Yet, Falken is a bit more notched. It’s a slightly better tire on light snow.
Regarding deep snow,
It’s a bit more complicated. If you’ll buy a new tire, you’ll definitely notice how the beast is Falken Wildpeak AT3W. Well, this is caused by deep tread and it’ll decrease in time. Yet, no worries, Wildpeak AT3W has a long-lasting rubber.
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W is a better deep snow tire in general
- If we’ll talk about the last stages of the tread, I prefer Toyo Open Country AT3
Regarding ice traction,
Here is the deal. Due to narrower gaps and a better-optimized contact patch, Falken Wildpeak AT3W is a better tire on ice. Yet, the difference is minor. You can go either way.
Verdict, Falken Wildpeak AT3W is a better winter tire in general. Yet, Toyo Open Country AT3 is very close rated, and in my point of view, its performance is more consistent. Thought, both are worth buying for their phenomenal light snow performance.
Off-Road Performance
Falken Wildpeak AT3W has a more capable tread design for off-road. I’ve mentioned it at the beginning. It can be considered a rugged-terrain tire. Does that mean, it’s a better off-road tire? Let’s continue below and find out!
Both of our tires are perfect all-around off-road tires. They are working very well in every condition. However, Falken Wildpeak AT3W has a huge cleaning ability. That will increase your traction dramatically on mud. Moreover, they have better gripping ability and durability for rock driving.
In short,
- Gravel: Falken Wildpeak AT3W tends to hold stones. Therefore, Toyo Open Country AT3 is a better pick for gravel.
- Dirt and Mud: Both can handle dirt pretty well. However, due to its self-cleaning capability, Toyo Open Country AT3 is a better tire for mud driving.
- Rock: LT sizes of Toyo Open Country AT3 can handle rock crawling, it’s better pick for rock crawling
- Sand: Due to deeper tread and stiffer compound, Falken Wildpeak AT3W can stick you into the sand. However, Toyo doesn’t have any of them. Toyo Open Country AT3 is a better tire for sand.
For this section, picking the right size for yourself is key. Therefore, I recommend you to follow ‘Take-Home Point’ in the conclusion section.
Gravel
Due to its deep tread, Falken Wildpeak AT3W tends to hold too much stone. It might negatively affect your traction.
However, gravel is a mild off-road. That means you might face it day in and day out. Hence, I’m going to execute it regarding tire sizes,
- If you want XL and SL load range, I recommend Falken Wildpeak AT3W due to its more durable sidewalls
- If you want LT sizes, I recommend Toyo Open Country AT3. Its gaps are wider. Hence, it offers better gravel traction.
Dirt
Dirt is nothing for these two. I’m pretty sure, you’ll not have any issue with both of them.
Here is the deal, due to its self-cleaning capability, Toyo Open Country AT3 is a better tire on dirt.
Sand
Sand driving is tricky. You need enough width to don’t get stuck. However, this isn’t individually enough.
Since Falken Wildpeak AT3W has a deep tread, you must be careful with the gas pedal. It digs better than Toyo Open Country AT3. Yet, this isn’t what you want for this time. You wanna move forward, not deep.
I recommend Toyo Open Country AT3 for sand driving. Falken Wildpeak AT3W is also good option. Well, if you’re an experienced sand driver.
Mud
Even though Falken Wildpeak AT3W has a deeper tread and this’s a solid advantage for mud traction, for the tires like Falken Wildpeak AT3W (more lug but narrowed gaps), it becomes a disadvantage.
Even though its beefy sidewalls and staggered shoulders help it a lot, it still has some self-cleaning issues on mud.
I recommend Toyo Open Country AT3 for mud driving. Especially for deep mud. For light mud, Falken Wildpeak AT3W is also a good option.
Rock
Due to its wider gaps and softer compound, Toyo Open Country AT3 is a better tire for rock crawling.
Note: This equation is only valid for LT sizes.
Tread Life
The Tread life of all-terrain tires is a game-changer. In fact, it’s the most complicated part of all-terrain tires. They need a stiff compound to last more and a soft compound to grip more. This is hard to reach. You’re a lucky guy, both have outstanding tread life for an all-terrain tire.
In this case, two metrics are highly important. The weight of the tire and the stiffness of the tread.
- Since both tires have cut & chipping resistance, they’re equal in this case
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W has a stiffer compound ( Toyo AT3 –> 600 UTQG, Wildpeak AT3W –> 660 UTQG)
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W has a deeper tread ( depends on size 2/32” – 3/32”)
Falken Wildpeak AT3W is the winner of this section that is for sure. Yet, if you have a 3/4 ton or above pickup, I recommend Toyo Open Country AT3 instead. In that case, even wearing capability is way much more crucial than UTQG rating which Toyo AT3 is better.
Getting maximum wear life from a tire is related to you as well as your tire,
If you’d like to learn how to get maximum tread life:
Warranty
- Toyo Open Country AT3 has a tread warranty of up to 65,000 miles. Toyo also has a 45-day trial which is limited to 500 miles.
- Falken Wildpeak AT3W has a tread warranty of up to 55,000 miles. Yet, they do not offer a trial.
Toyo Open Country AT3 Warranty Document –> https://www.tirerack.com/images/pdf/warranty/TO0315.pdf
Falken Wildpeak AT3W Warranty Document –> https://www.tirerack.com/images/pdf/warranty/FA0119.pdf
Specs
| Falken Wildpeak AT3W | Toyo Open Country AT3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All-Terrain Tire | All-Terrain Tire |
| Vehicle | Light Truck, SUV | Light Truck, SUV |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’ | 15’’, 16’’, 17’’, 18’’, 20’’, 22’’ |
| Weight | 35 – 82 lbs | 26 – 76 lbs |
| Made In | Thailand or China | White, GA, USA |
| Severe Snow Rated (3PMSF) | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty (P-metric) | 55,000 Miles | 65,000 Miles |
| Warranty (LT Sizes) | 55,000 Miles | 50,000 Miles |
| Prices | Check price section to see best possible prices | Check price section to see best possible prices |
Price
The tire market has a dynamic price policy. Hence, in my point of view, sharing tire price is pointless.
Though, I’ve analyzed the top 10 brands of most popular tire brands.
Here are the dealers with a reasonable price range,
DiscountTire
- Biggest dealer in the US. Founded in 1960
- 1000 stores in 35 states. You most probably find one on your parallel street
- Free rotation and balancing
- 5% off for DiscountTire cardholders on online purchase
- Highest rated online tire dealer in Consumer Affairs
- Almost all brands are available
- Delivery takes 2-4 days (30% shorter average waiting time when you book online)
- Frequent discounts and promotions
Toyo Open Country AT3: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/toyo-tire-open-country-a-t-iii
Falken Wildpeak AT3W: https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/falken-wildpeak-a-t3w
TireRack
- Fast and Free shipping
- Usually delivered in 1 day
- Joint venture with DiscountTire(their installers and dealers are on your service)
- Tons of installer options, they also help you to choose the best one
- Mobile installers in many areas, your tires will be replaced while you’re working in the office
- Tire test results and comparisons can be found on the most product page
- 4.6/5 points on Google rate
Toyo Open Country AT3: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/toyo-open-country-a-t-iii
Falken Wildpeak AT3W: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/falken-wildpeak-a-t3w
SimpleTire
- Free shipping
- Delivered in 2 days
- Verified shops near you(for mount and balance)
- Mobile installation option
- 7 million customers since 2021
- 4.7/5 points on Google rate
- Top-notch customer service, you may even request a price match
Toyo Open Country AT3: https://simpletire.com/brands/toyo-tires/open-country-a-t-iii
Falken Wildpeak AT3W: https://simpletire.com/brands/falken-tires/wildpeak-a-t3w
While choosing dealers, I especially pay attention to reliability. All of the dealers on this list have 15-20 years of experience in the online tire business. Therefore, I can guarantee a smooth and fast tire buying process.
Conclusion
In summary, these are perfect tires for snow and wet conditions. Moreover, they have exceptional dry traction on all surfaces. You can go either way in this comparison. But, before doing that check our latest tips below.
What Are the Benefits?
Toyo Open Country AT3
- Better severe off-road performance
- Killing it on mild off-road
- More consistent tire
- 65,000 Miles warranty
- Made in the U.S
- Fuel-efficient
Falken Wildpeak AT3W
- Killing it in winter conditions
- Best on mild off-road but capable to handle severe also
- If you want a quiet ride
- Maybe the best for this price
- 55,000 Miles treadwear warranty
| Toyo Open Country AT3 | Falken Wildpeak AT3W | |
|---|---|---|
| Better for | Squishy and snowy regions, camping and hunting, working trucks, 3/4 ton or above light-trucks, responsiveness | SUV and LT owners who are looking for an aggressive appearance, quiet ride(especially for p-metric sizes) |
| Pros | Insane wet and snow traction, long-lasting rubber, mild & severe off-road traction | Insane wet and snow traction, mild off-road traction |
| Cons | Slightly noisy ride | It can’t handle severe off-road conditions very well, you might feel a bit delayed in steering |
| Available on | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price | DiscountTire: Check Price TireRack: Check Price SimpleTire: Check Price Amazon: Check Price |
Take-Home Points,
- LT sizes have stronger sidewalls. That feature makes them more durable. Yet, these tires offer a rougher ride. (LT vs P-Metric tires)
- XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, if you’ll go with p-metric sizes, they might be a better pick for hauling and towing( XL vs SL tires)
- Please pay attention to the load range and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
- There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires
A side note here: If you’d like to get local advice and find the best fit for your driving habits, location, and road conditions DiscountTire – Treadwell Tire Guide can give you masterpiece recommendations.
Hope this comparison was helpful. If you have any further questions, please leave them below and I’ll answer them ASAP!
Guide Me Bruh!
This section contains my research and top picks. Depending on your need, you may choose a category and easily find the best fit for yourself. Remember, nobody knows your driving conditions and requirements better than yourself. You’re in the charge out here.
Start Here:
Great info, 250 4x crew, tow a 35′ 5thwheel
mainly 85% roads.Retired like the Warranty
info and your comparisons. I think I’ll go To
Toyo at3 , I have Cooper 35×12.5 x 20 now
thinking 33 x 12.5x 20 ? Bought truck 6 months ago .
Hey Rusty,
I think Toyo AT3 is a better selection based on the information you gave.
A smaller size also prevents spinning while towing.
In my point of view, Toyo AT3 33×12.5×20 will work best for you.
With the falken wildpeak tires Exactly how much will they affect your fuel mileage
Hey Jon,
About %15 but that’s for LT size. If you’ll go with SL or XL size, I guess you’ll lose around %5.
I currently am running a 18 Jeep Rubicon JL with a two and a half inch lift and 37 inch mid tires.
I am looking to go to 35/12.50/17. Majority of driving will be on road but I want to do some light to moderate wheeling off road. Debating between the TOYO AT3 and the Wildpeak AT3.
Your thoughts. Thanks.
Hello Troy,
I hope you’re doing well.
Since you do spend most of your time on the road, I think the lighter Toyo AT3 is a better option for better fuel mileage (MPG). Besides that, it’s going to last more than Wildpeak AT3W.
On the other hand, I love Falken Wildpeak AT3W’s look. If you’re not an aggressive driver on highways, Wildpeak AT3 is also a good option. I found its cornering stability slightly poor.
I recommend sticking with the ‘C’ rated tires for your vehicle.
I hope this helps.