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Last updated 8/19/2024 - Originally published 8/19/2024
Written by SimpleTire
Continental Tires and Falken Tires are two top tire manufacturers offering a range of tires in different categories. While Continental Tires was founded in 1871 and is one of the tire industry’s leading manufacturers, Falken was founded in 1983 and is well-regarded for its tires with a great track record in professional racing events. Both brands offer tires in various categories including all-season, all-terrain, ultra-high-performance, winter, highway, and many more.
Highway Tires are designed to be driven on long stretches of paved roads, and deliver superb dry and wet traction with a quiet, comfortable ride. Preferred by daily drivers and used extensively on commercial, and passenger vehicles, highway tires are built for durability, longevity, and performance. Today, we will compare two leading highway terrain tires built for light trucks from Continental and Falken. We will compare Continental TerrainContact H/T and Falken Wildpeak H/T02. We will also talk about some of the similarities and differences between these two tires in this Continental TerrainContact H/T vs Falken Wildpeak H/T02 tire review.
Continental TerrainContact H/T tires
The Continental TerrainContact H/T is a highway-terrain tire crafted for CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks. This tire boasts enhanced durability, improved fuel efficiency, and a quiet ride, backed by a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. Featuring advanced technologies like TractionPlus, which balances traction and durability, and Traction Grooves which enhance grip in light snow, it ensures reliable performance. Additionally, the TerrainContact H/T is covered by Continental's Total Confidence Plan. This plan includes a limited warranty, flat tire roadside assistance, customer satisfaction trial, and treadwear mileage warranty (restrictions and limitations apply). With all these features, the Continental TerrainContact H/T earned an impressive SimpleScore of 8.7 out of 10.
Falken Wildpeak H/T02 tires
The Falken Wildpeak H/T02 is a highway terrain tire designed for CUVs, SUVs, and pickup trucks and offers industry-leading durability with enhanced all-season drivability and a 75,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for P-metric sizes and 50,000 miles warranty for LT-metric sizes. The tire features rigid tread blocks, a rugged upper sidewall for enhanced durability and stability, an advanced 4D Nano design, and 3D Canyon Sipes for superior grip.
Additionally, the tire features an HD Badge for heavy-duty construction that certifies the tire’s ability to handle heavier loads and intensive tasks. Thanks to all these features, the Wildpeak H/T02 scored an average SimpleScore of 8.4 out of 10.
Continental TerrainContact H/T vs Falken Wildpeak H/T02 tires on traction
Traction is a critical aspect of tire performance, particularly for all-season tires. These tires are specially designed to provide grip in various weather conditions, they aim to strike a balance between performance on dry roads, wet surfaces, and even light snowy terrain.
In traction, the Continental TerrainContact H/T received an average SimpleScore of 8.5 out of 10 thanks to the TractionPlus Technology and Traction Grooves that boost grip in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions.
On the other hand, the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 received a score of 8.3 in traction thanks to the advanced 4D Nano design, and 3D Canyon Sipes technology which promotes superior grip and control in different weather conditions.
While both tires offer reliable traction for your light truck on paved roads, the TerrainContact H/T has a slight edger over the Wildpeak H/T02 making it the winner here.
ADVANTAGE: Continental TerrainContact H/T
Continental TerrainContact H/T vs Falken Wildpeak H/T02 tires on handling
When selecting tires, prioritizing handling is crucial as it significantly affects vehicle control, especially at higher speeds. Superior handling ensures smooth maneuvering and effortless lane changes, enhancing your overall driving experience. This vital aspect is influenced by several factors, including tread design, rubber composition, and the use of advanced tire manufacturing technologies.
The Continental TerrainContact H/T received an 8.5 in handling thanks to the symmetrical tread pattern with broad shoulders that improve handling and cornering performance.
In handling, the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 received an average SimpleScore of 8.4 out of 10, thanks to the rigid tread blocks, and rugger upper sidewall that improves stability on the road.
While both tires offer great responsive handling, the TerrainContact H/T again has a slight edge over the Wildpeak H/T02.
ADVANTAGE: Continental TerrainContact H/T
Continental TerrainContact H/T vs Falken Wildpeak H/T02 tires on longevity
For drivers, tire longevity is a top priority as it determines the number of miles you can drive on a single set. As the tread wears down over time, the value of durable tires becomes evident, providing consistent handling and traction. Key factors influencing a tire's lifespan include tread design, rubber composition, and tire construction.
In longevity, the Continental TerrainContact H/T received an excellent score of 9.2 thanks to the wear-resistant rubber compound and durable construction. Additionally, the tire is backed by a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty and delivers a smooth, comfortable ride thanks to the noise-reducing tread patterns.
The Falken Wildpeak H/T02 received a great score of 8.8 in longevity thanks to the wear-resistant rubber compound and is backed by an up to 75,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
While the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 offers a better mileage warranty, the TerrainContact H/T scores considerably better in longevity, making it the clear winner here.
ADVANTAGE: Continental TerrainContact H/T
When to use each
As both Continental TerrainContact H/T and Falken Wildpeak H/T02 are highway-terrain tires, they are designed for use on CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks and are more suited for drivers who stay on the road longer. These tires can withstand heavy loads and can drive under pressure while ensuring optimal tire shape, consistent traction, and reliable handling. As these tires have an all-season tread pattern, they should not be used in moderate to extreme winter weather conditions where winter tires are recommended.
Which one should you choose?
So which highway-terrain tire might be the right fit for you? Well, the answer depends solely on your personal preference as both these tires offer a similar performance. As stated above, the Continental Tire is more suited for people looking to get better longevity, traction, and handling. While the Falken tire offers a better mileage warranty. Both tires are designed to deliver reliable performance on paved roads and will ensure consistent grip in light winter, dry, and wet weather conditions. Another important factor to consider when comparing two tires is the price.
The Continental TerrainContact H/T costs around $280.99 per tire or $1,123.96 for a complete set. Whereas, the Falken Wildpeak H/T02 costs $273 per tire or $1,092 for a set of four.
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Continental TerrainContact H/T if you:
- Drive a car like the 2017 Ford F-150, or a 2019 Nissan Titan XD
- Want a tire with a better overall SimpleScore (8.7 v 8.4), traction (8.5 v 8.3), handling (8.5 v 8.4), and longevity (9.2 v 8.8)
- Want a tire with Continental’s brand warranty
- Are willing to pay more for a better set of tires
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose Falken Wildpeak H/T02 if you:
- Drive a car like the 2017 Honda CR-V or something like the 2021 Lexus RX350
- Want a tire with better mileage (75,000 v 70,000)
- Want a slightly more affordable tire that offers great performance
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.