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Last updated 9/17/2024 - Originally published 9/17/2024
Written by SimpleTire
Pickup trucks, SUVs, crossovers – they’re everywhere you look on American roads these days. Trucks and SUVs have taken over the role of family cars, the job that used to be done by minivans (and by big station wagons a few decades before that). With every model year of light trucks and SUVs, they become a little more comfortable, refined, sophisticated, and dependable; they’re a big departure from the trucks of the 1980s or 90s. Many of those trucks and SUVs are, of course, equipped with 4WD drivetrains for traction and ruggedness in challenging environments. Drivers know that if they really want to get the job done off the pavement from time to time or if they have to contend with rough winter driving conditions, all-terrain tires are going to be the only thing for it.
Just like the evolution of trucks and SUVs in the last quarter-century or so, all-terrain tires have also been updated and upgraded with time. Older designs of all-terrain tires tended to be noisy and clumsy, but modern, premium all-terrain tires can deliver great wear properties, precise handling, a quiet and forgiving ride, and capable road manners. In other words, they can be right at home on the highway as all-season and Grand Touring tires but are also versatile enough to explore rough backcountry terrain off the pavement. Today we’re going to look at the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W and Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT.
Both the above are all-terrain tires from premium brands that are noted for quality and performance, and both come to the game packed with great features and innovations. In this head-to-head comparison, you’ll see us make reference a few times to the SimpleScore numbers for each tire. If you’re unfamiliar with SimpleScore, it’s the system that the team at SimpleTire developed to give you an at-a-glance view of what a tire has to offer. We look at the manufacturer’s info, technical details, specs, and other data points and then process that info down to a 1-10 numerical value for the categories of handling, traction, and longevity, as well as an overall average SimpleScore for every tire. For the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W and [Nexen Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT, the SimpleScore numbers are as follows:
Falken Wildpeak A/T4W
- Traction: 9.8
- Handling: 9.5
- Longevity: 9.2
- Overall average SimpleScore: 9.5
Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT:
- Traction: 8.4
- Handling: 8.3
- Longevity: 9.8
- Overall average SimpleScore: 8.8
As you can see from those SimpleScore rankings, the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W and Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT have some noticeable point spreads. However, the SimpleScore numbers don’t really give you the full picture of what you can expect with a tire, with all of its strengths and weaknesses. In this comparison, we’re going to do a little compare-and-contrast with the Falken and Cooper, give you a better idea of what both tires are about, and see which tire comes out on top by the end.
Falken Wildpeak A/T4W tires
Here at the SimpleTire team, about everything from the Falken tire family has been making a pretty good impression on us, and the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W is a prime example of why. The Wildpeak A/T4W is an upgrade from its predecessor model and is built for durability and long service, with Falken’s DURASPEC technology package that includes a 3-ply reinforced sidewall on select sizes. That design also means a reinforced casing that enhances load capacity and towing ability and Falken’s heat diffuser design that prevents heat buildup (the enemy of any tire’s internal structure).
The silica-rich tread compound of the Wildpeak A/T4W is designed for wet-weather or winter traction as well as encouraging long, even wear, and a ramped-up tread design with a network of 3D sipes enables the Wildpeak A/T4W to earn the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe winter service. In mud or loose dirt, the Wildpeak A/T4W is more than ready with a high tread depth. For lateral traction, there’s an innovative system of staggered shoulder blocks that extend down onto the sidewall, enabling you to claw your way out of ruts easily.
The Wildpeak A/T4W is covered by a 65,000 mile manufacturer’s treadwear warranty for non-LT sizes and 60,000 mile for LT sizes, as well as Falken’s Road Hazard Protection. SimpleTire’s price on the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W starts at $157.00 per tire.
Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT tires
Now we come to the Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT, another premium all-terrain tire that’s designed for civilized, composed behavior on pavement as well as robust durability, grip and control in difficult off-road conditions. The specialized heavy-duty tread compound resists cuts, chips, tears, and punctures in rough use and its rugged, interlocking tread blocks are designed for dependable, consistent traction in off-road conditions or on the highway. For cornering or clawing out of deep ruts its pattern of alternating scoops and cleat-type lugs at the shoulder deliver good lateral traction. On the highway, Cooper’s RoadGlide technology helps to provide a secure, quiet, accommodating ride with tread pitches that are randomized and computer-tuned to help keep road noise low by canceling certain frequencies and overtones. For rainy-weather performance, the Cooper’s deep circumferential grooves and wide lateral notches work as a system to remove water from the tire’s contact patch and resist hydroplaning. A dense network of zigzag sipes at the shoulder multiply traction to safely make your way through harsh winter weather, earning the Cooper the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for severe winter service. The Cooper is durable too, with a damage-resistant tread compound and tough 2-ply polyester casing with dual steel belt package and single-ply nylon reinforcement cap layer for great handling and high-speed stability. Cooper covers the Discoverer Road+Trail AT with a 65,000-mile manufacturer’s treadwear warranty. SimpleTire’s price on the Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT starts at $165.99 per tire.
Falken Wildpeak A/T4W vs Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT tires on traction
When it comes to the traction category, there’s a pretty sizable disparity in SimpleScore rankings, with the Falken registering 9.8 vs 8.4 for the Cooper. Both tires are pretty capable when it comes to winter grip; they’re both certified for severe winter service with the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rating that is recognized by the tire industry. The Falken has some advantages, though; its 3D sipes boost winter traction but also help ensure surefooted grip on wet or dry roads with shorter braking distances and reduced tread flex for better stability. The innovative shoulder blocks that work with the sidewall’s relief lettering are another great feature for lateral traction, and the silica-infused tread formulation helps boost wet-weather grip as well as delivering excellent wear properties. Our decision:
ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak A/T4W
Falken Wildpeak A/T4W vs Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT tires on handling
In the handling category, the difference in SimpleScore numbers is almost as clear-cut, with a 9.5 for the Falken vs 8.3 for the Cooper. While it’s not realistic for an all-terrain light truck tire to have the nimble handling and sharp cornering ability of a performance-oriented all-season or UHP tire, the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W is more than respectable when it comes to handling dynamics. The same traction features that give its tread design such great performance on or off pavement are also designed to boost handling and road manners on the highway; its reinforced shoulder helps to reduce tread flex and deformation when going hard into a corner, and the silica-rich tread compound helps to round out the package when it comes to handling. Our call:
ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak A/T42W
Falken Wildpeak A/T4W vs Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT tires on longevity
When it comes to longevity, we have a little bit of a conundrum here. Usually it’s the limited manufacturer’s tread life coverage that moves the needle when it comes to SimpleScore ratings for longevity, but both the Cooper and the Falken have identical warranties of 65,000 miles. The Cooper comes out ahead on SimpleScore, though, with a ranking of 9.8 vs 9.3 for the Falken. Both tires are loaded with durable design features and materials. While rough and durable sidewalls can be found on both, the Falken is slightly better in terms of tread depth. In an instance like this, we generally allow customers to have the final say through reviews. Our call:
ADVANTAGE: Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT
When to use each
Maybe the most pertinent question here is, what do you really need from a set of tires for your lifestyle? How often do you take your truck off the pavement? If the answer is “not all that often,” maybe you’d be better off with a set of all-season or highway-terrain tires. But if you do really like to take the road less traveled from time to time, all-terrain tires like the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W or Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT are the way to go. Both tires are very capable and confident when it comes to grip and durability in mud, snow, loose dirt, gravel, or snow. And speaking of winter weather, both the Cooper and the Falken have the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for severe winter service. The tire industry takes the requirements pretty seriously for a 3PMSF rating and it’s an impressive credential for any tire, with winter traction that’s only surpassed by studded tires (which aren’t even legal everywhere). So if you go off-road on rough ranch roads, oilfield leases or farm roads or if you live in a party of the country where winter weather could leave several inches of snow on the roads for days at a time, the Falken or the Cooper could both be great options for you.
Which one should you choose?
This is the moment of truth, isn’t it? As you can see, the Falken does leave the Cooper behind when it comes to the key categories of traction and handling, and both tires have identical tread life coverage from the manufacturer. Let’s compare prices, then, with the Cooper coming in at $165.99 per tire vs $157 per tire for the Falken. That’s not a huge difference in price, but enough to matter when you are talking about a set of four. It’s our opinion here at the SimpleTire team that you wouldn’t be making a mistake with either tire - the Cooper Discoverer Road+Trail AT and Falken Wildpeak A/T4W do compare well with each other when it comes to technical details and specs and both tires would serve your needs nicely. But if we had to make the call ourselves, we’d probably go with the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W.
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.