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Last updated 10/04/2024 - Originally published 10/04/2024
Written by SimpleTire
Pickup trucks, SUVs, and CUVs – they’re everywhere on American roads these days. Trucks and SUVs are the family sedans of today, having taken over the role that used to be filled by minivans (and by big station wagons a few decades before that). Every subsequent generation of light trucks and SUVs keeps getting a little more comfortable, refined, sophisticated, and dependable; they’ve come a very long way from the trucks of the 1980s or 90s. Many of those trucks and SUVs are, of course, equipped with 4WD drivetrains for real performance and ruggedness. Drivers know that if they find themselves going off the pavement from time to time or if they have to deal with rough winter driving conditions every year, all-terrain tires are the only way to reliably get the job done.
Just like trucks and SUVs have evolved in the last quarter-century or so, all-terrain tires have had to come a long way alongside them. Where older generations of all-terrain tires could be noisy and clumsy, modern, premium all-terrain tires are designed for low noise, capable and predictable handling, an accommodating ride, and long treadwear. In other words, they can be just as comfortable and refined on the highway as all-season and Grand Touring tires, and just as much in their element for lengthy road trips as they are on a backwoods dirt road full of ruts and obstacles.
Today we’re going to look at the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W and Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx. These are both popular premium all-terrain tires that are noted for quality and performance, and both are packed with next-generation features and innovations. In the course of this head-to-head comparison, you’ll see us make frequent reference 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 a tire’s performance and value. We take in reviews, 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 any given tire. For the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W and Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx, 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 S/T Maxx
- Traction: 8.6
- Handling: 8.4
- Longevity: 8.3
- Overall average SimpleScore: 8.4
As you can see from those SimpleScore rankings, the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W and Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 have some noticeable disparities when it comes to SimpleScore ratings. The SimpleScore numbers, though, hardly tell the whole story 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 Nexen, 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, we’ve been impressed by the various offerings from Falken for some time, and the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W is a prime example of why. The Wildpeak A/T4W improves on its predecessor model and is built for ruggedness 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 for improved load ratings and towing ability, and Falken’s heat diffuser design helps prevent heat buildup (the enemy of any tire’s internal structure).
The silica-rich tread compound of the Wildpeak A/T4W aids in wet-weather or winter traction as well as ensuring long, even wear, and a ramped-up tread design with a network of 3D sipes helps the Wildpeak A/T4W earn the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe winter service. In mud or loose dirt, the Wildpeak A/T4W features a tread depth up to 19/32” and a system of staggered shoulder blocks that work with the relief lettering on the sidewall for great lateral traction, 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 LT sizes and 60,000 mile for non-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 S/T Maxx tires
When it comes to the Discoverer S/T Maxx, Cooper set out to design an all-terrain tire that delivers a nice balance of aggressive, dependable performance in difficult off-road environments along with comfort and consistent handling and driving dynamics on the pavement. The Discoverer S/T Maxx is designed around Cooper’s proprietary ArmorTek 3 design package, which helps to reduce vulnerabilities in the tire’s casing and carcass with reinforced construction and a cut-and-chip resistant tread formulation. Its 3-ply construction features an 8-degree angle on the third ply, for a casing that’s 66 percent stronger and a sidewall that’s 2.5 times more tear-resistant compared to the predecessor Discoverer S/T.
The Discoverer S/T Maxx is designed with angled tread blocks and wide grooves that feature stone ejectors for good self-cleaning of mud and debris as well as protecting the tread against stone drilling. A dense network of sipes in the 4-5 tread block pattern helps to enhance grip in wet or wintry conditions, and the Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx’s tread is pre-drilled for easy installation of studs in case of severe winter weather and icy pavement. Select sizes of the Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx feature a great-looking outlined white letter (OWL) sidewall that looks fantastic on a variety of trucks and SUVs.
SimpleTire’s price on the Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx starts at $137.69 per tire.
Falken Wildpeak A/T4W vs Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx tires on traction
With a SimpleScore of 9.8 for traction for the Falken vs 8.6 for the Cooper, this one’s not real close. The Cooper does have some great traction features like the angled tread blocks in a 4-5 pattern and specially designed groove walls, plus it’s pre-drilled for studs in case of ice storms. The Falken, however, has a silica-rich tread compound that’s designed to enhance wet-weather grip as well as deliver great wear properties. We’re also impressed by the innovative shoulder and sidewall design of the Falken, with its system of relief lettering on the sidewall and shoulder lugs that work together to enhance lateral grip for cornering or clawing out of ruts. The strategically placed 3D sipes of the Falken also give it a huge boost in winter traction, enough to rate the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for severe winter service. It’s worth noting here that while the Cooper is a studdable tire in case of deep snow, it doesn’t have the 3PMSF rating but is instead M+S rated for mud/snow traction, which is a much lower standard. This one is clear-cut and our decision is:
ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak A/T4W
Falken Wildpeak A/T4W vs Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx tires on handling
Now we come to the handling category, and with a SimpleScore of 9.4 for the Falken vs 8.4 for the Cooper, this one’s not exactly a squeaker either. The same tread features and construction details that give the Falken a strong SimpleScore for traction also add up to improved handling and control. The Cooper’s innovative internal design and Armor Tek 3 technology give it a durable and rigid tread and shoulder, but overall handling and control with the Falken are more consistent and direct. Our decision:
ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak A/T4W
Falken Wildpeak A/T4W vs Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx tires on longevity
When it comes to the longevity category in these comparisons, there’s usually a pretty direct tie-in between limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty coverage and SimpleScore ratings. In this case, the Falken has 65,000 miles worth of coverage, while the Cooper doesn’t come with any mileage warranty at all. That registers as a SimpleScore of 9.3 for the Falken vs 8.2 for the Cooper, which is about as clear-cut as you can get when comparing the two. Not much of a contest here, our decision is:
ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak A/T4W
When to use each
Maybe the question you might ask yourself here is, how often does your truck really go off the pavement? If the answer is “not all that often,” you might be making a better choice with a set of all-season or highway-terrain tires. But if you do really like to get some real mud on those tires from time to time, all-terrain tires like the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W or Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx are the way to go. Both tires are very confident and competent when it comes to performance in mud, snow, loose dirt, gravel, or snow. And speaking of snow, the Cooper is pre-drilled for studs if the weather calls for it, and the Falken has the 3PMSF certification. The tire industry sets the bar pretty high for a 3PMSF rating and it’s an impressive credential for any tire, with winter traction that’s only bested by studded tires (which aren’t even legal everywhere). So if you find yourself traversing rough logging trails, farm roads, or ranch roads or have to handle the kind of winter weather where several inches of snow gets dumped 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?
So now we’re at the literal and proverbial bottom of the page…and to be real honest, the Falken outperforms the Cooper in all the relevant categories. The Cooper is a very capable premium all-terrain tire, make no mistake, and there are thousands of satisfied Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx drivers out there. The Falken Wildpeak A/T4W, though, prevails over the Cooper in all of our SimpleScore ratings with a better design and better set of features, and of course, the Falken also comes from the factory with a generous limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty, which the Cooper can’t offer. So let’s compare prices: $157 per tire for the Falken vs $137.69 per tire for the Cooper. That’s a pretty significant price spread, one that would mean a $100 difference when you’re purchasing a whole set of tires, and that could be enough to move the needle somewhat on a decision. So, our recommendation would be this: if you can afford the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W, go with that tire. If you want to save a little money, go with the Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx. You won’t regret buying either set of tires.
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.