Compare
Free shipping
Best price guarantee
Special pricing
Financing with Resolve
Easy returns
Last updated 7/19/2024 - Originally published 7/19/2024
Written by SimpleTire
Free shipping
Best price guarantee
Special pricing
Financing with Resolve
Easy returns
Compare
For drivers of 4WD-equipped light trucks and SUVs who like to get way into the backwoods and blaze trails through deep mud, rocks, or rough terrain, all-terrain tires often just won't get the job done. That’s when mud-terrain tires' aggressive traction and extreme durability will be useful. Mud terrain tires have their drawbacks – they tend to be noisier on pavement, can be more difficult for a tire shop to balance, and are often clumsy to handle on the highway. But they can also give you a definite advantage in traction and performance in extreme conditions that all-terrain or rugged-terrain tires can’t match.
That brings us to the Falken Wildpeak MT01 and Firestone Destination M/T2. In a head-to-head comparison like this one, we’ll look at a couple of premium mud-terrain tires with many commonalities in features, design, and performance. This makes it easier to sum up some of those qualities with our SimpleScore system.
If you aren’t familiar with SimpleScore, it’s the grading system that the SimpleTire team developed to assign a 1-10 numerical value for the categories of traction, durability, and longevity for any given tire, as well as an overall average SimpleScore. We look at the tire’s specs, review information and data points, then cook it down to a number rating so you can get an at-a-glance idea of what a tire can offer. For the Falken and Firestone, the SimpleScore numbers are as follows:
As handy as SimpleScore ratings are when it comes to a tire’s strengths and weaknesses, they’re still the 30,000 foot overview that doesn’t go into much detail about what to expect with a tire. Let’s go ahead and get a closer look at this compare-and-contrast review of the Falken Wildpeak MT01 and Firestone Destination M/T2.
The Falken Wildpeak MT01 is a tire designed and built for some of the most grueling conditions and roughest use a tire can endure. In the mud-terrain category, few tires can match the Falken Wildpeak MT01’s balance of aggressive off-road traction and surprisingly comfortable and civilized driving dynamics on the highway, making it a great value and a strong performer.
The Wildpeak MT01 is designed around an extra heavy-duty tread compound that resists punctures, cuts, abrasions, and impacts. Falken’s DURASPEC technology provides extra durability with a 3-ply sidewall and high-turnup ply layers for added protection. The Wildpeak MT01’s mud-terrain tread is a full 21/32” deep with wide grooves and a high void ratio for good self-cleanout of mud and debris, ensuring there’s always a clear section of the tire to dig into mud and dirt as the wheel turns.
A combination of offset shoulder blocks and aggressive upper-sidewall blocks helps the Falken deliver traction on soft surfaces or rocks (especially while aired down) and provides additional protection. Reinforced tread blocks and step-down supports at the center tread blocks boost the tire’s traction even more, and built-in stone ejectors shed rocks and debris to protect the casing and ensure there’s always a clear section of the tread to dig in as the wheel turns.
Heat diffuser technology protects the tire by dispersing excess heat buildup for heavy loads or long hours on the highway. The Falken Wildpeak MT01 has the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe winter service. SimpleTire’s Falken Wildpeak M/T01 price starts at $209 per tire.
The Firestone Destination M/T2 doesn’t give up much regarding performance and toughness in some of the most difficult situations you can imagine. It’s designed with a tread formulation that resists punctures, cuts, chips, and tears. It has 6 ply rated internal construction and a 3-ply reinforced sidewall for the durability you need for aired-down traction over steep rocks and obstacles. The mud-terrain tread blocks at the shoulder extend down onto the tire’s sidewall for extra lateral traction, which is very useful for clawing out of ruts or for good control while cornering. The angle of the lugs and design of the tread blocks on the Destination M/T2 draw heavily from Firestone’s extensive experience with agricultural tires. Traction on soft soils or mud is a top priority in this tire type.
The Destination M/T2 tread depth is a full 19/32”, assuring long wear and tenacious grip on soft, muddy, or sandy terrain. Its aggressive mud-terrain tread blocks are designed with a wide void ratio and built-in stone ejectors to shed mud and debris for added grip easily. The Firestone Destination MT2 is pre-drilled for easy installation of TSMI #16 or #17 studs in case of severe winter weather (always check state laws for calendar restrictions and the legality of studded winter tires where you live). Firestone’s innovative Debris Shield adds an extra measure of protection by preventing trail debris from getting wedged in the area between the tire rim and bead. The Destination M/T2’s outlined white letter sidewall looks great on various trucks. SimpleTire’s Firestone Destination M/T2 prices start at $233.99 per tire.
We don’t often run across an instance: the Falken Wildpeak MT01 and the Firestone Destination M//T2 have identical SimpleScores of 8.4 in the traction category. Both tires deliver excellent traction aired-down over obstacles and rocks, and both tires have aggressive tread patterns with good self-cleaning of mud and debris. We should note that the Firestone is pre-drilled for installation of studs, which would suggest an edge in winter traction, but it’s not 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for severe winter service (while the Falken does have the 3PMSF rating). Both tires also feature wraparound lugs at the shoulder for lateral traction, making this a dead-even match. Our decision:
ADVANTAGE: Tie
With SimpleScores of 8.6 for the Falken and 8.4 for the Firestone in the durability category, these tires are once again almost completely even with each other. That slight edge can be chalked up to Falken’s DURASPEC construction technology, helping to reinforce the sidewall and shoulder for durability and stability. The Falken also features blocks linked with tie bars, which help handle and stabilize the highway and boost the tire’s toughness in off-road situations. The Firestone is a heck of a tough tire, too, but our decision:
ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak MT01
When it comes to longevity for mud-terrain tires, that’s a bit subjective because neither the Firestone nor the Falken in this comparison are covered by conventional mileage warranties from the factory (many mud-terrain tires aren’t). Still, the Falken Wildpeak MT01 registers a SimpleScore of 8.9 for longevity vs 8.4 for the Firestone Destination M/T2. All the features that make the Falken a durable tire also contribute to its longevity – the tie bars, the damage-resistant tread compound, the reinforced, tough internal construction, and DURASPEC technology mean a tire designed for a long service life. Our decision:
ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak MT01
So, what are your expectations, and what do you use your truck for? Do you go off-road often and do some serious mudding and rock crawling? Do you have to get through heavy snow, sand, or soft dirt? Or do you think an oversized set of mud tires and extra ride height is a cool look for your truck? If that’s the case, you might not be happy with the noise level, ride quality, handling, and balancing issues with mud tires, especially if your truck spends most of its time on pavement. However, if you can check the boxes for those first three questions, maybe a set of mud tires like the Falken Wildpeak MT01 or Firestone Destination M/T2 would be perfect.
If we were choosing between the Firestone Destination M/T2 or the Falken Wildpeak MT01, it’d not be that tough a call. The Falken comes in with an overall SimpleScore of 8.5 vs. 7.9 for the Firestone, and the Falken easily ranks higher than the Firestone in all of the crucial SimpleScore categories except for traction, where they’re dead-even. And even at that, the Falken’s list price is considerably lower than the Firestone, making it a better value all the way around (in our opinion). All things are taken into account. Our opinion at the SimpleTire team is that we’d go with the Falken Wildpeak MT01 over the Firestone.
Still unsure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help. Our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.
Search By