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Last updated 4/22/2024 - Originally published 4/22/2024
Written by SimpleTire
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For drivers of 4WD-equipped light trucks and SUVs who like to get way into the backwoods and explore in deep mud, rocks or rough terrain, all-terrain tires often just aren’t up to the task. That’s when you need the aggressive traction and extreme durability of mud-terrain tires. Mud-terrain tires come with their drawbacks – they tend to be noisier on pavement, hard for a tire shop to balance and often are clumsy in their handling on the highway. But they can also give you a margin of traction and performance in extreme conditions that all-terrain or even rugged-terrain tires can’t match.
That brings us to the Falken Wildpeak MT01 and Goodyear Wrangler Boulder MT. In a head-to-head comparison like this one, we’re looking at a couple of premium mud-terrain tires that are pretty closely matched when it comes to features, design and performance, and it makes it a little easier for us 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 devised to assign a numerical value for the categories of traction, handling and longevity for any given tire, as well as an overall average SimpleScore. It’s derived from looking at review information and data points, then distilling 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 Goodyear, the SimpleScore numbers are as follows:
The Falken Wildpeak MT01 is a tire that’s ready for some of the most grueling conditions and roughest use you can subject it to. In the mud-terrain category, there aren’t many tires that can match the Falken Wildpeak MT01’s balance of value, aggressive offroad performance and surprisingly comfortable and civilized driving dynamics on the highway.
The Wildpeak MT01 features 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 a high void ratio for good self-cleanout of mud and debris, ensuring there’s always a clear section of tire to dig into mud and dirt as the wheel turns.
A combination of offset shoulder blocks and aggressive upper sidewall blocks give the Falken increased protection and helps deliver traction on soft surfaces or rocks (especially while aired-down). Reinforced tread blocks and step-down supports at the center tread blocks enhance 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 tread to dig in as the wheel turns.
For heavy loads or long hours on the highway, heat diffuser technology protects the tire by dispersing excess heat buildup. The Falken Wildpeak MT01 has the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe winter service.
When it comes to offroad performance, the Goodyear Wrangler family of tires has a decades-long reputation for quality, performance and value and the Goodyear Wrangler Boulder MT is no exception. It’s available in 17 sizes from 31” to 37” in diameter and is a great fit for trucks like the Toyota Tundra, Ford F150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and RAM 1500.
The Wrangler Boulder MT fully leverages Goodyear’s expertise and technology for a high-tech, high-performance tire that can ensure the confidence drivers need for offroad excursions. It’s engineered with the 3-ply Duraply package, protecting the sidewall and tread for some of the most extreme terrains and conditions. An aggressive shoulder design with lugs that wrap around onto the sidewall helps guarantee great lateral traction for cornering or clawing out of ruts and grooves. A high-void tread pattern (a full 21/32” deep) with stone ejectors is part of Goodyear’s TractiveGroove technology, keeping the tires moving without wheelspin in challenging mud, sand, loose dirt or gravel. Like the Falken , the Goodyear also has the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe winter service.
Let’s just start out by saying that the Falken and the Goodyear are both very capable tires in difficult offroad conditions, and both have the 3PMSF rating for nasty winter conditions. Both have aggressive and well-designed tread patterns, but the Goodyear’s TractionGroove technology package performs in all kinds conditions, from soupy mud to low-inflation aired-down rock crawling situations over mountainous terrain. Reviews indicate that the Goodyear also offers better traction and braking in snow, so with a traction SimpleScore of 8.4 for the Falken vs 9.0 for the Goodyear, our nod goes to:
ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Wrangler Boulder MT
These are both tires that are loaded with features that are designed to make them tough and resilient in some of the most punishing use you can subject a tire to. Things like a high-turnup ply layer, reinforced sidewall, reinforced tread blocks and stepped supports all enhance a tire’s durability and strength in offroad use. It’s a tough call here since both the Falken and Goodyear compare favorably to each other in this category.
ADVANTAGE: Tossup
Durability isn’t quite the same as longevity, though. Neither the Goodyear nor the Falken have a manufacturer’s treadwear warranty (most mud-terrain tires do not), so that can’t figure into our decision. The Goodyear’s tread compound is tough but it’s also softer and more flexible, giving it an edge in winter performance. That same property is likely to make that tread formulation wear faster, though, as compared to the Falken. The Falken comes in with a SimpleScore of 8.6 for longevity vs 7.7 for the Goodyear, so this one’s a pretty easy call for our SimpleTire team.
ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak MT01
So, what do you really use your truck for? Do you go offroad a lot and do some serious mudding and rock crawling? Do you find yourself having to deal with heavy snow, sand, soft dirt? Or do you just think that a tall set of mud tires and extra ride height on your truck looks cool? Because if that’s the case, you might not be happy with the noise level, ride quality, handling and balancing issues that go along with mud tires. However, if you can check the boxes for those first three questions, maybe a set of mud tires like the Falken Wildpeak MT01 or Goodyear Wrangler Boulder MT would be perfect for you.
If we were the ones choosing between the Goodyear Wrangler Boulder MT or the Falken Wildpeak MT01, it’d honestly be a tough decision. They’re both tires that are outstanding at what they do, and they’re both tires that have some strengths and weaknesses. Both have an overall average SimpleScore of 8.3, but that doesn’t tell the whole story by itself.
When you break down what goes into that 8.3 rating, the Goodyear outperforms the Falken in a couple of key aspects. While the Goodyear is a bit more spendy, we’d probably go with it for its superior traction and handling properties.
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.
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