If you are a driver who loves adventure and weekend getaways, you are probably looking for a tire that is both comfortable enough for your daily drives and rugged enough for all-terrain conditions. The BFG Trail Terrain vs Falken Wildpeak Trail models could very well be good options for you!
Blackcircles Canada presents two models and provides you with a detailed comparison, so that you can identify which best caters to your needs!
How do the BFGoodrich Trail Terrain vs Falken Wildpeak Trail tires compare
As you have probably understood, both of these tires are designed to be versatile. They will not only prove to be comfortable during your daily drives, they will also be great companions in rougher conditions, like on your adventurous weekend getaways.
Moreover, they are both winter certified all-season models. This means that they are built for driving in light winter conditions with peace of mind, and that you can keep them year round.
Built by manufacturers that specialize in the off-road –BFGoodrich and Falken-, they offer a solid structure and are designed to be resistant.
On the one hand, the Falken Wildpeak Trail tire is one of the Wildpeak models, which is built for adventure. More precisely, it is specially made for crossovers and SUVs, and is designed accordingly.
It is available in 30 dimensions, ranging from 16- to 20- inches, which means it is suited to most vehicles in this category. The Trail model is ideal for vehicles like:
- The Chevrolet Equinox
- The Ford Escape
- The Subaru Crosstrek
- The Jeep Cherokee
- The Mazda CX-5
- Etc.
If you drive a larger truck or SUV, other Wildpeak models could be better suited to your needs, like the AT3W.
On the other hand, you will find the BFGoodrich Trail Terrain tire, which is also designed for the vehicles mentioned above, which means SUVs and crossovers, but also larger ones as well like pickup trucks, for example.
It does cover a wider range of dimensions –for a total of 47- from 15- to 22- inches.
Despite some differences –like with dimensions, for example-, both tires are specially designed for similar vehicles and use. To find out more about what type of performance they offer, keep reading on below!
BFGoodrich Trail Terrain: Specs
The BFGoodrich is a tire that is specially designed for driving over various types of road surfaces in full confidence. In order to ensure optimal versatility on and off the road, it includes the following features:
- Wide and serrated shoulder blocks
- A compound that is resistant to perforations and tears
- 3D sipes
- Full depth sipes
- Optimal footprint
The width of the shoulder blocks allow the tire to provide you with a stable drive, including in harsher road conditions. Moreover, the serrated motif not only gives it a rugged style: it also works to eject debris found on its path.
Furthermore, since it is specially made for adventures off the beaten path, it also includes a material that is resistant to perforations and tears, along with a solid structure. A gravel road? Bring it on!
You will also notice that the BFGoodrich Trail Terrain has high density sipes. The full depth 3D sipes ensure high grip levels even on unstable road surfaces. This is also what allows for good winter performance. Moreover, thanks to the sipes’ depth, you can expect durability as well.
As for the optimized footprint, it is designed so as to maximise the contact surface with the road. The block layout ensures a wide contact surface, providing you with a stable and comfortable driving experience.
This feature also helps reduce noise that can be created by the air circulation between the grooves, for a tire that offers a quiet and enjoyable driving experience.
Finally, a wide contact surface is known to enhance even tread wear, ensuring the tire’s durability and lifespan!
Falken Wildpeak Trail: Specs
The Falken Wildpeak Trail tire was also specially designed for versatile performance. It aims to offer the ideal balance between all-terrain tires and road handling on regular roads at all times.
In order to cater to your needs, it relies on certain features, like:
- A dual layer construction
- Rugged flanks
- A silica enriched compound
- The 3D Canyon Sipe technology
- Deep grooves
In order to answer to your all-terrain driving needs, the Falken tire is built in two layers and has rugged flanks, which are designed to protect the tire from elements like debris or rocks, while providing it with optimal resistance.
This means that it becomes a great off-road champion when the time comes for you to drive over gravel roads, for example.
The tread is also designed for great versatility. Lateral and longitudinal grooves allow for quick evacuation of elements like water. As for the rubber compound, it is enriched with silica in order to ensure superior flexibility. This means it can face every season and remain durable, while also maintaining performance levels.
In order to face specific unstable conditions like winter driving, for example, the tire integrates a 3D sipe technology called Canyon Sipe, which provides you with even greater traction and grip levels, for a confident drive. The deep tread also increases its durability.
All in all, this tire is designed for superior maneuverability for crossovers, keeping in mind their construction and gravity centers.
Choose between the BFGoodrich Trail Terrain and the Falken Wildpeak Trail
At first glance, the BFG Trail Terrain vs Falken Wildpeak Trail tires present several similar features.
Both have rugged and resistant flanks, wide and robust shoulder blocks, along with 3D sipes, to name just a few examples.
We do, however, notice that the central block designs are slightly different in their shape. The two circumferential grooves are also more pronounced and straight on the Falken.
This in itself gives us an idea of the main differences between both tires: driving over wet road surfaces. In fact, the Falken Wildpeak grooves will allow for more efficient water evacuation.
This means that this tire offers better maneuverability and better braking distances in this type of driving condition. Although the BFGoodrich offers a safe driving experience, the Falken will simply provide you with a more important feeling of control in these situations.
Inversely, the BFGoodrich Trail Terrain really stands out on the snow. As several road tests done by TireRack experts show, the full depth 3D sipes on the Trail Terrain are truly efficient. It is significantly superior to its competitor when it comes to braking and accelerations on snow and on ice.
In short, the Falken tire is superior on wet road surfaces, while the GFGoodrich remains more qualified for winter driving. This means that everything depends on the road conditions you expect to drive on the most often!
As for the rest, comparisons only reveal subtle differences. Both are very skilled on dry roads, which are generally the most frequent conditions encountered on your daily drives.
On this note, the Falken tire stands out slightly for its braking distances, while the BFGoodrich tire offers a more reactive direction. Both provide you with great road handling.
Moreover, durability is one of both models’ strengths, as their warranties attest. With Falken, the warranty on tread life is up to 105,000 km and you will take advantage of a 30 day satisfaction guarantee.
With BFGoodrich, the warranty on tread life reaches up to 100,000 km and the satisfaction guarantee gives you up to 60 days to exchange your tires if you are not fully satisfied!
Comparing comfort levels on the road
When it comes to a comfortable ride, both provide you with a similar driving experience.
On the one hand, the grooves found in the Trail Terrain shoulders are closed, which prevents air from entering the inner groove network, which translates into a very quiet driving experience.
Moreover, the deep tread and more flexible rubber compound allow for better absorption of road imperfections which results in a smooth ride.
On the other hand, the Falken relies on a groove design that helps balance noises in a way that promotes noise cancelation. According to Tire Driver journalists, drivers will notice that, in fact, there a very little differences in terms of noise between both tires.
The Falken, however, still presents a slightly more rigid driving experience, given a lesser thickness, although the flexible compound still ensures good comfort levels.
All in all, the best tire will depend on your needs. If you are looking for a model that is more comfortable on wet and dry roads and that is specially made for greater maneuverability with crossovers, then you should opt for the Falken Wildpeak!
If you prefer a tire that is skilled for winter driving while ensuring a smoother drive in general, then the BFGoodrich Trail Terrain tire is the one for you. In both cases, you can expect a versatile and quality driving experience on your daily drives and outdoor adventures alike.
No matter which is your first choice, shop for your next tire set with blackcircles Canada! Both models are available to you online, where you can also verify if they are compatible with your vehicle, or where you can get all the information you need.
