Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/94279
TIRETEST by Bruce W. Smith This rugged all-purpose light-truck tire is a strong upgrade/replacement for OE all-terrain off erings SPECIFICATIONS Falken WildPeak A/T W ith tire prices at all- time highs, contrac- tors and fl eet manag- ers are taking serious looks at alternatives to replacing worn- out OEM tires, which are selling in the neighborhood of $240-$270 for the light-truck (LT) sizes. Falken should be on that list, especially if A/Ts are the replace- ment tread of choice. Compared to similar tire sizes from BFG, Goodyear, Firestone, Continental and other brands that come OE on our pickups, GUN METAL 7 Wheels give a vehicle its personality and Dick Cepek's new Gun Metal 7 aluminum rims speak classy sport. They should look good for a long time because they are coated in a tough, glossy clear that provides a layer of U.V. protection for durability and ease of care, even in the harshest climates. The fi nish has a two-year warranty. The Gun Metal 7 wheels are valuable in 17- or 20-inch diameters, with a variety of off sets and rim widths to ac- commodate a wide range of tires. PROPICKUP DIGITAL Falken's new WildPeak A/Ts will typically cost about 10 to 15 percent less. But, as I found out over the past several months running my 2011 GMC Sierra 4x4 on the Wild- Peak A/Ts, less expensive doesn't mean less quality or poorer performance. Falken, a subsidiary of Japan- based Sumitomo Rubber Indus- tries, has a very good rep among the high-performance street crowd, and over the past few years have parlayed that tire knowledge into formulating some strong pickup and SUV tires. The LT285/70R17s on Project Bedrock have proven to be a good tire that works well around the typical jobsite. Its moderately aggressive fi ve- rib tread pattern is designed to channel standing water quickly so the tread surfaces stay in good contact with the pavement. Off -pavement those tread blocks provide good fl otation in soft dirt and sand, and they don't seem to gather and hold smaller stones that can be a problem around construction jobsites. The tread is deep, the outer ribs segmented so they dig and give side grip while the saw- tooth-design of the inner two rows provides added forward traction. These LT tires also employ extra-wide steel belts, so side stability while towing trailers, or carrying a heavy load, is maxi- mized without compromising ride quality. Tire: Falken WildPeak A/T Wheels: Dick Cepek Gun Metal 7 17x9 Size Tested: LT285/70R17 Load range: D Max load (lb. @ psi): 3,195 @ 65 Rim size (in.): 7.0-9.0 Tread depth (in.): 17/32 Tread width (in.): 9 Section width (in.): 11.3 Overall diameter (in.): 32.8 Weight (lb.): 61 During the 2,500 miles riding on the WildPeak A/Ts I found them to be both comfortable and quiet, doing a good job of absorbing the typical jolts you get when crossing railroad tracks or broken pavement. Falken also backs the WildPeak A/T with a 50,000 limited-mileage warranty. That's strong coverage for a light-truck tire and could make the investment that much sweeter.