Choosing an ideal tire is crucial for vehicle performance and all-terrain tires such as Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 Vs Falken Wildpeak AT3W are perfect for all typical driving conditions. These tires are suitable options for owners who primarily drive on the road and occasionally go off-road. Performance-wise they are reliable but slightly different. If you want to know which the better tire is, let’s look at what they can offer below.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Why Choosing an All-Terrain
- What are Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W
- What are the Features of Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8
- What are the Features of Falken Wildpeak AT3W
- How is the Road Performance of Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W
- How is the Off-Road Performance of Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W
- How is the Snow Performance of Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W
- Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 Vs Falken Wildpeak AT3W
Versatile All-Terrain Tires
All-terrain tires are versatile and ideal if you use one vehicle for daily driving and some adventure. The first AT tire history was made in the late 70s when BFG introduced the first All-Terrain T/A, while Mud-Terrain T/A was released in the next few years. They come from almost any tire maker to provide drivers with uncompromised grip on difficult terrain, especially loose soils, and rugged surfaces. All-terrain tires are also all-season, making them useful all year long, and from the aesthetic, many love the aggressive appearance.
Compared to the more aggressive-looking mud-tire such as Nexen Roadian MTX Vs Toyo Open Country MT, the tires are more suitable for daily driving. The tires are not as chunky and heavy as the mud variant, so they will also be better for fuel consumption. On the highway, they are also similar to typical all-season. Are all-terrain tires loud? Compared to all-season or summer tires, they usually generate a ” hum ” due to the rubber thickness, but this is often masked by the engine or traffic noise.
Are all-terrains tires good in rain? Yes, the tires will be similar to all-season on the road. The large lugs may reduce contact points, making the tire not as highly rated for road traction, but drivers can still drive safely with a set of AT tires during rainy seasons. They are also good for light snow and gravels because the tread pattern will work well for the terrain. However, usually, they are not very reliable for deep snow or mud and are better avoided for ice driving.
About Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W
BFG is still manufacturing some of the best AT tires but so does many other companies. You may be able to find a better value from alternatives, and some of them are Nexen and Falken. These are pretty popular names, especially on the AT tire section because they made lots of reliable off-roading options for your vehicle. They are a non-US brand in which one is South Korean based while the Falken is from Sumitomo, a Japanese manufacturer.
The brands have been operating for decades and are not new to the North American market. The reputation of both companies is outstanding based on cumulative users’ experience. For example, Falken tires are highly performing, especially among the all-terrain alternatives out there. Nexen is often chosen for the price point, and this South Korean brand made promising options for off-road enthusiasts, too, such as the MTX, which is shown to be an all-rounder for your adventuring time.
But, if your driving application is a mix of road and gravel with some muds but mostly spent on highway or city road, the Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W will be two very ideal options to consider. These tires are often chosen for their versatility and should match the typical application such as commuting, traveling, and going for some little adventure in the wild. They are not mud tires, so the grip will not be sufficient to bring you out of the dirt.
The tires are best performing with everyday vehicles. They are surprisingly similar to all-season, but a bit heavier and probably won’t last as long. In comparison between Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W, the overall performance will be about the same but not identical. We think the grip for off-road applications is better on Wildpeak AT3W. They feel good for driving on the road and are responsive to steering. You can stop swiftly with these tires.
Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 Features
A tire’s performance is made up of the material and the design, so the tread pattern is not only for the look but also for the tire’s goal. Let’s start with Roadian first, and for this purpose, this tire is made for 4WD or 2WD pickup trucks and SUVs. They are crafted to offer balanced performance on and off the road, good wear, and versatility for all-year applications, including in winter. The light truck compound is combined with a symmetric tread pattern.
It is featured with wide shoulder blocks to promote durability on and off the road and aggressive staggered center rib to help enhance highway stability. Roadian is also featured with a dual-block design to prevent dirt from building up on the channels, and it will help remove them so the tire can gain traction. Micro grooves help traction when driven on wet or muddy and snow-covered roads. The construction is made with twin-steel belts, two layers of nylon, and a 2-ply polyester casing.
Falken Wildpeak AT3W Features
Similarly, the Wildpeak AT3W is developed for pickup trucks and full-size SUVs. The tire is designed for capable traction in various on and off-road terrains and is built for adventures. Falken uses an all-season tread compound molded into an engineered tread pattern to balance the durability for different surfaces. It supports both ramps and step-down features on the tread block to provide rigidity and stability. It will be helpful for off-road, too, because the tire is more resistant to damage.
The sidewall is made to look aggressive for protection against sharp objects while you are driving on the unpaved road and provides some extra traction when your tire is dealing with sticky loose surfaces like mud. It comes with 3D Canyon Sipe Technology, which is claimed to support the tread block when applied with high torque, preventing it from wearing fast while giving some extra biting edges when driven on snow and icy roads.
The Wildpeak AT3W is extensively designed with diffusing technology located in the lower sidewall to help dissipate heat from the internal structure when carrying a heavy load or hauling. This tire is made with twin steel belts to provide a durable foundation, polyester body plies, and a secondary bead apex for road handling. In addition, it also has a polyamide reinforcement ply for high-speed application.
Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W on Road
Now for the most important part, let’s see what the Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W can offer for the performance part. As an AT model, they will be best for drivers who spend their time mostly on the road or gravel. The grip on a dry surface is excellent; both tires have no issue keeping the vehicle on a straight lane or stopping. The stopping time is impressive because we think they are some of the most responsive in braking, with Roadian coming slightly faster.
The wet road performance is also almost as good as the dry terrain. Surprisingly these tires are still very quick to stop even when driving in the rain. They will lose some traction and are not as easy to steer, but it is to be expected, and overall, both perform well for everyday driving.
Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W for Off-Road
Moving to the wild terrain, we notice that AT3W seems to be more responsive here than on the regular road. The braking time is also faster than Roadian, which is the exact opposite, and the difference is more noticeable. Roadian took more time to stop even on hard-packed gravel, but it is still good traction-wise. The Wildpeak does perform better when you bring the vehicle to gravel or sand, especially the latter.
Not everyone will play on the sand, but this Wildpeak will be a better choice if you will. Adjusting the pressure will make the tire float well on this loose surface and let you have a great time driving on the dune or beach. This performance is probably the result of the deep tread and the aggressive pattern on the upper sidewall.
Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W for Snow
Lastly, for the snow driving, like most AT tires, the Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W will be great for light snow. The two are impressive at providing traction when there is light snow packing on the road, but Wildpeak will be more reliable for deep snow. Like how it works on the sand, this tire seems to have more biting edges to gain traction on a loose surface. None of them are enough for ice-driving, however.
Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 Vs Falken Wildpeak AT3W
Both Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 and Falken Wildpeak AT3W are good all-rounder tires that perform well on and off the road. In comparison, the Wildpeak AT3W is a more robust option if you spend more time off-roading. This tire is great for loose soil, where traction is usually hard to achieve, making it an excellent company for your light truck. The road experience is very similar, and they are comfortable driving one.
| Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 | Falken Wildpeak AT3W |
|---|---|
| - Affordable | - Cost higher |
| - Good on-road performance | - A bit slower to brake on road |
| - Good for off-road | - Better performance off-road |
| - Decent traction on loose surface | - Better traction on snow and sand. |
ConclusionÂ
The choice should be based on what you want to achieve. Nexen is usually more affordable so that it can save you quite some for a set, and it also works well as an AT tire both on and off the road. But, if you are more often going to the gravel or adventuring and want a higher performing AT tire, we will recommend the Wildpeak AT3W from Falken.
