Kumo Road Venture AT51 vs Falken Wildpeak A/T3W

Both tires are all-terrain. The Wildpeak A/T3W differs in the prospect that it has been designed to work on off-road surfaces more effectively than the Road Venture AT51.

But considering the price of the tire, the Korean brand, Kumo is not bad at all.

Let’s check out the features of both tires.

Overview of Kumo AT51 & Falken Wildpeak AT3/W

Kumho Road Venture AT51 features a dual silica tread compound that is heat dispersing, which means it can withstand the heat generated by the friction of the tire at high speeds, making it suitable for high-speed driving.

Another aspect of its compound is that it’s cut-resistant, which makes it more agile and sturdy off the road.

Moreover, the Road Venture AT51 features a more compact tread design with closely placed blocks that creates a prominent contact area for virtuous traction in both dry and wet conditions

It contains tapered tread blocks and circumferential grooves for efficient self-cleaning on loose surfaces like mud and snow.

The sidewall cord tension distribution promotes a better steering response and tread-life.

Two steel belts are embedded within the tire’s inner structure, reinforced with spirally wrapped nylon to enhance off-road durability and highway stability.

The tire uses joint-less bead bundles and a two-ply polyester cord body in its structure that helps it to isolate bumps and vibration for a smoother, and quieter ride.

On the other hand, the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tread design and silica tread compound are specifically optimized for better off-road driving.

A secondary apex on the tire’s outer sidewall protects the casing of the tire and gives it additional durability, which makes it ideal for off-roading.

In addition, it provides protection from hydroplaning owning to the deep grooves in its tread that have the ability to evacuate water.

The tire’s advanced technology, 3D canyon sipes that run along and wide grooves both aid in maintaining a good performance throughout the ride. 

On-Road Traction comparison:

When it comes to on-road traction, Kumho AT51 is more recommended due to its dense tread design with a larger footprint that makes more contact and provides maximum grip on dry roads.

Moreover, it has deep central grooves that allow it to portal away rainwater, thus making its on-road traction also reliable in wet conditions.

These features make it a satisfactory all-season tire.

Compared to its competitor, the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W has a more open tread design, and therefore it has a smaller surface area to adhere to the surface of the road which results in reduced on-road dry traction.

Meanwhile, it has bigger grooves in its treads that give it a better self-cleaning ability on wet grounds and avoids hydroplaning. It has larger shoulders compared to the Road Venture AT51, thus better handling while cornering is a plus point of Falken Wildpeak A/T3W.

Side Note: When it comes to on road traction, Nitto Ridge Gappler comes on top with our tests.

Off-Road Performance Comparison

On Sand

Even though Falken Wildpeak A/T3W performs an outstanding job on sand, it is not designed to be frequently used in this terrain. It has wider grooves that allow sand to pass through and move through it effortlessly, making it a better choice for sandy terrains.

On the contrary, the Road Venture AT51 offers considerable grip on sand due to its narrow yet deep grooves that allow it to sit firmly and provide decent traction.

Nevertheless, its traction on sand is not as good as the A/T3W because it has less grip.

Yet even better tire for sand: Goodyear DuraTrac.

On Rocks

Ruggedly built tires perform better on rocks or gravel. The Falken Wildpeak A/T3W is better suited for rocky terrains due to the robust material that makes it endure the harsh conditions of this terrain. On top of that, it has big incisions to grip the rocks firmly, and shoulders to assist you in navigation along the rocky terrains. What’s more, its rugged tread blocks make sure that stones don’t get caught between its groves, resulting in better grip and control on these terrains.

The Road Venture AT51 has smaller incisions and its design also features serrated shoulders that assist it on rocky terrains, but it cannot perform that well on unlevelled surfaces when compared to the Wildpeak A/T3W because its footprint can’t adjust properly on uneven surfaces.

Yet even better tire on rocks: Toyo Open Country AT3.

On Soft Terrains

The Road Venture AT51 has deep circumferential grooves along with lateral grooves and a relatively significant number of sipes on its tread blocks that enable it to wipe away mud, dirt, or snow more effectively from its treads, thus allowing a rigid grip in mud, dirt and snow terrains.

While the Wildpeak A/T3W has even bigger grooves that allow it to plunge and excavate materials like mud, dirt, or snow that come in its path with a greater capability that makes it more compatible on soft terrains like mud, snow, and dirt. Therefore, the Wildpeak A/T3W is better equipped for soft terrains than the Road Venture AT51.

Which tire provides better driving comfort?

A long ride requires you to consider the comfort factor as well. As far as the comfort of the off-road ride is concerned, A/T3W is dependable. With its wider grooves and broad shoulders, it will have a gentle grip on the ground. Thus, no matter if the soil is muddy, rocky, or snowy, Falken Wildpeak A/T3W will provide a more comfortable ride. At the same time, when it comes to on-road comfort, these very features contribute to the decline in its comfort. It has broader grooves that entrap the air in its grooves and produce more noise and vibrations by virtue of the air that collides in the grooves.  

However, the Kumho Road Venture AT51 has a converse situation. Off-road traction can be uncomfortable as the grip is not that strong due to a compact tread design and a bit narrow shoulder. Nevertheless, the small incisions of the Road Venture AT51 reduce its noise and vibrations on road because it captures less air in its treads. Thus, the Road Venture AT51 ensures a smoother on-road experience. 

Falken Wildpeak lasts longer

You can count on both the Road Venture AT51 and Wildpeak A/T3W to last for a longer time. AT51 is made of a cut and chip-resistant dual silica compound that is additionally featured with joint-less bead bundles and a two-ply polyester cord body that helps to improve the tread-wear of this tire. Furthermore, it has twin steel belts reinforced with spirally wrapped nylon in its internal structure and escort casing on the outside that adds to its durability. 

The Wildpeak A/T3W is also made of a silica tread compound that works in combination with its 3D canyon sipe technology that interlocks the shoulders to decrease the wear and tear of the tire. Moreover, its tough outer sidewall has a secondary bead apex that acts as a shield to protect the tire in rugged terrain, making it more agile and durable. In any case, the Wildpeak A/T3W has better tread-wear and durability than the Road Venture AT51.

Is Kumho AT51 cheaper?

Compared to A/T3W, AT51 is cheaper.

But Falken Wildpeak A/T3W does have a longer tread life.

But Kumho tires are priced reasonably, given their specialties in different domains.

If you want a more economical choice, you may want to consider the Kumho here.

What we learned?

To conclude everything:

• Both tires are All-Terrain.
• The Road Venture AT51 has better dry traction on road while the Wildpeak A/T3W has better wet traction on road.
• The Wildpeak is better equipped to tackle off-road terrains than the Road Venture AT51.
• The A/T3W has better comfort level than the AT51 while off roading.
• Road Venture AT51 has better comfort levels than the other.
• AT51 is also a bit cheaper than the other tire.