Falken Wildpeak MT01 vs Maxxis Razr MT-772 tires

For drivers of 4WD-equipped light trucks and SUVs who like to get way off the highway and break ground through deep mud, rocks, or rough terrain, all-terrain tires often are just not always going to be a reliable solution. That’s when the aggressive traction and extreme durability of mud-terrain tires are really going to come in handy. Mud-terrain tires definitely have their pluses and minuses – they tend to be noisier on pavement, they can be more difficult for a tire shop to balance due to their size and weight, and often are clumsy in their handling on the highway. But they can also give you a definite leg up in 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 Maxxis Razr MT-772. In a direct comparison like this one, we’ll be looking at a couple of premium mud-terrain tires that have a lot in common with each other 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 developed to assign a 1-10 numerical value for the categories of traction, durability, and longevity for any given tire, as well as an overall average SimpleScore. We look at the tire’s specs, review information and data points, then cook 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 Maxxis, the SimpleScore numbers are as follows:

Falken Wildpeak MT01:

• Traction: 8.4
• Durability: 8.3
• Longevity: 8.9
• Overall average SimpleScore: 8.5

Maxxis Razr MT-772

• Traction: 7.9
• Durability: 8.2
• Longevity: 8.7
• Overall average SimpleScore: 8.2

As you can see, the Falken Wildpeak MT01 and Maxxis Razr MT-772 are fairly closely matched in the pertinent SimpleScore categories. While SimpleScore is a handy tool, anything that just gives you a 1-10 rating isn’t really telling the whole story. Instead of just going with the 30,000-foot view, let’s go in for a closer look at these two tires with this head-to-head comparison.

Falken Wildpeak MT01 tires

The Falken Wildpeak MT01 is a tire that’s designed and built for some of the most demanding conditions and roughest use you can subject a tire to. In the mud-terrain category, there aren’t many tires that can come close to the Falken Wildpeak MT01’s balance of aggressive off-road traction and surprisingly composed and civilized driving dynamics on the highway, making it a great value as well as a strong performer.

The Wildpeak MT01 is designed around an extra damage-resistant tread compound that stands up against punctures, cuts, abrasions, and impacts. Falken’s DURASPEC technology is designed for 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 wide grooves and a high void ratio for efficient self-cleaning of mud and debris, ensuring there’s always a clear section of the tire to dig into mud and dirt as the wheel turns.

A combination of offset shoulder blocks and aggressive upper sidewall blocks on the Falken help to enhance traction on soft surfaces or rocks (especially while aired-down) along with adding an additional measure of protection. Reinforced tread blocks and step-down supports at the center tread blocks boost the tire’s grip even more, and built-in stone ejectors shed rocks and debris to protect the casing against stone drilling.

For heavy loads or long hours on the highway, heat diffuser technology protects the tire by dispersing excess buildup of heat. The Falken Wildpeak MT01 has the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe winter service. SimpleTire’s price for the Falken Wildpeak M/T01 starts at $209 per tire.

Maxxis Razr MT-772 tires

The Razr MT-772 is Maxxis’ flagship mud-terrain tire, with design and materials that are informed by their decades of experience in truck rally racing and ATV/UTV tires. That includes a new off-road tread compound that’s enhanced by chemical fillers that give it maximum resistance to punctures, cuts, chips, and tears as well as excellent tread life properties (unlike many mud-terrain tires, Maxxis stands by the Razr MT-772 with a 40,000 mile limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty).

A dual-cord casing ply gives the Razr great durability and performance for aired-down operation over steep rocks, logs, and obstacles, and deeply sculpted center blocks are designed for consistent grip and maximize off-road control and traction. Its sidewalls are reinforced against impacts and puncture damage, and wraparound lugs from the shoulder extend down onto the sidewall for improved lateral traction, which is a real plus for cornering ability, control, and clawing out of deep, muddy ruts. SimpleTire’s price on the Maxxis Razr MT-772 starts at $204 per tire.

Falken Wildpeak MT01 vs Maxxis Razr MT-772 tires on traction

How do the Falken Wildpeak MT01 and Maxxis Razr MT-772 compare with each other when it comes to traction? The Falken comes in with a SimpleScore of 8.4 vs 7.9 for the Maxxis. We’d chalk up that disparity in the SimpleScore numbers to the 21/32” tread depth of the Falken along with its stepped groove design, offset shoulder blocks, and sidewall lugs that all give it an added measure of control and grip in difficult conditions. The Maxxis is a solid performer too when it comes to traction, but the Falken eases past it in SimpleScore numbers. We should note, though, that neither the Maxxis nor the Falken has the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for severe winter service. Our decision:

ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak MT01

Falken Wildpeak MT01 vs Maxxis Razr MT-772 tires on durability

When it comes to durability, the Falken and the Maxxis are a lot more closely matched with each other: SimpleScore of 8.4 for the Falken vs 8.3 for the Maxxis. The Falken’s DURASPEC design package with 3-ply sidewall and high-turnup ply layers give it some really tough credentials for off-road conditions, along with a durable, damage-resistant tread formulation, but the off-road tread compound, armored sidewall, and reinforced cord ply layers of the Maxxis make it a close call indeed when it comes to what these two tires can take as far as rough treatment and difficult terrain and conditions. Our decision:

ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak MT01

Falken Wildpeak MT01 vs Maxxis Razr MT-772 tires on longevity

This one’s a bit of a conundrum, to be honest. In most cases for longevity, it’s the limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty that moves the needle as far as SimpleScore is concerned. The Maxxis has a 40,000 mile limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty, while the Falken doesn’t have a mileage warranty at all – yet the Falken edges out the Maxxis with a SimpleScore of 8.9 vs 8.7. In a case like this, we’ll defer to customer reviews that point to the Falken and would also deduce that that little gap in SimpleScore numbers is tied into the durable construction and engineering of that tire. It’s a close one, but our decision:

ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak MT01

When to use each

Probably the more pertinent question here is, what are your needs and expectations from a set of tires? Let’s say you live far back in a rural area with ranch roads and oilfield lease roads, you work in construction and need to get to rough job sites, or you love taking your truck way back into the backwoods and getting in some good times in deep, sticky mud then mud-terrain tires like the Falken or the Maxxis could either one be great choices. If, on the other hand, you want mud-terrain tires because you love the way they make your truck look (even if you spend most of your time on city streets), then you should probably give some pretty serious thought about whether mud-terrain tires are the right choice for you.

Yes, mud-terrain tires have come a long way and tire manufacturers have addressed many of those complaints about noise, ride quality, vibration, harshness, handling, and wheel balance. Still, for daily driver duties, you really should think about if you’d be better off with all-terrain tires or mud-terrain on your vehicle – unless you have a real need for that added off-road traction.

Which one should you choose?

This one’s a closer head-to-head comparison than most, to be really honest. The Maxxis Razr MT-772 and the Falken Wildpeak MT01 are two mud-terrain tires that compare really well against each other, with an overall SimpleScore of 8.5 for the Falken and 8.2 for the Maxxis. They’re also at almost the same price point, with only a few dollars worth of difference in the starting price of the two tires. As we noted, neither tire has the 3PMSF certification for winter performance, which is something that might figure into your decision. However, both tires are capable and dependable for all kinds of rough terrain and difficult treatment, including aired-down performance and rock crawling. If we had to choose one over the other, we’d probably go with the Falken, but the truth is that you can’t go wrong with either the Falken Wildpeak MT01 or the Maxxis Razr MT-772.

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.