Falken Wildpeak MT01 vs Nexen Roadian MTX tires

Falken and Nexen are the two popular tire brands that have global footprints. While Falken is comparatively new and its establishment dates back to 1983 in Japan, Nexen is almost twice in age and was founded in 1942 in South Korea. Both of these tire manufacturers have a good presence and fan following in the United States and offer a diversified portfolio to cater to the needs of tire buyers of different vehicles. Their Wildpeak tires and Roadian tires are very popular in the mud-terrain tire category.

Dedication towards making remarkably performing off-road tires is very common in both of these brands and they both devote their efforts, time, and research to manufacture impressive mud-terrain tires like the Wildpeak MT01 and the Roadian MTX. Both the tires are suitable for use on light trucks and SUVs and are built to perform on- and off-road. While both tires offer exceptional off-road driving and get rugged construction, there has to be one that’s better than the other.

So, in this Wildpeak MT01 vs Roadian MTX tires comparison, we will find out where each tire excels and which one could be right for you using our SimpleScore.

Falken Wildpeak MT01 tires

The Falken Wildpeak MT01 made its debut in 2017 as a dependable mud-terrain choice for the owners of light trucks and SUVs who wanted to take on the harshest conditions and needed something that can be used on pavement, mud, snow, or rocks. Durability, traction, and road manners are the key areas where the Wildpeak MT01 is designed and engineered to reign. Additionally, controlled noise levels and comfort are a few more areas where the tire can impress the drivers.

Overall, the Wildpeak MT01 sports a great 8.4 SimpleScore rating, contributed by its long-lasting usability, durable construction, and reliable on- and off-road traction.

Nexen Roadian MTX tires

Introduced in 2017, the Nexen Roadian MTX is another popular mud-terrain tire suitable for use on pickups and SUVs. This tire features an aggressive-looking symmetrical design that is engineered to deliver confident off-road performance in mud and other challenging terrains. While driving on the pavement too, the Roadian MTX offers decent performance and has elements that minimize the noise levels. The tire is also optimized for solid durability and longevity so that even in the harshest of conditions, it withstands like armor and serves for a longer tenure.

Overall, the Roadian MTX boasts an admirable 8.2 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its impressive durability, long-lasting performance, and solid traction performance.

Falken Wildpeak MT01 vs Nexen Roadian MTX tires on traction

Mud-terrain tires are optimized to perform in challenging off-road conditions, and that’s where traction plays an important role. Whether you drive through deep mud, crush the dirt, sail through sand or gravel, or climb rocks, mud tires are made to offer traction in all rugged conditions. The mud tires with better traction performance have the advantage of biting the terrain with absolute ease and maintaining grip to provide remarkable off-road performance.

The Falken Wildpeak MT01 scores a great 8.4 out of 10 SimpleScore rating in traction, which is achieved because of its aggressive-looking tread pattern that bites the surfaces to provide increased performance. Its aggressive upper sidewall provides additional traction while driving on rugged terrain at low air pressures. Additionally, the Mud and Rock Defence System of the tire is another brilliant feature that increases traction performance by shedding mud from the tread grooves to prevent traction loss. It also offers a solid grip alongside guarding the tread from the damage caused by rocks. The tire is M+S (Mud and Snow) rated, which means it also can provide traction in mild snow conditions.

On the other hand, the Nexen Roadian MTX boasts an admirable 8.1 out of 10 SimpleScore rating in the traction area. It features an aggressive tread design that improves on- and off-road traction performance. The tread has bigger sharper blocks that bite the surface to maintain surefootedness whether you’re driving through mud, dirt, sand, gravel, or rocks. The wider grooves do not let dirt, mud, rock, or debris stuck inside hinder the traction performance. The oversized tread blocks, deep lugs, and high void ratio provide adequate traction and grip in deep mud. Furthermore, the tire offers a choice of dual sidewall designs, wherein one sidewall gets a traditional block design, while the other features a fang design, and both of these design types boost performance in challenging terrains.

While great, the Nexen Roadian MTX is slightly behind the Wildpeak MT01.

ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak MT01

Falken Wildpeak MT01 vs Nexen Roadian MTX tires on durability

If traction allows a mud-terrain tire to lock the surface and boost its rolling efficiency, then durability is also equally important as it provides the required robustness to withstand the on- and off-road driving pressures and impacts. Whether it is hauling or carrying loads during your highway driving or combat with rough terrains, durability defines how better your tire can perform when taken on different terrains and in different situations.

The Wildpeak MT01 has a solid 8.5 SimpleScore in the durability area, which is earned because of the tire’s DURASPEC 3-ply sidewall that acts as heavy-duty armor in punishing off-road conditions. It gets rugged and rigid tread blocks that feature step-down supports on the center blocks. These blocks make the contact patch area strong enough to beat the driving pressures and off-road impacts. In addition, the Mud and Rock Defence System prevents rocks and other sharp objects and avoids the chances of unwanted punctures.

Contrarily, the Roadian MTX is slightly behind and scores a decent 8.2 SimpleScore rating in durability. To ensure that the tire is adequately durable for heavy hauling operations and has increased load-carrying capacity, Nexen has utilized a reinforced 10-ply construction, however, there is also a 3-ply design for standard off-road adventurers. Alongside inner construction, the outer layer of this tire is also made strong with big-sized, sturdy tread blocks and solid rubber compound that guards the tire against cuts, chips, and damages while off-roading and resists pressure build-up in case the tire is run on the highways.

When it comes to durability, the Falken tires score slightly better than the Nexen tires.

ADVANTAGE: Falken Wildpeak MT01

Falken Wildpeak MT01 vs Nexen Roadian MTX tires on longevity

Longevity is another important factor for mud-terrain buyers. Intended for rough use, a mud-terrain tire with better longevity can be a great buy. While comparing both the Wildpeak and Roadian tires, we found that there was a slight gap in the long-lasting scores.

The Wildpeak MT01 tire earns an outstanding 8.6 SimpleScore rating in the longevity area. This is because of the tire’s optimized tread design that has rugged off-road protection, which guards the rugged upper sidewall and offset shoulder blocks from sharp rocks. The reinforced inner construction, DURASPEC 3-ply sidewall, and robust rubber compound ensure that the tire’s wear rate is slower and the service life is increased.

Contrarily, the Roadian MTX is slightly behind with an 8.5 SimpleScore rating on the longevity front. The sturdy tread compound, stronger inner construction, rock-solid sidewalls, and robust tread blocks allow the tire to resist wear and serve longer. The wider footprint of the tire also does an incredible job by distributing the off-road or highway driving pressures across the tread so that the tire doesn’t face issues like uneven or premature wear.

While comparing both the Wildpeak tires and Roadian tires, there was a very slight difference in the scores, and it was the Wildpeak MT01 that surpassed the Nexen tire.

ADVANTAGE: Wildpeak MT01

When to use each

Both, the Wildpeak MT01 and Roadian MTX are mud-terrain tires and are engineered for on- and off-road use. Their utility in challenging off-road terrains is more as they feature tread that can ease deep mud driving and climb rocks, alongside offering exceptional performance in other off-road conditions. While both of these mud-terrain tires are suitable for year-round use, the Wildpeak MT01 is M+S (Mud and Snow) certified and can deliver better performance in snowy conditions.

The Wildpeak MT01 mud-terrain tires are available in 15- to 20-inch rim sizes, and are suitable for use on light trucks and SUVs. Likewise, the Roadian MTX tires are also built for use on pickups and SUVs, however, their size range falls between 15- to 22-inch rims, which allows vehicles with larger rims of up to 22-inch diameter to use this tire. If you’re planning to consider either of these mud-terrain tires, ensure checking your driver’s size with the available sizes for these tires.

Which one should you choose?

Now coming to the important part – which tire should you consider? Comparing the overall SimpleScores of both the Wildpeak MT01 and Roadian MTX tires, we found that the Falken Wildpeak MT01 was slightly better with an overall SimpleScore rating of 8.4 versus 8.2. However, both tires are different in one or the other way, therefore, you must choose them as per your driving preferences and needs.

When it comes to pricing, the Wildpeak MT01 will cost you at least $209.00 per tire, while the Roadian MTX costs at least $221.00 per tire. This means a set of four Wildpeak tires will cost you at least $836.00, while a set of four Roadian tires will cost you at least $884.00. Please remember that we have mentioned the starting prices of both tires for your quick reference, and therefore, the pricing of both the mud-terrain tires for different tire sizes and speed ratings is likely to change.

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Wildpeak MT01 if you:

• Drive a light-duty pickup truck like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, a tried-and-true Jeep like the Wrangler, an off-road SUV like the Nissan Xterra, or an older off-road warrior like the Hummer H1
• Want a tire that’s more durable (8.5 vs 8.2 durability)
• Need a tire that’s better on the longevity front (8.6 vs 8.5 in longevity)
• Need a tire that offers better traction performance (8.4 vs 8.1 traction)
• Want to spend less and grab a value-for-money mud-terrain tire

Alternatively, you should prefer the Roadian MTX if you:

• Drive an older model of a full-size SUV like the Chevrolet Tahoe, a futuristic electric truck like the GMC Hummer EV, or a heavy-duty pickup like the Ford F-250
• Need a tire that has impressive hauling capabilities
• Want to experience outstanding handling performance (9.2 vs 8.6 in handling)
• Need tires that are not only available in 15-20 inch rim sizes, but are also offered in 21- and 22-inch rim sizes
• Are willing to pay some extra bucks and stick to the very popular Nexens

The Wildpeak MT01 vs Roadian MTX tires might not look like a close comparison at first look, but when you check out their SimpleScores for each major attribute, review the features, analyze pricing, and check out their capabilities, they look like the closest of comparisons. But, in the end, buying the right tire for yourself largely depends on your driving preferences and needs, and therefore, your purchase decision must be made based on things like:

• What is your budget?
• Are you willing to pay more or want to stick to a particular budget?
• Where and how do you drive?
• Are you looking for something good at hauling or something that’s purely an off-road chaser?
• Would things like traction, longevity, and durability with slight differences matter or won’t matter to you?

Asking these questions to yourself might help you make a better purchase decision and find the tire that’s more relevant to your needs and the best pick for your vehicle.

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.