Falken Wildpeak AT4W vs Nitto Recon Grappler AT
- TR Score
- 8.3/10
- Owners say
- 78% · 11
- TR Score
- 6.3/10
- Owners say
- 66% · 1
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Falken Wildpeak AT4W finished ahead 4 times and the Recon Grappler AT not once. The Wildpeak AT4W stopped 7% shorter in the wet; the Recon Grappler AT stopped 10.7% shorter on snow.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
For most buyers who split time between pavement and trails, the Falken Wildpeak AT4W is the stronger choice, particularly if wet-road braking, predictable handling, comfort, and overall versatility matter. Consider the Nitto Recon Grappler AT if aquaplaning resistance or rolling resistance is a priority and your driving is mostly dry; neither tyre's mixed snow results replace a dedicated winter tyre for frequent severe winter conditions.
Where the Wildpeak AT4W is stronger
- Consistently shorter dry braking distances than the Nitto across all three tests.
- Repeated advantage in wet braking and wet handling; Tire Rack also measured stronger wet cornering grip.
- Generally stronger comfort and noise results, with testers describing its road behavior as predictable and refined.
Where the Recon Grappler AT is stronger
- Better straight-line aquaplaning results in both tests that measured the category.
- Better snow braking and traction than the Falken in the 2026 test; snow performance was more competitive there.
- Lower rolling resistance in the 2026 comparison, which may appeal to buyers prioritizing that measure.
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Wildpeak AT4W vs Recon Grappler AT at a glance
| Category | Wildpeak AT4W | Gap | Recon Grappler AT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won4 shared tests | 4 | 0 | |
| Dry9 measurements | 7 | The Wildpeak AT4W stopped 4.3% shorter in the dry (3 tests) | 1 |
| Wet11 measurements | 9 | The Wildpeak AT4W stopped 7% shorter in the wet (3 tests) | 2 |
| Snow8 measurements | 2 | The Recon Grappler AT stopped 10.7% shorter on snow (2 tests) | 6 |
| Ice2 measurements | 0 | 2 | |
| Off road4 measurements | 4 | 0 | |
| Comfort7 measurements | 6 | 1 | |
| Value1 measurement | 0 | 1 | |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.3/10 | The Wildpeak AT4W by 2.0 | 6.3/10 |
| Owner rating11 and 1 reviews | 78% | The Wildpeak AT4W by 12 points | 66% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Recon Grappler AT was dearer in 1 of 2 | +3.3% |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 4 tests, 2024 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Wildpeak AT4W | Field | Recon Grappler AT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tire Rack All Terrain Tyre Snow Test | P3 of 30 | P17 of 30 | |
| The BEST All Terrain Tyres for 2026 Tested and Rated | P6 of 7 | P7 of 7 | |
| 2024 Tire Rack All Terrain Tyres On-Road Test | P5 of 12 | P8 of 12 | |
| The BEST All Terrain Tyre for 2025 | P1 of 5 | P5 of 5 |
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Wildpeak AT4W
Recon Grappler AT
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. 9 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Wildpeak AT4W
Recon Grappler AT
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Wildpeak AT4W | Gap | Recon Grappler AT | Wins | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41.83 | 4.3% | 43.7 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 47.92 | 0.6% | 48.19 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 2.8% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 0.72 | 2.9% | 0.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 1.9% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 54.64 | 7% | 58.56 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 75.1 | 3.9% | 77.41 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 9.4% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 0.57 | 18.8% | 0.48 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 102.2 | 3.8% | 106.2 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 20.64 | 10.7% | 18.61 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 7.25 | 14.1% | 6.23 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 14.95 | 7.2% | 13.87 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 58.19 | 2.4% | 55.84 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 5.3% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 14.48 | 2.3% | 14.16 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 5.96 | 0.3% | 5.94 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 73.49 | 1.1% | 74.3 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.4% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 7.3% | scored | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 10.5% | scored | 2-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 55.05 | 0.7 dB | 55.75 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 9.8 | 16.3% | 8.2 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Wildpeak AT4W scores 8.3 and the Recon Grappler AT 6.3 out of 10.
| Wildpeak AT4W | Category | Recon Grappler AT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | Dry | 35 | ||
| 51 | Wet | 22 | ||
| 41 | Comfort | 21 | ||
| 91 | Value | 48 | ||
| 17 | Snow | 36 | ||
| 29 | Ice | 76 | ||
| 78 | Off road | 33 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Wildpeak AT4W | Category | Recon Grappler AT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.9 | Dry Grip | 9 | ||
| 8.4 | Wet Grip | 3 | ||
| 6.8 | Road Feedback | 9 | ||
| 7.1 | Handling | 9 | ||
| 8.8 | Wear | 9 | ||
| 8.1 | Comfort | 9 | ||
| 6.7 | Snow Grip | 4 | ||
| 5.2 | Ice Grip | 2 | ||
Owners rate the Wildpeak AT4W 78% from 11 reviews and the Recon Grappler AT 66% from 1. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Falken Wildpeak AT4W
- 78%from 11 reviews
- 80%would buy again
- 107,500 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally rate the Falken Wildpeak AT4W highly, praising its strong off-road capability and confident dry-road manners, with many also noting surprisingly low noise and good overall comfort for an all-terrain tyre. Wet traction is often described as good to very good, and several users report solid treadwear so far. A notable minority, however, say snow/ice performance (especially braking and slick city winter conditions) doesn't meet expectations for a 3PMS-rated tyre, with a few planning to switch to a dedicated winter setup.
- Excellent off-road traction (dirt/rock/sand/gravel/mud)
- Strong dry-road grip and stable handling
- Generally good wet traction for an all-terrain tyre
- Low road noise/quiet for an A/T tyre
- Snow and ice performance not as strong as expected (especially braking/traction on slick winter surfaces)
Summarised by AI from 11 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 11 Wildpeak AT4W reviewsThese are absolutely incredible. As in life, one gets what he pays for. Worth every dollar! Highly recommend
Nitto Recon Grappler AT
- 66%from 1 reviews
- 9,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 1 Recon Grappler AT reviewsThese tires ride extremely well on 1/2 ton. If you are in a very dry climate (desert southwest) they will serve you well. The ride is very good, quiet, and smooth on pavement. Very good for light to medium off-road trails and farm. Where the Recons fall short is wet traction and braking as well as snow and ice. The Recons balanced easily with less than 15 pounds of road force and less than 3oz on each wheel.
Final thought: A great buy if you are in a dry climate. For wet/snow, look elsewhere.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | Wildpeak AT4W | Recon Grappler AT |
|---|---|---|
| Season | All Season | All Season |
| Replaced | Falken Wildpeak AT3W | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Recon Grappler AT was the dearer tyre in 1 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 3.3% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
The Falken Wildpeak AT4W and Nitto Recon Grappler AT are both all-season all-terrain tyres, but the shared tests point to different priorities. Across three comparisons, the Falken placed ahead overall each time, including a 2025 test win and fifth place in Tire Rack's 2024 on-road test. In the 2026 comparison, however, both ranked near the bottom of a seven-tyre field, so neither should be mistaken for a class leader in every condition.
Conclusion
The clearest recurring advantage belongs to the Falken on paved roads: it beat the Nitto in dry braking and wet braking in all three tests, and was quicker in wet handling in each as well. Testers also generally found the AT4W more comfortable and quieter, while its dirt performance was consistently competitive. The Nitto's strongest repeated counterpoint is aquaplaning resistance, and it had lower rolling resistance in the 2026 test. It also performed better than the Falken in that test's snow measures, though the snow results vary substantially between tests and sizes.
Wildpeak AT4W vs Recon Grappler AT: your questions
Is the Falken Wildpeak AT4W or the Nitto Recon Grappler AT the better tyre?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Falken Wildpeak AT4W finished ahead 4 times and the Recon Grappler AT not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Wildpeak AT4W scores 8.3 and the Recon Grappler AT 6.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Wildpeak AT4W or the Recon Grappler AT?
The Wildpeak AT4W led 9 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 7% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Wildpeak AT4W led 7 of the 9 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.3% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Recon Grappler AT led 6 of the 8 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 10.7% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.1/10 for the Wildpeak AT4W and 9/10 for the Recon Grappler AT.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Wildpeak AT4W 78% from 11 reviews and the Recon Grappler AT 66% from 1.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Recon Grappler AT was the dearer tyre in 1 of them, by 3.3% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.
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