Stamford Tyres (M) Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of Falken tyres in Malaysia, has brought in the new Falken Wildpeak AT-Trail tyre. The company claims the tyre is the first and only SUV construction all-terrain tyre on the market and the best tyre for tropical weather.
“Based on the vehicle sales data from the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) in the last two years, the SUV sales volume accounted for more than 30 per cent of the total vehicle sales as compared to only about 10 per cent two years back. Given the surging sales of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) in Malaysia, we have decided to bring in the Wildpeak AT-Trail tyre to cater for the need of customers in this segment,” said Frankie Kong, Head of Sales for SUV & 4X4, Stamford Tyres Malaysia.
The popularity of SUVs remains high, he added. “The sales volume of SUV is even higher in the USA and many European countries, which occupied about 50 per cent of their total vehicle sales volume.”
Developed by Falken USA, he pointed out that Malaysia was the first country outside the U.S.to introduce this tyre to the market. The road conditions in the U.S are somewhat sandy in texture – which is similar to Malaysia’s road conditions. Therefore, they are confident that this tyre will be a good fit for the local road condition.
The Wildpeak AT-Trail, he said, is built for adventure, delivering rugged off-road capability without compromising on the open road experience. Engineered to match the performance of modern SUVs, the tyre strikes a balance between off-road traction and tropical weather all year round performance.
“Featuring SUV-specific design that matches an SUV’s unibody condition and higher centre of gravity, the Wildpeak AT-Trail can provide enhanced handling year-round. Falken’s patented 3D Canyon Sipe Technology interlocks the shoulders to reduce resisting wear from high torque, provide better cornering stability whileimproving braking performance in wet and rainy conditions. Additionally, its increased tread depth offers more traction, including in winter, than a traditional all-season tyre. All these factorshave helped the Wildpeak AT- Trail earn the USTMA’s three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol for severe snow conditions.”
On-road dependability and off-road durability
According to Kong, the tyre boasts on-road dependability and off-road durability. For on-road dependability, Falken’s optimised tread design features a silica-enriched tread that compound delivers superior wear life over a wide range of conditions and temperatures. Whereas the durable 2-ply polyester construction and rugged upper sidewall features that protect the tyre from sharp rocks and off-road terrain ensures the Wildpeak AT-Trail has great off-road durability. The upper sidewall features a rugged construction and over-the-shoulder ribs to help prevent punctures from rocks, sticks, and other terrain encountered off-road. Also contributed to the tyre’s better resistance to sidewall punctures without additional material (rubber thickness) or weight is its superior carcass ply with higher linear density and strength. The weight of Wildpeak AT-Trail tyres is, therefore, lighter when compared to 4×4 construction tyres in the market.
“Tyre weight is critical to vehicle performance because it is the furthest point from the axis of rotation. This means that the tyre has the largest negative impact on power, torque, fuel economy, and even long-term reliability, often related to wear and tear. The Wildpeak AT- Trail is very similar in weight to a typical All-Season tyre, which means it is more fuel-efficient than 4×4 construction SUV tyres,” he elaborated.
In terms of noises, he said, tread pattern noise was critical in the Wildpeak AT-Trail’s development due to the unibody design of an SUV. Noises and vibrations are easily transferred from the road surface and tyres directly to the driver in a unibody SUV platform, especially when compared to a body on frame 4WD or light truck with more isolation between the driver and the road. The noise target development for the Wildpeak AT-Trail was as close as possible to an all-season tyre such as Falken Ziex CT60 A/S, but not any more noticeable than a mild AT tyre. Thus, he concluded that this tyre sacrifices very little to achieve the off-road traction and durability, as well as the potential for severe snow that one would expect from an AT category tyre. The tyre has also achieved the Tier 1 All-Season category tyre safety level while having the additional comforts of minimal cabin noise when driving.
The general feedback from the European and U.S. markets is that the Wildpeak AT-Trail is a great tyre for daily use, for long-distance driving as well as using on mild off-roads. The tyres are responsive, comfortable and emit minimal cabin noise. They have been great all-around, for surfaces with dirt, mud and ruts, and for climbing a rocky mountain road, driving in deep snow, or using for paved roads.
“Currently, the tyre is available in 12 sizes -215/65R16, 265/70R16, 215/60R17, 225/55R17, 235/55R17, 225/55R18, 225/60R18, 235/50R18, 255/55R18, 225/55R19, 255/55R19 and 265/50R20. The tyre is suited for vehicles like the Toyota Rush and RAV4, Jeep Compass, Subaru XV2.0, Crosstrek and Outback, Isuzu D-Max, Honda HRV and CRV, Mazda CX 30 and CX5, Proton X50 and X70, as well as the Perodua Aruz, Ativa, Nautica, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, VW, Hyundai, Kia, and many other vehicles. We are planning to bring in more sizes next year. “
As the Wildpeak AT-Trail is a new concept tyre best for Malaysia road conditions, the challenge will be to learn the know-how of the tyre. “We will need to spend time educating dealers and consumers the importance of choosing the real set of SUV tyres to increase the overall performance of their vehicle, including safety, handling, traction and fuel consumption,” he revealed.