To the Cape and back. Yes, Cape York – the very tip of Australia.

That’s almost 10,000km return from home, across every terrain imaginable: bitumen, sand, mud, rock and slop, with high temperatures but no snow. Tree roots and jagged rocks attack the sidewalls and try to pierce the tread, the 4.2-tonne GVM maxed out, giving the Falkens hell and mashing them into mother earth.

From walking pace to 110km/h; from bone-dry dust to slippery wet bitumen. This is one tyre test that’ll either make or break the new-to-Australia Falken AT4 rubber. It’s going to be brutal.

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Switching from Falken AT3 to AT4: What’s new?

I’d had the well-renowned Falken AT3s on our 4×4-converted HiAce for well over a year, clocking up around 15,000km across varied terrain without mishap or fault, and I’d been extremely happy with them — much like many other owners who swear by their Falkens.

So, to switch to an unknown tyre just weeks out from a major trip was a big risk. So many what-ifs, so many thoughts about what might fail. But hey, you only get one life — and pushing products to their limits, all in the name of testing, sure beats wondering about the adventures I might have missed.

So, off with the ‘Threes’ and on with the ‘Fours’, in the same dimensions (265/70R17), to test a tyre that wasn’t even due for its official release for another five months.

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Falken AT4 vs AT3

Aside from the ‘three’ being swapped for a ‘four’ on the sidewall, many wouldn’t immediately notice the outward visual differences between the two.

Of course, there’s no guessing the changes made beneath the surface — and those upgrades represent a significant step up from the outgoing design, making the new Falken AT4 a world-class tyre, one that’ll be hard to beat in any arena.

The tread pattern, while different, remains very similar to the AT3. In fact, many people who looked at our van didn’t pick the new rubber until they spotted AT4 moulded into the sidewall, did a double-take, and asked how the hell we already had these tyres in Australia.

While the tread pattern still carries the familiar interlocking C and S shapes, it’s been subtly redesigned with wider and deeper primary and outer blocks that should perform well in mud, rocks and other terrain where firm obstacles protrude from the track surface. Full-depth sipes allow greater water dispersion on the road throughout the tyre’s life, while the more rigid tread and strengthened carcass improve heavy-load carrying and towing characteristics. The reduced tyre squirm also keeps the whole show rolling true. I particularly noticed this difference on our high-duty, heavily loaded 4×4 HiAce compared with the outgoing rubber.

The 3-ply DuraSpec sidewall (on most sizes) is the standout and most anticipated upgrade on the new Falkens. This boost in built-in toughness proved its worth throughout our trip to the Cape, where we scraped more than our fair share of rocks and tree roots along rugged tracks — showing that the team’s design criteria not only met but exceeded real-world abuse and testing.

Since returning, I’ve washed the red dirt and mud from every inch of the HiAce and inspected the paint, panels, mechanicals and tyres for damage. I’d give the tyres a 9.5 out of 10 for the minimal damage sustained over our 10,000km test. There’s one small section of raised lettering on the front-right tyre that’s copped a nasty scuff from a sharp rock and is slightly damaged — but that’s a testament to the improved design and strength of these tyres. It wasn’t lacerated or punctured, as a lesser sidewall construction likely would’ve been. I also noted a few light scratches and abrasions in the tread blocks, but given the punishment these tyres have taken, that’s still a far better result than many others would deliver.

As for increased noise, despite the slightly more aggressive tread blocks, you’d be hard-pressed to notice any difference. The AT4s are certainly firmer, thanks to their sturdier construction, but that’s something I welcome in spades. Don’t get too caught up thinking that extra firmness will affect ride quality or on-road grip – most drivers wouldn’t notice much change. While that added rigidity is most apparent in the improved handling of a high-centred 4×4, I’ll take it any day for the extra control these tyres deliver.

Aside from the rugged tracks and searing heat we faced across almost every type of terrain, we also found ourselves weaving along long stretches of wet, cold bitumen that climbed into the mountains as we chased waterfalls through the hinterland. To my surprise, the AT4s handled those atrocious conditions exceptionally well.

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Verdict

Try as I might, I can’t find a bad word to say about the new and improved Falken AT4s.

Noise, puncture resistance, handling on our heavy 4×4-converted HiAce, and performance across all surfaces — on-road and off — have been superb. The four tyres in use show around 1mm less tread depth than the unused spare. There’s no point trying to extrapolate tyre life from that, but it certainly suggests a healthy lifespan, which will obviously vary depending on use.

Do yourself a favour next time you’re in the market for new all-terrain tyres and check them out. Don’t think for a second you’ll be comparing these Falkens to the big-name brands — they are a big-name brand. Prices will, of course, vary depending on the size you’re after.

Thanks to Falken for trusting us with a pre-release set of tyres on such a demanding run to the top of Australia and back — nearly 10,000km all up — and the AT4s handled everything superbly. This wasn’t a one-week play on a few dirt tracks and a run to the local shopping centre; it was a full-on torture test that delivered exactly what we all want to know.

Can the product survive? The answer is a resounding yes: the Falken AT4 has conquered the Cape.

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