Posted: 11/15/2025 11:39:06 PM EDT
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I wanted the most functional tire for my completely stock Silverado 1500. This truck spends virtually all of its time on the road. It rains a lot in the Fall and Spring where I live. It also snows as well during the winter. And...I'd like to be able to tackle trails if I need to. So I settled on the standard SL (4-ply) variant of the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W. And I have not been disappointed with these tires in the slightest bit. The funny thing is...I got them mainly for their on-road traction in the wet and in the snow. But now I'm wondering... What could I actually do with these things off-road? In addition to their stock size, they are also likely limited by their 2-ply sidewall. Here's a random picture of it: Attached File |
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Sounds like you don't have any experience off-road. You can go in parking lots. You could go on gravel roads. You could even go on dirt roads. You can go in mud puddles that are a few inches deep with a hard bottom.. You can go on snowy roads with a few inches of snow. What you're not gonna be able to do is go on off road trails, the kind that you see vehicles with bigger tires going in and out of.. You also don't want to do any body damage to that truck or get scratches in the paint...... And that's what happens when you go off roading, on trails.. So basically stick to graded roads that are wide enough so you don't scrape up the paint. Keep your speed low.. Speed isn't the key off road. Driver experience, Tires, Suspension flexibility, ground clearance and gearing are some of the keys to successful off road travel. |
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What size tires do you have and what year is your Chevy? I lead a 5000 member Facebook Off Road club that is open to all street legal 4x4 vehicles. We do almost weekly trail rides. We occasionally have full size pickup owners join us on trail rides. My rule leading a trail ride is that everyone airs down their tires. At least to 15psi for 33" or taller tires. 18psi for smaller diameter tires. My other rule is use 4wd low when on the trail / off gravel. One of the many reasons I switched to a Jeep Wrangler from a 2019 Toyota 4Runner was watching a stock 4 door Wrangler Sport go everywhere on aired down highway tires. I had SL rated AT3W Falkens on my 4Runner. They were OK. I prefer a E-rated MT. I'd have no issues with you bringing your Chevy on a trail ride of mine. Yes you will get pin stripes. The under body will get scratched. You will quickly learn what mods you want to make. That may be skid plates, rock sliders, bigger tires, winch & bumper etc. Or picking up a Jeep Wrangler as a 2nd or 3rd vehicle. Off roading isn't taught in Drivers Ed. However much has been written on the subject. The Jeep Jamboree puts out this guide that is worth reading. https://jeepjamboreeusa.com/drivingtips/index.html?_aem_juKHXp5XGEd82iQOHwLX-w |
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Originally Posted By drobs: ...We occasionally have full size pickup owners join us on trail rides. My rule leading a trail ride is that everyone airs down their tires. At least to 15psi for 33" or taller tires. 18psi for smaller diameter tires. My other rule is use 4wd low when on the trail / off gravel.... |
Disclaimer - OP is bad at knowing things, and might catch on fire.
Vet - Op MMAMA
Every other species kills off their stupid......we cater to them. -- spin-drift
Nobody ever called 911&said I just did something smart. -- TheFlynDutchman
Vet - Op MMAMA
Every other species kills off their stupid......we cater to them. -- spin-drift
Nobody ever called 911&said I just did something smart. -- TheFlynDutchman
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Originally Posted By drobs: \My other rule is use 4wd low when on the trail / off gravel. https://jeepjamboreeusa.com/drivingtips/index.html?_aem_juKHXp5XGEd82iQOHwLX-w LMAO Wut??? 4lo is good for crawling and climbing. Completely unnecessary for most trail riding. |
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Do you how many thousands of people have taken stock vehicles place "off roading Facebook groups" post about? Normal all-terrain tires and a good driver will get a vehicle shockingly far. Case in point: Intoxicated Jose in the two wheel drive GMC with Uniroyal Tiger Paws calmly drove around to get to the fishing spot he's been going to for years while almost every white dude around got their 4WD rigs stuck. ZFG. Attached File |
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Crown Vic on street tires, and Kia Sorento on BFG A/T's .  Crown Vic on Hell's Revenge- Moab, Utah .  KIA Sorento Attempts Hell's Gate in Moab |
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You can probably approach the limits of that truck offroad with those tires if you know what you’re doing. It should handle forest roads, easy mud holes, snow, etc without too much hassle. Airing down, as mentioned, is important, and you’re right that you’re probably at higher risk of pinching or cutting a sidewall with that heavy of a truck but carry a spare and don’t sweat it. GMT900s are way to big to be doing technical rock crawling trails, short of being cut up on tons and like 43” tires. Source: owned a 2008 Sierra for 13 years. |
The hardest part about a zombie apocalypse will be pretending I'm not excited.
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Originally Posted By Amish_Bill: Is this also the case with E rated tires that normally run twice the PSI of a standard tire? Yes. Air down when going off road. Drop em to 15psi or less. Airing down your tires allows them to conform to the terrain and act as an additional buffer for your suspension. It softens the ride and most importantly increases the tires protection against punctures as seen in this video.  Cooper Puncture Test |
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Originally Posted By GeorgiaBII: LMAO Wut??? 4lo is good for crawling and climbing. Completely unnecessary for most trail riding. The trails we run we use 4low. It's good for up hill, down hill, and crawling over obstacles.high 2wd is fine if you're driving gravel / dirt roads. I get folks complaining their vehicle is overheating because they are constantly reving the shit out of it in 4 high. On my trail rides you will use a 1/4 tank of gas staying in 4low over the course of 4 to 6 hours. Going on a multiple day overland off road trip? 2wd 4high in the flat spots 4low for hills, obstacles, and water crossings. Day trip off road in the Ozarks or and off road park put it in 4 low and leave it there. |
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Originally Posted By drobs: I get folks complaining their vehicle is overheating because they are constantly reving the shit out of it in 4 high. I'm confused. |
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Originally Posted By PhuzzyGnu: How fast are they going or how much wheelspin are they getting in 4H? What kind of trail rides are people revving the shit out of it in 4H vs. 4L? I'm confused. My point is when going off road use 4low. 4low multiplies the torque from your engine to your wheels and allows you to slowly crawl over obstacles while keeping your engine & transmission cool. Where we off road it's all rocks, hills, mud, climbs and descents. |
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Originally Posted By PhuzzyGnu: How fast are they going or how much wheelspin are they getting in 4H? What kind of trail rides are people revving the shit out of it in 4H vs. 4L? I'm confused. Originally Posted By PhuzzyGnu: Originally Posted By drobs: I get folks complaining their vehicle is overheating because they are constantly reving the shit out of it in 4 high. I'm confused. I laugh all the time at people beating the crap out of their rigs in 4hi, 4lo is there for a reason - it is a torque multiplier. As soon as I’m off a graded road it’s in 4lo. It’s happy to chug along at 10-15mph all day in 4th or 5th gear basically idling up and over everything. Downhill, at least with a manual transmission, you have incredible control from engine braking vs being in an uncontrolled decent while riding your brakes that may or may not be able stop you. When you come up to an obstacle just shift down into first and go - no holding up the group while your trying to get ready. And factor in most people are not geared properly - most guys buy a jeep and just toss bigger tires on it without regearing, which sucks because you lose your low end since the tires changed the final drive ratio and makes your vehicle actually perform significantly worse off road, but 4lo is the great torque multiplier, and if you have a rubicon they already have lower axle ratios, combined with a 4:1 lo it’s a great crutch for most guys that don’t re gear and just do fairly easy trail rides. Gearing is everything off road and ford is the only one doing it right with the bronco manual 7spd with the super low 6.58 crawl gear. And for ops original question, a stock truck with stock size tires will go through a whole lot more than 99% of people will subject them too because they don’t want to damage the body, But going slightly larger for more aggressive looks, and a little more ground clearance isn’t going to really hurt performance, and with good tread design might just improve it slightly |
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Originally Posted By Ef4life: I laugh all the time at people beating the crap out of their rigs in 4hi, 4lo is there for a reason - it is a torque multiplier. As soon as I’m off a graded road it’s in 4lo. It’s happy to chug along at 10-15mph all day in 4th or 5th gear basically idling up and over everything. Downhill, at least with a manual transmission, you have incredible control from engine braking vs being in an uncontrolled decent while riding your brakes that may or may not be able stop you. When you come up to an obstacle just shift down into first and go - no holding up the group while your trying to get ready. And factor in most people are not geared properly - most guys buy a jeep and just toss bigger tires on it without regearing, which sucks because you lose your low end since the tires changed the final drive ratio and makes your vehicle actually perform significantly worse off road, but 4lo is the great torque multiplier, and if you have a rubicon they already have lower axle ratios, combined with a 4:1 lo it’s a great crutch for most guys that don’t re gear and just do fairly easy trail rides. Gearing is everything off road and ford is the only one doing it right with the bronco manual 7spd with the super low 6.58 crawl gear. And for ops original question, a stock truck with stock size tires will go through a whole lot more than 99% of people will subject them too because they don’t want to damage the body, But going slightly larger for more aggressive looks, and a little more ground clearance isn’t going to really hurt performance, and with good tread design might just improve it slightly +1 4 low 1st gear downhill in an automatic w/ 4.88 gears and 37" tires is like off road cruise control. |