Each tier of enemies are pretty much balanced around the armor you get from their zones. Once you get silver armor, wolves aren't much more deadly than earlier encounters. If you're fighting draugr in bronze armor, you're slightly obsolete. This can be partially negated by upgrading your gear beforehand, but ultimately you should be working towards getting iron armor, which will then carry you to fighting wolves.

The first time your progression takes you to a new zone will be the most difficult. As you gather from the zone, you grow in strength and will conquer it.