Falken Aklimate Tire Review and Ratings
Dry Conditions – 80%
Wet Conditions – 80%
Snow – 80%
Comfort – 90%
Noise Reduction – 90%
Durability – 80%
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Whenever I talk about a tire, especially an all-season model, I often mention the “usable performance” in winter conditions. This is because all-season tires are designed to work in multiple conditions and cannot do an excellent job in all of them.
The limitations of these tires in winter are the main reason why manufacturers are pushing for improvements, leading us to all-weather tires. In essence, both types are similar, with the main difference being that all-weather tires have a 3PMSF rating.
As a result, you’re looking at a tire that can deliver better performance in snowy conditions. It’s not a replacement for a proper winter tire, but it’s better than an all-season one, putting it somewhere between both.
Many manufacturers have released a model in this category, and the one for today is from Falken. In late 2023, the company announced that it would be launching its first all-weather tire, the Aklimate. This raises the question: Can the tire perform at the same level as its rivals that have been on the market for a while?
Pros
- Excellent comfort and noise levels
- Performance is very good for a mid-range tire
- The price is competitive even when compared to its closest rivals
- Plenty of size options to choose from
Cons
- The overall performance is marginally behind the best in this class
- There are other mid-range models with a longer treadwear warranty
The Features of the Falken Aklimate
The Aklimate is a grand touring all-weather tire, meaning that the set of features will be more or less familiar.
Considering its category, the most essential feature is the rubber compound. Falken used its Advanced 4D Nano Design technology for the rubber compound, making it one that can perform in multiple conditions, including winter.
The winter performance is also backed by the tread pattern. Going for a slightly more aggressive design with more sipes than a regular all-season tire should help with traction. Specifically, I’m talking about performance in wet conditions and on snow.
Falken also worked on the tread design to help the tire perform well throughout its life. Specifically, the sipe and groove depths are optimized to ensure that as the tire wears down, the traction levels remain consistent.
Like many tires we review here, the tread pattern features 4 circumferential grooves. They work with the lateral ones to ensure the tire evacuates water efficiently and delivers excellent aquaplaning resistance.
Falken Aklimate in Dry Conditions
As a grand touring option, the Aklimate is a tire that delivers excellent results in dry conditions.
The performance is very good, thanks to the tire’s grip and traction levels, making this a model that will easily handle daily driving. You’ll hardly notice any slip, and the understeer will be non-existent. The tire’s braking distances are pretty good for a mid-range option. They are near the top, with only a few models doing a better job.
If you’re a spirited driver and want to drive aggressively, this tire will comply as long as you’re aware of the overall performance. You can push it past its limits, and the tire will start to let go, with the first sign being the understeer. This isn’t necessarily a downside because most of its rivals will perform similarly.
When it comes to handling, I don’t have a lot of complaints. The responsiveness is solid and despite a slight delay, the tire handles excellently. There is enough weight to balance it between being dynamic and easy to drive. It’s also a very precise tire, so if you’re into spirited driving, you won’t be too disappointed.
Falken Aklimate on Wet or Slippery Roads
Driving in wet conditions is something that the Aklimate seems to do well, as long as you’re not expecting it to be the absolute best.
The traction on damp roads is pretty good and, in most cases, enough to accelerate without any slip. It also offers plenty of grip in the corners, keeping the understeer at bay. The braking distances are pretty short for this class, outperforming many of its mid-range rivals. Even though there is some room for aggressive driving, it’s not something I’d recommend. Once you reach the limits, the tire is controllable enough, but it won’t be too precise. As long as you’re below that mark, you’ll have nothing to worry about.
Falken’s tread pattern does a very good job of keeping the water away from beneath the blocks. As a result, the tire’s aquaplaning resistance is pretty good.
Falken Aklimate in Snow
Falken’s first try at an all-weather tire is good, but I feel like the company could’ve improved in certain areas.
The Aklimate is a tire that performs well in snow conditions. Since it’s technically an all-season tire, you shouldn’t expect miracles, but it’s a model that people will find good. The grip and traction levels are pretty good and are better than most all-season models. It’s not a tire that likes aggressiveness in these conditions, which shouldn’t be a problem for most people. The braking distances, however, are short enough but are behind models like the Celsius II.
When it comes to ice, there is some traction, which should be fine as long as you’re not expecting it to perform like a winter tire. The braking distances are decently short, but like on snow, not the shortest in this category.
Falken Aklimate Off-Roading
The Aklimate is a grand touring tire, meaning that it’s designed for road use. As a result, the performance in off-road conditions won’t be too usable. The tire may offer some performance on a dirt road, but it won’t be able to do anything more than that. Plus, prolonged exposure to these conditions may lead to reduced longevity.
Falken Aklimate for Sporty Driving
When it comes to sporty driving, the Aklimate is far from the best, but it’s not all that bad. The performance is decent and you can have some fun with it, up to a point. This is backed by the decently dynamic handling, which can make the experience positive enough. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but it’s far from terrible in this regard.
Does the Falken Aklimate Ride Comfortably?
As a mid-range option, I have to say that the Aklimate’s refinement levels are pretty good. There are some comments to be made, but it’s a pleasant experience for the most part.
The comfort levels are very good, and the tire’s ability to absorb bumps is excellent. Initially, I thought the ride would be firm, but that only helps minimize secondary movements. Even though you may notice a vibration here and there, it’s not overly harsh.
I also don’t have too many complaints about the noise levels. This isn’t the quietest tire in the grand touring segment, but it’s quiet enough for me to call it good. The hum is there, but the notes seem well muted, meaning it won’t be the only thing you’ll hear. You may notice a change of tune over certain surfaces, but that’s the only thing worth mentioning.
Falken Aklimate Warranty
In terms of the warranty, Falken’s all-weather model isn’t one that will take the crown, even in the mid-range segment. The tire comes with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is behind the AltiMAX RT45 or the CS5 Ultra Touring. With that said, it’s more than what you’d get with the CrossClimate 2.
Falken Aklimate Pricing: Is It Worth the Price?
The Aklimate is positioned as an affordable tire, even when you compare it with rivals from the mid-range segment. A 17-inch model is cheaper than an equivalent one from Cooper or Toyo. The difference is bigger with the premium models like the Turanza QuietTrack or the PureContact LS.
Should I Buy the Falken Aklimate?
Looking at the Aklimate as a package, I can say it’s a good tire. There are better performers out there, but many of them are noticeably more expensive.
The overall performance is pretty good in many conditions. You’ll have dependable levels of grip and traction across the board, and it can provide a safe driving experience. It does that while offering decent levels of refinement. Sure, the warranty is a bit behind some of its rivals, but you should keep in mind that it’s a more affordable tire.
Falkens first try at an all-weather tire is pretty good. There are some aspects of it that some people won’t like, but at this price point, I doubt many of those would complain. The Aklimate is a solid tire that will satisfy the needs of most drivers on the road.
What Vehicles Will the Falken Aklimate Fit?
Here’s a sample list of cars that the Falken Aklimate will fit:
- Audi A4
- BMW 3, 5 Series
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Chrysler Pacifica
- Ford Focus, Explorer
- Honda Civic, Accord
- Hyundai Kona, Elantra
- Nissan Versa
- Subaru Forester
- Toyota Camry, Rav4
Tire Sizes of the Falken Aklimate
15″
- 175/65R15 84H
- 185/55R15 82V
- 185/60R15 84H
- 185/65R15 88H
- 195/60R15 88H
- 195/65R15 91H
- 205/65R15 99H XL
16″
- 185/55R16 83H
- 195/55R16 87V
- 205/55R16 91V
- 205/60R16 92V
- 205/65R16 95H
- 215/55R16 97H XL
- 215/60R16 95V
- 215/65R16 98H
- 215/70R16 100H
- 225/60R16 98H
- 225/65R16 100H
- 225/70R16 103H
- 235/60R16 100H
- 235/65R16 103H
- 235/70R16 106H
17″
- 205/50R17 93V XL
- 205/55R17 91V
- 215/45R17 87V
- 215/50R17 95V XL
- 215/55R17 94V
- 215/60R17 96H
- 215/65R17 99H
- 225/45R17 94V XL
- 225/50R17 98V XL
- 225/55R17 97V
- 225/60R17 99H
- 225/65R17 102H
- 235/45R17 97V XL
- 235/50R17 96H
- 235/55R17 99V
- 235/60R17 102H
- 235/65R17 104H
- 245/45R17 99V XL
- 245/65R17 107H
18″
- 215/45R18 93V XL
- 215/55R18 95H
- 225/40R18 92V XL
- 225/45R18 95V XL
- 225/50R18 95V
- 225/55R18 98V
- 225/60R18 104H XL
- 235/40R18 95W XL
- 235/45R18 94V
- 235/50R18 97V
- 235/55R18 100V
- 235/60R18 107V XL
- 235/65R18 106V
- 245/40R18 97V XL
- 245/45R18 100V XL
- 245/50R18 100V
- 245/55R18 103V
- 245/60R18 105V
- 255/55R18 109V XL
- 255/65R18 111H
- 265/60R18 110V
- 265/65R18 114T
19″
- 225/45R19 96W XL
- 225/55R19 103V XL
- 235/40R19 96V XL
- 235/45R19 99H XL
- 235/50R19 99V
- 235/55R19 105V XL
- 245/40R19 94W
- 245/45R19 102V XL
- 245/55R19 103H
- 255/40R19 100V XL
- 255/50R19 107V XL
- 255/55R19 111V XL
- 255/60R19 109H
20″
- 235/55R20 102V
- 245/45R20 103V XL
- 245/50R20 102V
- 255/45R20 105V XL
- 255/50R20 109V XL
- 255/55R20 107H
- 265/50R20 111V XL
- 275/45R20 110V XL
- 275/55R20 113H
- 275/60R20 115H
- 285/50R20 116V XL
22″
- 285/45R22 114H XL