Falken Launches New Aklimate All-Weather Tire - CrossClimate2 Alternative?

As tire technology evolves, more and more shoppers who need a tire that is great in snow are moving away from dedicated winter tires. The hassle and cost of swapping on and off twice per year plus storing the tires, is just too much of a burden. New tires designs, exemplified by the popular Michelin CrossClimate2, now offer winter performance that goes a step beyond what traditional all-season touring tires offer. Falken newest tire line entering this expanding market is the Aklimate.

The new Aklimate is a tire that earns the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol. Although winter performance was a priority in this tire’s development, the Aklimate is design to be used in all four seasons. Automakers have been learning new ways to reduce the noise, rapid tread wear, and fuel economy penalties that come with dedicated winter tire designs. 

The Aklimate is Falken’s first ever all-weather touring tire. Aklimate employs an all-new rubber compound and winter-optimized tread pattern. The main goal of the Aklimate is to instill confidence season after season. Winter tires certainly have their place. However, if you are not going to drive during states of emergencies or over ice-glazed roads, the Aklimate is an excellent option for year-round safety and performance. 

Falken added Canyon Grooves to ensure the severe-snow-rated Aklimate delivers grip in both wet and dry conditions. Generous use of sipes on the inside and outside tread blocks provides excellent traction in snow. Fitments include popular sedan and crossover SUV sizes.

A smooth, quiet ride was also a priority for the Falken team. These tires are designed to be ideal for those who commute in all weather conditions and need a year-round tire.

With a 65,000-mile Limited Tread Life Warranty, 30-Day Ride Guarantee, and Falken’s Road Hazard Protection, the Aklimate seems like a safe bet for any driver who needs to up the ante over all-season tires.

Torque News has now tested multiple four-season tire models that earn the three-peak mountain snowflake denoting severe snow duty. None of them have disappointed us. In fact, your New England-based tester cannot imagine ever returning to conventional all-season tires again on any vehicle. The advantages that the new tire design offers are just too important.

Pricing will be announced soon. Watch Torque News for an upcoming test and review of Falken’s new Aklimate four-season, all-weather tire. Having just concluded a three-year test of the Michelin CrossClimate2, and having been very impressed with that tire, we are ready to see what Falken brings to this important new tire segment. 

Image of Aklimate tire courtesy of Falken

John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can follow John on Twitter, and connect with him at Linkedin.