Sumitomo Rubber North America Inc. (SRNA) has introduced its first-ever all-weather touring tire, the Falken Aklimate.
"Blending the characteristics of an all-season with those of a winter tire, the severe-snow-rated Aklimate provides increased traction in cold temperatures and winter conditions, while allowing drivers to maintain the convenience of utilizing one set of tires year-round," according to SRNA officials.
"Falken leaned on its award-winning Advanced 4D Nano Design Technology to develop a new rubber compound that delivers an ideal balance of wet handling, snow traction and tread life. Aklimate’s tread pattern was designed to combine optimized sipe depths with tread pattern rigidity, ensuring confident traction throughout the life of the tire. Additionally, Canyon Groove Technology enhances braking performance in the snow while helping to maintain a comfortable, quiet ride."
“It’s difficult to develop a tire that does everything well,” says Tsuyoshi Johnson, product manager, passenger car tires, SRNA.
“Most tire characteristics inherently oppose each other. A tire that lasts long typically doesn’t provide acceptable snow traction and vice versa. And tires designed for colder weather generally don’t perform when temperatures rise. We did everything we could to limit these compromises during development, from the all-new rubber compound to the intricate tread design, resulting in a tire that delivers across the board.
“Our goal was to engineer the most well-rounded tire we’ve ever created,” continues Johnson. “We’re proud to say we’ve accomplished that.”
Aklimate comes with a 65,000-mile limited tread life warranty, along with SRNA's popular Falken road hazard protection and 30-day ride guarantees.
The tire is available in 88 sizes, fitting wheels ranging from 15 inches to 22 inches in diameter.
According to SRNA officials, the new Falken Aklimate "was designed to complement a variety of vehicles, from sedans to SUVs to modern electric vehicles. Popular fitments include Chevrolet Suburban/Tahoe, Chrysler Pacifica, Ford Explorer, Honda Civic, Hyundai Kona, Lexus RX, Mercedes Benz GLC, Nissan Versa, Subaru Forester, and Toyota Camry."
“Adding Aklimate to our product lineup gives us a chance to reach folks across North America who want increased winter driving capability without compromising the convenience of using one set of tires year-round,” says Rick Brennan, SRNA's vice president of strategic planning.
“All-weather products like the Aklimate are setting a new standard for what’s expected from tires in today’s market. Providing winter performance with minimal compromise in tread life and dry traction is what consumers are starting to expect in a set of tires. As the winter months approach, we look forward to seeing Aklimates on our customers’ vehicles very soon.”
