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Last updated 1/09/2025 - Originally published 1/09/2025
Written by SimpleTire
The South Korean tire manufacturer Hankook has a huge fan base in the American subcontinent because of its value-offering tires that can be used on a wide variety of vehicles including passenger cars, light trucks, CUVs, SUVs, minivans, EVs, trailers, and commercial trucks. All-season, all-terrain, all-weather, winter, UHP summer, UHP all-season, mud-terrain, and touring are some of the popular tire types sold by the manufacturer in the United States.
Falken, on the other hand, was founded in Japan, and in America, it is considered one of the most reliable brands with impressive lines on sale. The tire manufacturer has been catering to the needs of passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, minivans, trailers, and commercial vehicles. Falken has been selling all-season, all-terrain, mud-terrain, rugged-terrain, winter, UHP all-season, UHP summer, and highway tires in the American region for quite some time, and in 2023 it also entered the all-weather tire category with the launch of the Aklimate tire.
Let’s compare the two capable all-weather tires on the market from both tire makers – the Weatherflex GT and the Aklimate. Being all-weather tires, they are suitable for use in dry, wet, and severe winter conditions, and come with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, confirming their utility in moderate to severe winter conditions and in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you’re in the process of buying a set of all-weather tires for your sedan, coupe, CUV, or minivan, this Hankook Weatherflex GT vs Falken Aklimate tires comparison will give you a detailed analysis of tires’ traction, handling, and longevity capabilities based on their respective features and our advanced tire rating system SimpleScore. So, read on and find out, which of the two tires best meets your driving style and needs – the Weatherflex GT or the Aklimate?
Hankook Weatherflex GT tires
Introduced in October 2024, Hankook Weatherflex GT is suitable for use on coupes, sedans, CUVs, and minivans. The tire is engineered to offer confident driving on snowy roads with improved handling performance. It can be used in different weather conditions and has features that contribute to effective water drainage, better steering response in wet and dry conditions, long-lasting tread life, and quieter and more comfortable rides. Additionally, it is also backed by a tread life warranty, details of which will be discussed later in this comparison.
Thanks to the above capabilities, the Weatherflex GT bags an impressive 8.9 SimpleScore rating on a scale of 10.
Get Hankooki Weatherflex GT tires at the best deals for your vehicle here
Falken Aklimate tires
Now, let’s discuss the Falken Aklimate. The tire made its debut in 2023 and is commonly used on passenger cars, CUVs, and SUVs. The tire, like its peer, is suitable for use in dry, wet, and severe winter conditions and is engineered to offer confident traction, comfy and quiet rides, long-lasting tread life, enhanced snow performance, and dependable performance year-round. The Aklimate is backed by a generous tread life warranty to offer a great ownership experience to the drivers.
Overall, the Aklimate scores an 8.9 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its excellent tread life, strong handling, and solid traction performance.
Get Falken Aklimate tires at the best deals for your vehicle here
Hankook Weatherflex GT vs Falken Aklimate tires on traction
Overall, both the Weatherflex GT and Aklimate tires are equally good, however, we must drill down further into each of their key performance attributes, namely traction, handling, and longevity. Let’s start with the traction analysis first and find out, which of the two tires has the ability to bite the surface better and maintain a consistent grip in varying weather conditions.
Let’s start with the Weatherflex GT which scores an admirable 8.5 SimpleScore rating in traction. This rating indicates that the tire can offer solid traction in different weather conditions, including severe winter conditions. The credibility of Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification further testifies to its better traction abilities in snow. There are sipes on the tread for increased snow traction and the zig-zag grooves further improve grip, especially while cornering. The widened lateral grooves on the tread further improve drainage performance, thus improving traction and grip in wet and snowy conditions. Additionally, the silica-tuned rubber compound of the tire is optimized to improve wet and dry grip.
The Aklimate, on the other hand, scores an 8.6 SimpleScore rating in traction. This tire is offered with a unique tread pattern that has deeper sipes for confident traction throughout the tread life. There is an advanced 4D Nano Design Technology that helps increase snow traction. The continuous lateral and circumferential grooves also contribute to improved traction performance in wet and snowy conditions. The advanced rubber compound of the Aklimate also improves the tire’s grip in changing weather, thus ensuring better overall performance.
While both Weatherflex GT and the Aklimate are great on the traction front, it is the latter that takes the lead with a marginally better SimpleScore.
ADVANTAGE: Falken Aklimate
Hankook Weatherflex GT vs Falken Aklimate tires on handling
All-weather tires are used in changing weather conditions and that’s why their handling abilities need to be good enough to receive and respond to the driver’s commands in time. When we analyzed the handling scores of both tires, we found that there was tough competition again.
The Weatherflex GT scores an 8.6 SimpleScore in handling and this means that the tire is good enough to offer sharp handling response, something that drivers typically seek in all-weather tires. It features higher sipe density for confident driving on snowy roads and the zig-zag grooves improve cornering performance. The outer chamfer added to the block increases stiffness for more rigidity, thus enhancing the handling performance. Likewise, for better control in rain, there are widened lateral grooves that improve drainage performance. The 3D GripKontrol Sipes reduce block deformation to provide additional stiffness and improve handling in dry and wet conditions. The wider footprint with detailed elements also augments handling performance and allows drivers to corner and change lanes confidently.
On the contrary, the Aklimate scores an 8.7 SimpleScore in handling, ensuring seamless steering response, confident lane-changing and cornering, and great braking performance. The tire features Canyon Grooves that ensure confident handling in snowy conditions and enhance ride comfort, alongside keeping the ride noise-free. The 4D Nano Design Technology used in making the rubber compound provides better handling in wet conditions. There are 3D Canyon Sipes that provide improved contact with the surfaces especially while cornering on changing lanes. Additionally, the tread pattern rigidity facilitates seamless handling performance.
On the handling front, it was again the Falken Aklimate tire that scored slightly better than the Weatherflex GT and maintained a 2-0 lead.
ADVANTAGE: Falken Aklimate
Hankook Weatherflex GT vs Falken Aklimate tires on longevity
Which of the two tires last longer – the Weatherflex GT or the Aklimate? This could be a question that a tire buyer might want an answer to because no one likes to buy tires that wear faster. So, we compared the Weatherflex GT and Aklimate and found that both tires excelled in this area, however, there was one of the two tires that was slightly better. Here, we have discussed which of the two was the winner:
The Weatherflex GT scores an exceptional 9.7 SimpleScore rating in longevity and it is also backed by a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which means the manufacturer is very confident of its long-lasting service. It features interlocking wave-type 3D sipes that minimize block deformation and promote longevity. The new-gen rubber compound of the Weatherflex GT is also optimized for mileage and its innovative design evenly distributes pressure to prevent irregular wear.
On the other hand, the Aklimate scores an excellent 9.4 SimpleScore rating in the longevity area, although it marginally loses to the rival. But, overall you can be rest assured that the tire won’t disappoint you on the longevity front. Even this tire is covered by a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which is a clear indicator of its lasting performance. The advanced 4D Nano Design Technology also helps in increasing the tread life of the tire by slowing down the wear rate.
Both tires are outstanding in longevity, however Weatherflex GT earns some extra points and comes out as a winner.
ADVANTAGE: Hankook Weatherflex GT
When to use each
The Weatherflex and Aklimate are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified and therefore, they can be used in dry, wet, and moderate to severe snow conditions. If you live in a region that witnesses snowfall for 6 or more months in a year or where the temperature remains below 45 degrees Fahrenheit then you must consider winter tires. It is to be noted that both tires compared are suitable for driving on paved roads and must not considered for driving in off-road conditions.
As far as rim sizes are concerned, the Weatherflex GT can be considered for use on vehicles with rim sizes ranging between 16- to 18-inch, while the Aklimate is good for use on vehicles with rim sizes in the range of 15- to 22-inch.
Which one should you choose?
Looking at overall SimpleScores, both tires are equally good and earn 8.9 SimpleScore. However, the Falken Aklimate comes out as a better performer in two out of three areas. But, since both are equally capable, you should consider each of these tire’s strengths before buying.
When it comes to pricing, the Weatherflex GT is available at an initial price of at least $124 per tire, while the Aklimate is available at a starting price of $96 per tire. This means a set of four Weatherflex GT tires will cost at least $496 and a set of four Aklimate tires will cost you at least $384. So, this means that not only do the Aklimate score better in two out of three areas but they are also relatively cheaper than the Weatherflex GT.
Based on SimpleScores, you should consider the Weatherflex GT if you:
- Drive a compact car like the Chevrolet Cruze or a small luxury sedan like the Lexus IS
- Need tires that are long-lasting (9.7 vs 9.4)
- Need tires for a vehicle that has rim sizes ranging between 16- to 18-inch
Conversely, you should choose the Aklimate if you:
- Drive a compact car like the Honda Civic or a mid-size SUV like the Ford Explorer
- Need tires that are better in traction (8.6 vs 8.5)
- Prefer tires that offer better steering response (8.7 vs 8.6)
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.