Toyo Celsius II vs Falken Aklimate: The tire industry is witnessing an exhilarating showdown with the arrival of the Falken Aklimate, ready to challenge the established players in the all-weather segment, particularly the Toyo Celsius II. Both these tires boast the coveted Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, a testament to their superior winter performance capabilities.
This epic battle in the all-weather tire segment is not just about rubber meeting the road; it’s a clash of innovation, performance, and reliability. With both the Toyo Celsius II and the Falken Aklimate vying for supremacy, consumers are in for a treat as these two titans go head-to-head, promising enhanced safety, durability, and versatility in a range of driving conditions. This matchup is not just a comparison of tire technology; it’s a thrilling race for the crown in the highly competitive all-weather tire market.
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Results: Toyo Celsius II vs Falken Aklimate
Results below were taken from Tire Rack’s Testing Grand Touring All-Season Tires 2023 test. A total of 4 tires were tested on Tire Rack’s proving ground. The graph below shows the comparison between Toyo Celsius II vs Falken Aklimate based on the relevant performance category. The Toyo Celsius II was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
As both tires are classified as an all weather tire with the 3 peak mountain logo, Tire Rack will include snow & ice in its testing portfolio. A detailed testing on snow including acceleration, braking & handling will be available after the 2023 winter season. The tire size of interest is a 205/55R16 which is a common tire size for Toyota Corolla & Volkswagen Golf. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a powerful 2022 Subaru BRZ.
Wet
In terms of wet performance, the Falken Aklimate shows a notable edge over the Toyo Celsius II. When it comes to wet braking, the Aklimate takes the lead by stopping approximately 8 feet shorter than the Celsius II, with the Aklimate stopping at 111.60 feet and the Celsius II at 119.90 feet from a speed of 50 mph. This difference is significant in terms of safety and efficiency in wet conditions.
For wet handling, the Aklimate again slightly outperforms the Celsius II. Subjectively, the Aklimate scores a 6.56 out of 10, slightly higher than the Celsius II’s 6.41, indicating a marginally better overall handling experience. When looking at the lap times, the Aklimate completes a wet lap roughly half a second faster than the Celsius II, with times of 33.25 seconds for the Aklimate and 33.84 seconds for the Celsius II. This suggests that the Aklimate offers a bit more agility and responsiveness in wet conditions.
Toyo Celsius II :
The Toyo Celsius II displayed a distinct performance on the track. It effectively circumvented the typical problem of understeer often found in its class. However, this advantage was offset by a less stable rear and diminished overall grip. As a result, drivers needed to concentrate on more centered steering, especially as the rear-end tended to become more lively and prone to losing grip when nearing its traction threshold.
Test driver feedback on Toyo Celsius II
Falken Aklimate :
On the wet track, the Aklimate showed responsive and precise steering, making it easier to handle at moderate speeds. However, when our drivers increased the speed and tested the tire’s limits, they noticed a decline in precision, leading to more understeer.
Test driver feedback on Falken Aklimate
Overall, while both tires perform admirably in wet conditions, the Falken Aklimate demonstrates a slight advantage in both braking and handling compared to the Toyo Celsius II.
Falken Aklimate :
- +7% in wet braking
- +1% in wet handling (subj)
- +2% in wet handling (lap time)
Dry
In the realm of dry performance, the Toyo Celsius II and the Falken Aklimate present a close competition, with each tire showcasing its strengths in different areas.
Starting with dry braking, the Toyo Celsius II has a slight advantage. It stops at 91.70 feet when braking from 50 mph to 0, which is 1 foot shorter than the Falken Aklimate that stops at 92.70 feet. This marginal difference indicates that the Celsius II might offer a bit more efficiency in stopping quickly on dry surfaces.
When it comes to subjective dry handling, the Celsius II again appears to be slightly more favorable, scoring 6.88 out of 10, compared to the Aklimate’s score of 6.50. This suggests that drivers might feel a bit more control and responsiveness from the Celsius II in dry conditions.
In terms of dry handling lap times, similar trends was observed. The Celsius II completes a dry lap in 30.56 seconds, whereas the Falken Aklimate takes a bit faster, with a lap time of 30.23 seconds. This indicates that while the Celsius II might feel better to handle and performs slightly faster in a controlled, timed setting.
Overall, the Toyo Celsius II shows a bit of an edge in dry braking and subjective handling experience, while also being marginally faster in terms of lap times on a dry track.
Falken Aklimate :
- -1% in dry braking
- -2% in dry handling (subj)
- -1% in dry handling (lap time)
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
In terms of NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) performance, the Falken Aklimate and Toyo Celsius II tires exhibit slightly different characteristics, with the Aklimate generally having a slight edge.
For ride quality, the Falken Aklimate scores a 7 out of 10, which is marginally better than the 6.75 scored by the Toyo Celsius II. This suggests that the Aklimate may offer a slightly smoother and more comfortable ride.
In terms of noise, both tires are on par, each scoring 6.25 out of 10. This indicates that they both have similar noise levels, and neither tire offers a significant advantage over the other in this aspect.
When considering steering and road handling, the Aklimate again has a slight edge with a score of 6.5 out of 10, compared to the Celsius II’s 6.38. This means the Aklimate might provide a slightly better feel and responsiveness in terms of steering and handling on the road.
Overall, when averaging the scores for noise, comfort, and ride quality, the Falken Aklimate comes out slightly ahead with an average score of 6.58 out of 10, compared to the Toyo Celsius II’s average of 6.46. This overall advantage, while subtle, suggests that the Aklimate might offer a marginally better NVH experience.
Falken Aklimate :
- +1% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality
UTQG rating
We have previously shown that UTQG tread wear rating can be a good indication of your expected mileage. Below are the UTQG values of both of the tirelines.
| Brand | Tireline | Size | Tread Wear | Traction | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyo | Celsius II | All | 560 | A | A |
| Falken | Aklimate | All | 640 | B | A |
The Toyo Celsius II has a tread wear rating of 560, which is decent but lower than the Falken Aklimate’s rating of 640. This higher tread wear rating for the Aklimate indicates that it is expected to last longer under standard driving conditions. This difference in durability is also reflected in their respective warranties, with the Falken Aklimate offering a slightly longer 65,000-mile warranty compared to the Toyo Celsius II’s 60,000-mile warranty. The disparity in warranty mileage aligns with their UTQG tread wear ratings, suggesting that the Aklimate is designed for longer wear.
Price
When comparing the prices of the Toyo Celsius II and the Falken Aklimate for the tire size 205/55R16, there is a noticeable difference. The Toyo Celsius II is priced at $140, while the Falken Aklimate is more affordable at $125. This makes the Aklimate about 12% cheaper than the Celsius II. For those prioritizing budget, the Falken Aklimate offers a more cost-effective option while still providing competitive tire performance.
Tire size: 205/55R16
- Toyo Celsius II : $140
- Falken Aklimate : $125
Difference: -12% more cheaper for Falken Aklimate.
Summary
As a tire expert, I’ve closely analyzed the performance of the Falken Aklimate and the Toyo Celsius II in various conditions, and here’s my conclusion from the first round of comparisons, focusing on summer performances.
The Falken Aklimate has emerged as a strong contender, especially in wet conditions. Its performance in wet braking and handling was notably better than the Toyo Celsius II, demonstrating its superior grip and control on wet surfaces. This is a crucial factor for summer tires, where sudden showers can change driving conditions unexpectedly.
In dry conditions, while the Aklimate was marginally behind the Celsius II, the difference was slight. The Celsius II showed a bit more efficiency in dry braking and subjective handling, but the Aklimate kept up closely, even outpacing the Celsius II in dry lap times.
Dr Edwin Pang
So, for this round, I’d say the Aklimate takes the lead, particularly due to its impressive wet performance. However, the real test will be in winter conditions. Stay tuned for Round 2, where tire rack will put these tires to the test in the 2023 winter season. It will be interesting to see how they perform in colder temperatures and more challenging winter conditions. Keep an eye out for that!