The tire industry is in constant development and brings new manufacturers for different needs and budget limits. Achilles is one of them. While this name is still not very popular among drivers in the US, Achilles has already managed to build a pretty decent reputation. Today we will explore various models of this tire maker and discover what are its core values.
To begin with, Achilles is a fairly young tire maker compared to the big names in this industry. It began producing tires in 1988 and today offers a wide variety of products. It develops products for commercial, industrial, and passenger needs, among others.
This manufacturer has Indonesian origins and by the way, it is owned by one of the largest Indonesian brands in the car manufacturing industry. It is about PT Multistrada Arah Sarana Tbk which, in turn, is a subsidiary of the Michelin giant.
With this introductory note, let's see what attributes Achilles tires offer and what are their advantages and disadvantages. An important aspect to mention is that Achilles tires belong to the "quite affordable tires" class. Like any other relatively affordable product, Achilles tires might raise suspicions about the quality. I would like to anticipate the answer and let you know that Achilles does not sacrifice quality much in favor of the relatively low price. This is confirmed by various tests as well as the customer's reviews on platforms like Amazon which have already managed to try them. 1
Achilles 122
One of the most popular products in the Achilles portfolio is the Achilles 122 tire. This is a summer tire compatible with medium vehicles such as small SUVs and light passenger trucks. This tire has everything needed to provide reliable handling and a nice grip both on wet and dry surfaces.
For its price, the Achilles 122 offers decent road feedback and comfort. It might not provide the same comfort and noise suppression level as a premium-class competitor. But, at least, the drivers are quite content with the balance of properties that it delivers in summer conditions.
The Achilles 122 will not surprise those who are used to premium tires much. Obviously, this tire maker integrates the bare minimum in its products so that they are sufficiently safe and competent.
This tire does not have many technologies in it, but be sure that it has the minimum necessary attributes for safe and decently agile summer driving. A good example in this sense is the ECOTECH technology that tends to minimize tire rolling resistance while enhancing comfort and safety.
The tire maker offers a 35,000-mile tread life warranty, which is about average for summer tires. Drivers give this product an overall score of 7.9 out of 10, of which 7.5 goes for tire longevity, 8.1 for handling, and 8.1 for traction. 2
Achilles 2233
Another popular product from the manufacturer's portfolio is the Achilles 2233 model. Similar to the previous model, this tire is a high-performance summer product and this time, it is compatible specifically with relatively smaller vehicles such as sedans and minivans.
According to the drivers' reviews, the tire behaves quite decently, especially on highways. This product is not too resistant to abuse, so it is best to keep it for smooth driving conditions, in which it manifests itself quite reliably. The small disadvantage of the product is that the resistance to overheating is not very high. So, the product is mostly optimal for motorists who prefer calm and quiet driving instead of spirited driving.
The Achilles 2233 is praised for its dry grip and confident traction in corners. Also, the comfort and noise suppression seems to be quite decent according to the drivers' opinions. Again, this tire cannot compete with premium rivals. But for the price, it brings pretty decent technical deliverables.
The Achilles 2233 will not cope with racing and autocross driving, that's a fact. However, if you use it for basic daily needs without expecting superior performance from it, the Achilles 2233 is likely to satisfy you. The overall rating of this product is 7.9 points, of which handling and traction receive 8.0 and 8.2 respectively, while longevity scores 7.7 points on average. 3
Achilles 868 All-Season
The Achilles 868 product is for drivers looking for versatile tires to cover various weather conditions. The manufacturer offers a wide range of tire sizes for this line. Thus, the Achilles 868 is compatible with almost any type of vehicle from sedans to CUVs and trucks.
The Achilles 868 has a fairly solid construction that adapts to alternating hot and cold weather. However, the drivers who tested the product note that the snow capabilities are not the best. Thus, the Achilles 868 should be considered for various dry and wet conditions, except deep snow.
The tread siping in this tire ensures decent traction capabilities both in dry and wet conditions. Hydroplaning control is quite stable but tends to decrease with higher speed. So, for safety reasons, it is recommended to maintain a reasonable speed whenever driving in wet conditions with this tire.
Drivers praise the treadwear of this product. Besides the fact that the manufacturer offers a 50,000-mile warranty, the Achilles 868 All-Season maintains both its integrity and performance throughout the entire serviceability period.
The Achilles 868 All-Season tire gets a decent 7.8 score out of 10, of which 8.1 are for traction, 8.2 for handling, and 7.2 for durability. Almost all those who evaluated this product mentioned that for the very affordable price, it offers above-average performance. 4
Achilles ATR Sport
Here you have another summer tire, this time it is a UHP product. The specifics of UHP tires consist of dynamism, agility, tenacious handling, and superb resistance to heat build-up. Let's see what ratings this Achilles product gains.
According to the drivers who tested this product, the Achilles ATR Sport seems to be doing great in the conditions for which it was created. Again, drivers appreciate the product's capabilities for its low price. First of all, the Achilles ATR Sport is quite reliable in wet conditions. Its special design evacuates water quite efficiently, ensuring balanced behavior on wet roads.
Another encouraging aspect is the comfort and noise suppression of this product. It would seem that the fairly large tread should cause quite a lot of noise, but surprisingly- the tire is pretty quiet. Cornering feels stable and safe while dry handling is not much inferior to other competitive products.
All these decent attributes of the Achilles ATR Sport make it get a satisfactory 8.2 points out of 10. Handling is rated with 8.3 points, traction- 8.4, and longevity- 7.9. By the way, the manufacturer offers a 35,000-mile tread life warranty and a 400AAA UTQG rating for this product. 5
Achilles ATR Sport 2
This product is an extension of the previous Achilles ATR Sport and is intended for drivers with performance cars and sports vehicles. To deliver solid cornering performance, the manufacturer used an interlocking tread block pattern. In addition, the product has circumferential grooves and matrix technology that ensures efficient and quick removal of water in wet conditions.
The tire performs quite well in hydroplaning conditions, resisting stably at relatively high speeds. It copes well with the accumulation of heat and at the same time, it should not be used at cool temperatures because it becomes rigid.
Most drivers praise it as a quite comfortable, controllable, and responsive product for its price. Obviously, there is room for much better if we compare this product with the Pirelli Cinturato P7, for example. However, let's not forget that the Pirelli performance costs around $150, while the Achilles ATR Sport 2 is well below $100. So, if you prioritize the budget, the Achilles ATR Sport 2 seems to offer pretty decent UHP performance.
This product gets a score of 7.7, of which 8.2 is for traction, 6.8- is for treadwear, and 8.2 is for handling.6
Achilles ATR-K Economist
The Achilles ATR-K Economist is another popular product in the manufacturer's catalog that offers dependable attributes for an impressively affordable price. This tire is a high-performance product. But, unlike the previous models that are designed for summer conditions, the Achilles ATR-K Economist is an all-season model.
The manufacturer has endowed this tire with strategic center ribs to ensure straight-line stability. In addition, this product delivers pretty decent road manners both on the wet and dry, as befits an all-season product.
Last but not least, the Achilles ATR-K Economist suppresses noises and vibrations quite well thanks to the special computer-optimized design.
Not excellent, but fairly good in handling, hydroplaning, and overall performance. For this, the Achilles ATR-K Economist gets a score of 7.7 points, of which 6.8 are for product longevity, 8.1 for traction, and 8.2 for handling. The weak points of this product seem to be the tread life warranty, which the competition has a generous one, and the traction in heavy snow, which is a bit poor. 7
Achilles Desert Hawk A/T2
As the name suggests, this time we are dealing with an all-terrain tire. In order to meet all all-terrain requirements, the manufacturer has endowed the Desert Hawk A/T2 tire with an aggressive tread pattern to ensure tough traction when needed.
Architecturally, the Desert Hawk A/T2 tire has deep and tapered grooves. They protect the tire from irregular wear. In addition, the tough traction is the result of wide lateral grooves and interlocking shoulder blocks in the construction of the product.
The Desert Hawk A/T2 is generally compatible with SUVs and light trucks. While there is room for technical improvements, drivers suggest that this product delivers decent attributes for the price.
Grip in wet conditions seems to be more of a disadvantage than a strong asset. Many drivers notice the tendency to hydroplane at high speed. But if you keep the speed relatively judicious, the tire copes well as it manages to evacuate the water more efficiently.
On the whole, this product receives a score of 6.9 points out of 10. This score is the average of the 3 performance criteria: 6.3 for tire longevity, 7.1 for traction, and 7.5 for handling. 8
Achilles Desert Hawk AP
This tire is another all-season product whose greatest asset is weather versatility. Achilles designed it for light trucks and SUVs with a load index of 2679 lbs/2469 lbs (115/112) and a tread life warranty of 50,000 miles.
Technically, the Achilles Desert Hawk AP tire has a ribbed tread design and an optimized center patch. Together, these attributes increase the level of ride smoothness and consistent contact with the road. As a result of stable contact, the Achilles Desert Hawk AP brakes quite agilely and responds tenaciously to acceleration. Last but not least, the sipes and independent blocks on the surface of the tire increase the grip in wet conditions and light snow.
On the whole, the construction of the tire has sufficient attributes for effective water drainage and decent grip in light snow conditions. However, the Achilles Desert Hawk AP is not suitable for heavy snow, so you will have to replace it with a winter tire when the winters become harsh.
The few reviews of drivers who have tested this product assign a score of 7.2 for handling, 6.7 for longevity, and 7.6 for traction. Thus, the Achilles Desert Hawk AP gets an appreciable 7.1 score for its overall performance. 9
Achilles Desert Hawk AT
Adventurers who explore both on and off-road conditions should have the Achilles Desert Hawk AT under their radar. This is an all-terrain product that promises reliable traction and nice handling both off-road and on-road.
The Achilles Desert Hawk AT is compatible with SUVs and light trucks with maximum speed capabilities of 112 mph, for safety reasons. Architecturally, the product has various strategic attributes to ensure confidence on various terrains. For example, the two wide grooves work to evacuate water efficiently and control hydroplaning. On the other hand, the open shoulders help the tire to self-clean so as not to lose traction in off-road and muddy conditions. Last but not least, the tough rubber formula protects the tire from various obstacles that could damage it.
So, basically, the Achilles Desert Hawk AT has everything necessary to ensure the minimum required both on and off-road. Let's see what the drivers who managed to test it in real life say.
According to the reviews, the Achilles Desert Hawk AT accumulates a firm score of 7.7 out of 10. The drivers appreciated the resistance over time with 7.8 points, the traction with 7.7, and the handling with 7.6. So, a pretty decent rating I would say. Of the shortcomings, the riding noise leaves room for the better. The comfort seems to be at an average level compared to the competition while we and dry performances seem to be the strong assets of this product. 10
Achilles Desert Hawk HT
Unlike the previous model, this Achilles Desert Hawk HT tire is intended for highway conditions and does not have off-roading attributes. Drivers who spend a lot of time on highways should keep this product under their radar as this product has some nice features to offer for the price.
First of all, the Achilles Desert Hawk HT is an all-season product, so weather versatility is its first asset. Secondly, its architecture is specially created to provide reliable braking and up-to-the-mark handling. At least, this is how the manufacturer describes this product.
Achilles engineers assigned this product large shoulder blocks to increase the contact surface with the road. The larger surface translates into better handling and higher balance in most maneuvers. In addition, the product has four wide grooves whose role is to increase the water evacuation capacity which is essential for an all-season tire.
The designers opted for a symmetrical architecture in this tire. This means pretty good resistance to wear and fairly decent noise suppression capabilities. The Achilles Desert Hawk HT line is available for commercial vans, light trucks, and SUVs with a mileage warranty of 45,000 miles.
According to the reviews, the Achilles Desert Hawk HT tire is rated with a score of 7.9. This breaks down into 7.8 for traction, 8.2 for longevity, and 7.7 for handling. That sounds like a good score for the price. 11
Achilles LTR-80
Another highly appreciated product for its resistance to wear is the Achilles LTR-80. This is a summer tire for relatively large vehicles such as SUVs and light trucks. The manufacturer has made an effort to reduce rolling resistance as much as possible by using a ribbed grain pattern. As a result, this product has a beneficial effect on reasonable fuel consumption.
In addition to optimizing rolling resistance, Achilles sought to ensure good hydroplaning control. For this, he has integrated wide grooves in the tire tread through which the efficient and fast channeling of water takes place. This line of tires is available with a Q-speed rating, which means a safe drive within the limit of 100 mph. So, while not the most tenacious summer tire, this product is likely to satisfy the basic needs of drivers who prefer a calm and non-aggressive summer ride.
As for the ratings, the drivers who tested the product gave it an overall score of 7.6. It includes 7.3 points for traction capabilities, 8.4 for tread resistance, and 7.3 for wet and dry handling. Not the most performant summer tire, but for the price, it doesn't seem to disappoint. 12
Bottom Line
As you have seen, Achilles tires seem to be products with average performance whose price is very advantageous. The beautiful part of things is the relatively low price does not sacrifice their quality and many of the drivers who choose them are quite satisfied with them. If the budget is one of your priorities, Achilles tires might comfort you.
Obviously, they have both pluses and minuses and might be inferior in many aspects of performance compared to bigger brands. However, you can also figure that the manufacturer certainly did not skimp on safety and integrated at least the minimum required for decent performance in various conditions.
Achilles Tires: FAQs
Who Are Achilles Tires Made By?
PT Multistrada Arah Sarana is the organization that owns Achilles Tires. This is an Indonesian corporation that is currently managed by Michelin.
Are Achilles Tires Worth Buying?
It depends on what the ultimate driver's goal is. If decent performance and affordable price are on the list of priorities, Achilles tires are a good option to consider. The manufacturer designs a wide variety of products for any needs whose ratings are generally a little higher than average. If the driver's priority is superior performance, probably other premium-class products might comfort him better.
Are Achilles Tires Made In China?
As a matter of fact, Achilles tires are Indonesian products. They are produced by PT Multistrada Arah Sarana Tbk tire maker which also produces Corsa tires in addition to Achilles. So, no, Achilles tires are not Chinese.
Why Trust NeoTires?
There are a lot of tire dealers out there and you probably don't think we are any different from them. We sell tires just like all other dealers. But still, there is something that makes us a little different. It is about the interest we have towards our customers that they choose the right tires. You see? It is not enough just to choose any tires. What really matters is to understand what the customer's exact needs are and to offer him exactly what suits the specific conditions in which he drives.
This is where we excel. First of all, we study as much as possible about this industry to become qualified in what we do. Secondly, we don't just sell any tire but the right tire for the customer's specific conditions. Our trained assistants are happy to help and guide you in any concern or difficulty in the selection process.
Last but not least, we strive to make the buying process as comfortable as possible. This means fast and free shipping, flexible payment conditions, and a comfortable return policy. While we cannot improve your driving circumstances, we can improve your driving experience in them. If this philosophy comforts you, you are always welcome here in our store. Drive safe and choose your tires wisely!