Updated 7/1/2022
General Tire was founded in 1915 in Akron, Ohio. It expanded throughout the U.S., with factories in the Midwest and North Carolina, while diversifying into other industries. However, in 1987 it was acquired by Continental Tire of Germany. As of 2016, tires are still branded under the General Tire name.
General tires represent a good value, and are also very well reviewed by everyday drivers. We chose the Altimax RT43 as one of our Touring/Grand Touring All-Season top tire picks. It has the same 4.7/5 score as the Michelin Primacy, but is more affordable. It also carries a 65-75k mile warranty, which is on the high end - and is longer than Michelin's Primacy warranty.
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Touring All-Season
The Altimax RT43 is our top pick for a Touring All-Season tire. It has over 400 reviews with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5, with a generous 65-75k mile warranty. It also has the most available sizes (over 80) to fit most cars and cross-over SUVs. Most car tire sizes will run under $100 per tire. It has scored well in 4-way comparison tests at the Tire Rack, with good scores for dry, wet, and light snow traction (General Tire is owned by Continental Tire, which is known for their snow traction performance in All-Season tires). One negative is that there is some minor road noise, though it is quieter than most tires in the category.
Check Prices and Read Altimax RT43 Reviews at Discount Tire Direct Read all Altimax RT43 Reviews at TireBuyerThe Altimax RT is the predecessor to the RT43. You may still be able to find it in stock in a few sizes. However, we do recommend the RT43 instead as it improves upon the RT in wet and snow traction. In addition, any remaining stock may have degradation issues. It is better to buy fresher rubber for improved safety and longevity.
Read all Altimax RT ReviewsHigh and Ultra-High Performance All-Season
The G-MAX AS-05 is the successor to the highly rated G-MAX AS-03. Early reviews are excellent. The treadwear warranty has increased from 40k to 50k miles. From General's 4/3/17 press release:
"The G-MAX AS-05 is a bold ultra-high performance tire offering all-season traction. It features an asymmetric tread pattern with a 50,000-mile limited tread wear warranty. Smart Grip Technology offers sporty performance on dry roads and sure footed grip in wet and snow conditions. Its StabiliTread Technology creates a flatter and larger contact patch which promotes more even wear and longer tread life. Smart Monitor indicators alert the driver when the vehicle is misaligned and when the tire needs to be replaced."Read all G-MAX AS-05 Reviews at TireBuyer
The G-MAX AS-03 came in 2nd place in Tire Rack's comparison test of four UHP A/S tires. What we like is that it has over 200 reviews, proving it to be a solid choice. There are also several more sizes available on the G-MAX (20-22 in.) that are not available on other models. Similar to Kumho's Ecsta 4X II, it also has a 40k mile warranty.
Update 12/19/17 (the G-MAX AS-03 has been replaced by the AS-05):Read all G-MAX AS-03 Reviews at TireBuyer
SUV / Light Truck All-Season
The HTS60 replaces the well reviewed HTS. It has a 50-65k mile warranty depending on size, of which there are more than 60 to choose from. This is our top pick for a primarily on-road SUV or Light Truck which sees mostly city and highway driving. The best selling Michelin LTX M/S2 has a similar review rating and ranks at the top of Tire Rack's survey results for Highway All-Season tires, but is also pricier. Read all Grabber HTS60 Reviews at TireBuyer
The Grabber HTS is a Highway All-Season tire for light trucks and SUVs. It features a 45-60k mile warranty
depending on the size. Tire Rack reviewers give it a grade of "Good" for all performance categories. It
also ranks 88% vs. others in the category.
Read all General Ameritrac Reviews
Read all General Ameritrac TR Reviews
Mud and All Terrain Truck
General provides a class leading 60k mile limited warranty for their All-Terrain tire. We like this tire not only for its warranty, but it has fantastic reviews from over 400 drivers. The tread pattern is very aggressive looking, almost like that of a mud tire. When comparing against other brands of several sizes, such as 31x10.5 and 33x12.5 on Jeeps and other trucks, the General Tires come in much cheaper for a set of 4.
Read all Grabber AT2 Reviews at TireBuyerSUV / Light Truck Sport Performance
Winter / Snow
The General Altimax Arctic is an excellent budget choice, with tire prices ranging from about $57-$122 as of time of writing. The tread looks exactly the same as a German tire, the Gislaved Nordfrost 3. These have the most number of reviews on our list, so we have high confidence on this one. 9.5 / 10 light snow traction and 8.7 for deep snow traction rating.
Read all Altimax Arctic ReviewsPictured below is the General Altimax RT43 tire.
