Dry
90%
Nass
85%
Winter snow
75%
Kompfort
90%
Noise
85%
running clothes
85%
In total
85%
Advantages
- Very solid cornering grip for the category and price
- Exceptional wet traction and stopping power for the price
- Sure-footed handling in the rain
- Excellent traction and braking performance on light snow
- Solid handling on light snow
- Very soft handling that easily absorbs most bumps in the road
- Perceptible but not too intrusive profile growl
- Excellent tread life and long tread guarantee
Disadvantages
- It doesn't feel very responsive, and the steering could be a bit more direct
- The ride is soft, but doesn't settle down quickly after hitting a bump
- Not very efficient on icy roads
- Premium competition offers an edge in comfort and performance (albeit marginally)
General Tire has long been a popular brand among drivers who don't want to spend a fortune on tires. And although the American tire company repeatedly undercuts the premium competition from Bridgestone, Michelin and Continental in terms of price, it was always competitive in terms of overall performance.
Altimax RT43 is the brand's bread-and-butter all-season touring offering, a tire that fits most passenger cars on the road today. It is also very popular with buyers, selling in the millions.
The combination of a fair price and excellent tread guarantee seems to resonate with buyers, and it doesn't hurt that the tire is also made in the USA.
However, the Altimax RT43 is now showing its age - General Tire launched it in 2013, so it's almost a decade old. That's a very long time for any technology and tires in particular - the newer the rubber compound and tread pattern, the better the tire's performance (usually). Of course, there are exceptions to this "rule," but it's mostly true.
Nevertheless, in various comparisons and tests throughout its lifetime, the Altimax RT43 remained one of the most successful grand touring all-season tires and almost always received the Value Award.
But is that still true? Many tire manufacturers have recently launched new products, all with improved tread compounds and new designs. So it will be interesting to see how the Altimax RT43 stacks up.
In myGeneral review of the Altimax RT43, I will cover every aspect of the tire in detail, with a particular focus on safety and durability. If you're short on time, here's a quick rundown of the tire's pros and cons (although I recommend reading on to see how the Altimax RT43 compares to the premium competition).
Contents
- What are the specifications and maintenance indicators?
- General Altimax RT43 features and performance
- 1. Dry grip and traction
- 2. Handling and steering feel
- 3. Wet grip, traction and braking
- 4. Is it good for winter?
- comfort and driving noise
- Should I buy the General Altimax RT43?
- List of general tire rating
What are the specifications and maintenance indicators?
The Altimax RT43 is General's flagship tire and as such comes in so many sizes it's hard not to find one that fits your vehicle.
In particular, the tire is available in wheel diameters from 13 inches to 20 inches and thus covers a large part of the passenger cars that roll on public roads today.
These include economy cars, compact cars, midsize sedans, premium sport sedans, large executive vehicles, crossovers,Minivans, and even some SUVs.
For servicing, General used its proprietary Replacement Tire Monitor technology. When you buy the Altimax RT43 you will notice that the rib around it says "Replacement Tire Monitor".
However, before the tire reaches the minimum tread depth, only "Replace Tire" is displayed. This is something I'd like to see in more tires as it's an easy way to show the driver the remaining tread life.
General also used the industry standard Tread Wear Indicators (TWIs). These are narrow strips of rubber that sit recessed in the tire's circumferential grooves and let you know when the tire tread depth is 2/32 inch.
This is important as continuing is not legal in most places but is mostly unsafe in the rain due to the critically low resistance to aquaplaning.
However, since the Altimax RT43 is an all-season tire you would normally use it all winter. In this case you need at least 5/32 inch tread depth to be safe, although I recommend even more.
So it would have been great if General added some indicators as wellthe ability of the tire to snow, not just the minimum tread depth.
On the other hand, the tire is equipped with visual alignment indicators that let you know when the tires aren't wearing evenly and alert you to a suspension issue.
Luckily, you don't have to look at these indicators often; The Altimax RT43 has already proven itself as a durable tire and many owners praise the tread life. All of this is thanks to StabiliTREAD technology, which reduces stress on the tread for longer tread life.
General also offers a 75,000 mile treadwear guarantee on T-rated sizes and a 65,000 mile treadwear guarantee on H-rated and V-rated sizes, both excellent for the category and especially the price.
So if all you care about is the cost, the Altimax RT43 is certainly one of the bestThe best all-season tyreson the market.
General Altimax RT43 features and performance
Although it's old now, the Altimax RT43 has a few tricks up its sleeve to stand up to the newer competition.
Being the brand's flagship model, General has implemented many advanced features in these tires to provide a high level of comfort and safety.
Did it work? Let's comb through each feature in our tests and see if it made a difference in the real world.
1. Dry grip and traction
Like most all-season touring tyres, the Altimax RT43 features a solid center rib that aims to improve cornering and stability. The tread compound is also high in silica, which should result in more grip and traction without sacrificing durability.
As a result, according to our dry road test, this is a very capable tire in dry conditions. In particular, it beats all its similarly priced competitors, offering higher cornering grip, better acceleration traction and shorter braking distances.
Of course premium tires like thatContinental PureContact LSAndMichelin Premier A/Sare better, but also much more expensive.
Overall, the Altimax RT43 is a very safe tire in dry conditions, coming very closebest in category. An exceptionally good performance for the price and the age of the model!
2. Handling and steering feel
Although the Altimax RT43 offers good traction and grip for a touring all-season tire, it is not a lot of fun to drive.
On the contrary, thesteering feelvague and does not respond quickly to driver input. It's also not very linear, which further detracts from the feel of the ride.
Therefore, I would not recommend it to drivers of sports sedans such as the BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS, Audi A4, Cadillac ATS and Mercedes C-Class.
However, this probably won't bother most other motorists. So if you have never thought of responsiveness as the quality of your vehicle, you should not reject the Altimax RT43 for that reason.
3. Wet grip, traction and braking
The fact that the Altimax RT43 beats its closest competitors on dry tarmac is impressive, but its wet traction is even more so.
General used its proprietary anti-slip sipe design technology here and increased the number of gripping edges for improved traction on snow.
The tire also features four circumferential grooves sufficient to drain and minimize wateraquaplaning, which is not an issue here.
According to our wet road test, the Altimax RT43 is particularly impressive in the corners, where it handles with a confidence and stability that few other similarly priced products can match.
It also doesn't surprise the driver with a sudden loss of traction, but very linearly.
The braking distances are consistently shorter than in similarly expensive competitors and the traction when accelerating is better.
Now I have to say that the Altimax RT43 is still a notch below the Continental PureContact LSin the rain, but that's not a fair comparison in terms of price. And since Continental owns General Tire, it wouldn't give its value brand the best technology.
Crucially, however, the Altimax RT43 is the best wet tire in its price range for the majority of drivers.
4. Is it good for winter?
As if the excellent rain traction and grip weren't enough, the Altimax RT43 continues to impress with how it handles snow conditions.
A quick disclaimer here - this is an all season tyre, which means it's only designed forUse in light snow; For very harsh winter conditions, you still want a setall Wetterorwinter tyres.
However, when compared to its similarly priced competitors, the Altimax RT43 is the bestbest light snow tire; It offers good acceleration traction, short braking distances and good cornering behavior.
It doesn't cope as well on icy roads, however (although not many all-season tires do).
comfort and driving noise
Generallysays it focuses on deliverya smooth and comfortable ridewhen it designed the Altimax RT43, or at least that's what the marketing materials say.
Specifically, the tire features sound wave suppression technology to reduce noise and a dual-cushion silica tread compound to absorb road vibrations.
Now, as far as quietness goes, there's a noticeable tread growl, on both smooth and rough tarmac, but still not overly intrusive. Although soft, the ride feels a little rough around the edges.
This is because when you hit a rough spot, the Altimax RT43 generates more high-frequency vibrations and doesn't settle down quickly afterwards. It doesn't feel as refined as its rivals, if you like.
For more general reviews of the Altimax RT43, see this video created by Michael C
Should I buy the General Altimax RT43?
Even eight years after its market launch, the Altimax RT43 is one of the most accomplished touring/grand touring all-season tires.
Esoffers excellent performanceacross the board with good dry, wet and snow traction; It's also not very noisy and has an excellent lifespan.
Crucially, it doesn't cost a kidney to fit your vehicle with a set of four tires! So if you are in the marketnew all-season tires, you should definitely shortlist the Altimax RT43.
List of general tire rating
- General review of the Altimax RT43
- General Grabber APT Review
- General Grabber ATX-Test
- General Grabber X3 review
FAQs
How long do General AltiMAX RT43 tires last? ›
The General Altimax RT43 (T) has 80,000 miles of tread life in CR testing.
Are General AltiMAX RT43 tires good in the snow? ›As for its performance in snow and ice, that's one area where we found the performance of this tire suffering a lot. Its superior traction and firm grip might get you through if you're being careful and have experience of driving on snowy roads.
Is General AltiMAX RT43 a quiet tire? ›Enhanced construction has given General Tire's all-season touring tire, the AltiMAX™ RT43, a quiet and comfortable ride, year-round traction, even wear, and extended treadlife.
Are General AltiMAX RT43 a good tire? ›The Altimax RT43 falls into the category of all-season tires that do a reasonably good job in light wintry conditions. And while we highly recommend winter tires for severe winter driving conditions, user ratings demonstrate that the Altimax RT43 has met the traction expectations of most wintertime drivers.
Who manufactures General AltiMAX RT43? ›The Altimax RT43 is an all-season grand touring design from General Tire.
Are 10 year old tires too old? ›It may be tentative, but tires do have an expiration date. There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about six years and should be absolutely be swapped out after 10 years, regardless of how much tread they have left.
What does RT43 mean? ›The "RT" in RT43 stands for "road touring," and General knows that there are many road surfaces you'll encounter over the life of your tires. It also knows that you'll want to handle them without ever having to doubt your tires —while minimizing noise, vibration and harshness via its touring-oriented design.
Are General tires Chinese? ›Continental Tire the Americas, LLC, d.b.a. General Tire, is an American manufacturer of tires for motor vehicles.
Where is General AltiMAX made? ›The factory in Mt. Vernon, Illinois still manufactures three million car tyres every year.
What are the noisiest tires? ›Traction tires that have more space between the lugs that help with off-road traction are noisier. Tires that are getting to the end of their tread life may be louder since there's less rubber between the steel belts inside and the road.
Do quiet tires make a difference? ›
In actuality, it reduces overall cabin volumes only slightly. It has the greatest effect on frequencies near 200 hertz (Hz), a sound that is low in pitch, relative to what the human ear can register, but is at the high end of the frequencies a tire generates. Think of the deep ping of a bouncing basketball.
Do quiet Tyres make a difference? ›By being placed precisely, it reduces the amount of noise level and normal sounds you would hear from a regular tyre caused by compressed air and vibration. This means that a smoother drive is provided whilst the noise levels are significantly reduced.
Which is better Michelin or General tires? ›Michelin scored first place in the performance and ultra-high-performance categories. In performance all-season tires, the Michelin CrossClimate + ranked first, followed by the Continental PureContact LS, the General Altimax RT43, the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady and the Michelin Premier A/S.
Are General tires made by Continental? ›In 1995 the company changed its name to Continental General Tire, Inc. before being renamed Continental Tire North America, Inc. in May 2000. Under the brand name General Tire the company continues to manufacture a broad portfolio of tires for passenger cars and Commercial trucks.
Are general all season tires good in snow? ›All-weather tires will perform well even in winter, even in heavy snow and ice conditions. However, All-Weather tires will only have traction in light snow and are therefore not ideal for use in areas with severe winters.
Are General Altimax RT 43 tires directional? ›GENERAL ALTIMAX TIRES ARE "DIRECTIONAL TIRES". LOOK ON THE SIDEWALL FOR THE ROTATION ARROWS.
Who bought General Tire? ›1987 Continental AG purchased the tire division of General Tire Inc.
Where are general Tyres made? ›Whether you're driving paved roads or navigating uncharted territory in the desert. You can go anywhere with General Tire. With more than 100 years of experience in the tyre industry and as part of Continental - a leading tyre manufacturer based in Germany - General Tire delivers products you can rely on.
Can a 20 year old tire still be good? ›Most auto manufacturers recommend replacing tires over six years old regardless of tread depth. Some tire manufacturers like Michelin and Continental give a 10-year limit. As rubber compounds age, they deteriorate and become weaker like other rubber and plastic components on your car.
How long do tires last if not driven? ›/General information /Tire care and maintenance /Tire Safety /How Long Do Tires Last if Not Used? If not used, tires last for 6-10 years, depending on the storage and environmental conditions. Overall, the time limits for stored tires are much the same as for tires that are being used.
How do you tell if your tires are too old? ›
- Tread Wear. It is no surprise that bald tires pose a significant risk and hamper performance. ...
- Cracks or Bulges. These could be the result of a number of issues. ...
- Frequent Air Pressure Issues. ...
- Discomfort and Vibrations. ...
- General Age of the Tires.
Replacement Tire Monitor (RTM)
The RTM (Replacement Tire Monitor) provides the user with a warning when the tyre is worn and has to be replaced. The inscription “Replacement Tire Monitor” shows three times on the circumferential rib of the new tyre.
Mostly manufactured in Europe, the new tire replaces the current AltiMax Arctic and fits passenger cars, minivans, crossovers and compact SUVs.
What tires are only made in the USA? ›In fact, there are only two genuine American brands: Goodyear and Cooper. The largest foreign tire companies with plants in the US include Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, Bridgestone, and Yokohama.
Is there a recall on General tires? ›Continental Tire is recalling about 94,000 tires from the Continental, General, and Barum brands because of a manufacturing defect that could cause a blowout. If this happens while a vehicle is in motion, the driver could lose control of the vehicle and crash.
Are cheap Chinese tires worth it? ›“Chinese truck tyres are of a good standard, but they are obviously not premium products. We therefore recommend them for vehicles that cover shorter distances. They also work well on vehicles that are not operated in the harshest road and weather conditions.
Are Continental tires better than general tires? ›General is a brand that belongs to the Continental group. Generally, Continental summer tyres are slightly better rated (85%) than General (62%). In this particular case, the Continental PremiumContact 6 has a better rating of 90% compared to 75% of the General Tire Grabber GT.
Are Michelin tires made in China? ›Present in China since 1988, Michelin currently employs more than 6,000 people in the country, with four industrial sites producing passenger car tires and/or truck tires (three in Shanghai and one in Shenyang).
Which tires are made in China? ›- • Zhongce Rubber Group (Westlake, Chaoyang, Arisun, Goodride y Trazano)
- • Giti Tire Investment.
- • Sailun Jinyu Group (Sailun y Jinyu)
- • Shandong Ling long Tire.
- • Zhengxin Rubber (industrial tires)
- • Double star Group (Double Star y Kumho)
- • Triangle Tire.
- Tyre care and lack of will guarantee your tyre noise will be reduced, or increased. ...
- Continental PureContact with EcoPlus Technology.
- Michelin Energy Saver A/S.
- Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack.
- Michelin Defender A/S Radial Tyre.
- Goodyear Wrangler Radial Tyre.
- Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring.
Why are Michelin tires better? ›
Within the industry, Michelin tires are known for their top-tier standards, rigorous testing, innovation, and long treadwear warranties – mileage limits reach 100,000 miles for certain models. Michelin is also one of the few manufacturers to offer a treadwear warranty for its winter tires, according to Edmunds.com.
Which tires are quieter summer or all season? ›All-Season Tires
Of all the seasons of tires, they offer the longest tread life and typically the best fuel economy. They also usually offer a quieter, softer ride than their counterparts. However, they won't offer the extreme grip of summer tires or the ice/snow handling of winter tires.
Tire Rigidity
Soft tires wear faster but offer a gentler ride, more grip, and better braking. Hard tires, on the other hand, last longer and are better suited for difficult conditions, like rough terrain and/or high speeds.
If you've only done a few drives on your new tires, give them a few more drives before you pass final judgement, as some tires will get quieter after a “break-in” period.
Do softer tires last longer? ›– a softer tyre is faster but wears out sooner. A harder compound lasts longer, but doesn't provide the best performance. Soft tyres – These represent the fastest rubber, but are likely to wear out before the harder compounds do.
Why are my tires so loud when I drive? ›Uneven wear is a leading cause of tire noises because contact between the road and uneven tires isn't uniform. The unbalanced tread depths cause tires to emit loud noises while driving. Usually, you'll hear sounds caused by uneven wear coming from one tire. Alignment issues can also cause tire noises.
Do softer tires have better traction? ›The rubber on tires can be softer or harder. Softer tires are going to grip the road better, which will provide more traction and improve braking.
Why are my Michelin tires so noisy? ›Excessive tire noise can be caused by a number of different factors: the sound of your car tire tread contacting the road surface. air being compressed inside the grooves of the tread- the larger the tread, the more air volume, the noisier the tire. the malfunction of the front wheel bearings.
Which brand of tires last the longest? ›- General Grabber X3.
- Longest lasting all weather tires.
- Michelin CrossClimate2.
- Michelin Defender LTX M/S.
- Continental CrossContact LX25.
- Continental TerrainContact H/T.
- Michelin XPS Rib.
- Michelin X-Ice Snow.
Despite so many international and local brands, two brands always seem to be on the minds of customers – Goodyear and Michelin. These two names are synonymous with quality and performance. Both brands produce top-end tyres for different vehicles and their varied needs.
Are premium tires worth buying? ›
But not only will expensive tires improve your car's braking and handling, but they will also often have numerous other benefits over cheap tires. These can include reduced road-noise, improved ride quality, longer tread life, and even better gas mileage.
Are general tires premium? ›When General Tire penetrated the tire business in 1915, more than 300 companies were making tires at the time. However, General took a different approach. They decided to bypass the original equipment market and focus on premium replacement tires instead.
Do General tires have a warranty? ›MILEAGE WARRANTY: The General Tire brand tires listed on www.generaltire.com website are warranted against wearout up to the mileage/kilometers coverage indicated, even though the actual mileage/kilometers you may get from your tires may vary because of driving habits and road conditions.
Who makes tires for the US military? ›Goodyear has a proud 100-year history of serving the nation's military with key tire fitments. Our military tires innovate in ways no one else can…for mobilization advantages no one should do without.
Are Altimax tires good? ›Dry Performance
Fortunately for all of them, the General Altimax RT43 performs exceptionally well in dry conditions. It comes with a smart contoured design which allows this tire to suss-out off-road vibrations coming from bumps and speed breakers.
Although you should get new tires any time they need to be replaced, in general, the best month to buy tires is either October or April.
What is the best all-weather tire for winter? ›- No. 5: General Altimax RT. ...
- No. 4: Goodyear Assurance TripleTred. ...
- No. 3: Michelin Defender. ...
- No. 2: Continental ExtremeContact DWS. ...
- No. 1: Nokian WR G3.
As a general rule, the original tires on a new vehicle or quality replacement tires should last up to 50,000 miles. However, many factors will have a significant impact on any tire's life and may substantially shorten its life expectancy.
How long should General tires last? ›On average, people drive between 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, which means the average good quality all-season tire will last somewhere between three and five years, depending on maintenance, driving style and conditions, etc.
How long do general tires last? ›The straightforward answer is “it depends.” A normal set of tires should last for 60,000 to 75,000 miles, or about four to five years. But there are a few key factors that will affect your tires' lifespan. Keep scrolling to learn more.
Which tires have the longest life? ›
- General Grabber X3.
- Longest lasting all weather tires.
- Michelin CrossClimate2.
- Michelin Defender LTX M/S.
- Continental CrossContact LX25.
- Continental TerrainContact H/T.
- Michelin XPS Rib.
- Michelin X-Ice Snow.
How Often Should You Get a Tire Rotation? A good rule of thumb is every 5,000 miles. Depending on your vehicle, driving style, and tire type, you may need to rotate your tires more or less often.
Should 10 year old tires be replaced? ›Any tire over ten years old is too weak to ensure safe driving. At this age, it's imperative that you replace your tires. For your safety, we will not service any tires aged 10 years or older.
How far can you drive on 4 32 tread? ›With new tires, the car traveled 195 feet before coming to a stop; with 4/32-inch tires, it went 290 feet. The same vehicle with 2/32-inch tires traveled 379 feet, nearly doubling the stopping distance of the car with new tires.
Do tires expire if not used? ›/General information /Tire care and maintenance /Tire Safety /How Long Do Tires Last if Not Used? If not used, tires last for 6-10 years, depending on the storage and environmental conditions. Overall, the time limits for stored tires are much the same as for tires that are being used.
Will tire prices go down in 2023? ›News agency Tire Business reported on December 2 that leading tire manufacturers Bridgestone, Michelin, and Pirelli will be raising their tire prices in the North American market from January 2023.
Are 5 year old tyres OK? ›All tyres (including spare tyres) more than ten years old should be removed from service and replaced with new tyres.
What's the best month to buy tires? ›Although you should get new tires any time they need to be replaced, in general, the best month to buy tires is either October or April.
Are General tires Made in the USA? ›BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Michelin, Mickey Thompson, Nexen, Nitto, Toyo, and Yokohama currently manufacture tires here in America. But these are not all truly "American" brands.
Are Continental and General tires the same? ›In 1995 the company changed its name to Continental General Tire, Inc. before being renamed Continental Tire North America, Inc. in May 2000. Under the brand name General Tire the company continues to manufacture a broad portfolio of tires for passenger cars and Commercial trucks.
What can shorten your tires life? ›
- Driving at Top Speeds. ...
- Improper Tire Pressure. ...
- Harsh Cornering and Braking. ...
- Failing to Perform Wheel Rotation and Alignment. ...
- Carrying Heavy Loads. ...
- Driving Haphazardly on Uneven Surfaces. ...
- Dry Steering. ...
- Ignoring Other Maintenance.
The longest lasting tires in Consumer Reports' tests are the Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus. They claim 90,000 miles, and Consumer Reports estimates they'll go 100,000.
What is the best tread wear on tires? ›Good tire tread depth will be 6/32 or deeper. If the depth is 4/32, you should start thinking of replacing your tires and getting new ones. 2/32 or less means that you should change your tires ASAP. The amount of tire tread can affect your stopping distance, making a drive in wet or snowy conditions more dangerous.