The AltiMAX RT43 features Twin Cushion Silica Tread Compound, which should offer two benefits. On the one hand, the use of silica in the compound as an all-season tire means that the tire can be driven in colder temperatures. The second part is comfort, and you should get a smoother ride thanks to the lower-density foundation.
Another area that helps improve ride comfort is the treat design. The AltiMAX RT43 has a symmetrical design that has been fine tuned to reduce tire noise.
Next up is General's Low Surface Abrasion Technology, which aims for durability. The aim of the technology is to reduce rolling resistance and profile deformation. As a result, the AltiMAX RT43 should suffer less abrasion and offer a longer service life.
Wet performance is aided by anti-slip sipe design technology. This is part of the design where the tire is fitted with more bite edges which are meant to provide plenty of grip and traction. This area of the tire is also designed to help him on snowy roads.
How does it behave on dry asphalt?
As a mid-range option, the AltiMAX RT43 offered excellent performance in dry conditions.
Touring tires are generally not known for providing the most dynamic driving experience. Although the same can be said of the AltiMAX RT43, the tire offered decently sharp steering feel. On the downside, there wasn't all that much feedback from the steering wheel.
In terms of grip and traction, the AltiMAX RT43 proved to be a decent competitor in the mid-range segment. While not the absolute best, it still worked pretty well.
There's no slip under acceleration, and while you'll notice something if you get a little aggressive, it's not bad. In the corners, the AltiMAX RT43 offers a lot of grip, so you can drive more safely.
The braking distances are also relatively short for the category, so you should count on a very safe tire.
How does it behave on wet and slippery roads?
The AltiMAX RT43 performs very well in the rain, showing better results than most of its competitors.
The sharp edges around the tread blocks do a great job of giving you plenty of grip and traction. You'll feel a little more slip on wet roads, but only if you push the tire to its limits. Under normal conditions, the tire will have no trouble performing.
Thanks to the excellent traction, the AltiMAX RT43 also showed relatively short braking distances. Although lagging behind its premium counterparts, the results were pretty good for a mid-range tire.
In terms of resistance to aquaplaning, the AltiMAX RT43 is excellent. The design with circumferential grooves and lateral ribs guides the water away from the blocks. Even at higher speeds, the tire remains stable and attached.
How about snow?
In winter, the AltiMAX RT43 offers decent performance, as much as one would expect from an all-season tyre.
As with most of them, light snow conditions are not a problem as the tire offers plenty of traction. Remember, don't expect miracles. So if you get a little aggressive behind the wheel, the tire will lose traction.
Braking distances are pretty good and among the best in its class.
Rougher conditions will be an issue, and that's not uncommon in the all-season segment. You're unlikely to find a tire that can handle deeper snow, so I won't mark that as a downside.
Is it convenient and sophisticated?
Yes, the AltiMAX RT43 is comfortable and refined, to the point where it might even feel like a premium tire.
The comfort level is excellent and the tire does a fantastic job of smoothing the road. The occasional pothole will mess things up, but for the most part the vibrations will be almost non-existent.
In terms of noise levels, I'm quite impressed with how quiet the tire is. It's not as quiet as thatBridgestone Turanza QuietTrack, but is one of the quieter in this price segment. In fairness, it's not whisper quiet, and you can tell that in an electric vehicle. With internal combustion engines, the engine noise masks the tire noise and shows you how quiet it is.
Is it good for off-road?
Off-road, the AltiMAX RT43 is not particularly good. The tire is designed to perform well on-road and off-road scenarios will be an issue.
Deadlocked dirt roads aren't a problem as long as you don't push it too far. You can handle some light mud situations just fine, and that's about as much off-road experience as you should expect from the tire.
However, I would advise against doing this on a regular basis. Because the AltiMAX RT43 isn't designed to withstand harsh conditions, you can damage it from sharper rocks.
Is the General AltiMAX RT43 ideal for sporty driving?
Touring tires are rarely good for sporty driving, and this also applies to the AltiMAX RT43.
Although you get a decently responsive tire, the performance for sporty driving isn't there.
The level of grip and traction may be good for street riding, but it's not as high as you would need for a day at the track. I'm not saying you can't take it; All I'm saying is that he lacks the power to set some good times. If you want to have fun, the tire won't stop you, but you shouldn't expect the performance of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4.
On the other hand, you can try more aggressive driving on a twisty road, as long as you don't expect too much. One thing to keep in mind is that it's not a tire that was built for it.
AltiMAX RT43 General Warranty
Some people have criticized General for the guarantee and I have to disagree. The AltiMAX RT43 comes with a 75,000 mile tread guarantee. That's a lot in the mid-range, especially when we look at the premium competition. Michelin sells the Primacy Tour A/S with a 55,000-mile guarantee and at a higher price. On the other hand, Continental's ContiProContact only has an additional 5,000 miles guarantee, but costs significantly more.
General Pricing for the AltiMAX RT43: Is It Worth the Money?
Absolutely, the AltiMAX RT43 is among the best when it comes to value for money. There are many premium tires that are better but also more expensive. The starting price is around $76, which is quite cheap. If you compare the price with the premium models, you will see a 20-30% lower price depending on the model.
Should I buy the General AltiMAX RT43?
Yes, the AltiMAX RT43 is a tire I would happily recommend to anyone. It's not every day that I see the combination of a low price and a lot of performance packed into a comfortable and durable package.
In reality, the tire is not the absolute champion in terms of performance. As a mid-range option, the tire does not offer the best of the best, which can be problematic in some cases. Less performance isn't always a bad thing as long as the tire remains safe and affordable.
General designed it as an all season option so you get a tire that can be driven all year round. In places with harsh winter conditions, the AltiMAX RT43 will have problems, in which case a winter tire is recommended. Aside from that and a track, there's not much to say negative about the tyre.
If you want a little more performance from a premium manufacturer, you have many options, but at a higher price.
For which vehicles does the General AltiMAX RT43 fit?
Here is a sample list of cars that will fit in the General AltiMAX RT43:
- Audi A3, A4, A6
- BMW 1, 3, 5 series
- Ford Fiesta, Ka, Taurus, Focus, C-max, S-max
- Honda Civic, Accord, S2000, CR-V
- Kia Stinger, Ceed, Rio, Sportage
- Lexus LS, ES, IS, GS
- Mazda2, 3, 5, 6
- Nissan Juke, Sentra, Maxima, Versa
- Toyota Corolla, Yaris, Camry, Avensis, CH-R
- Volkswagen Passat, Phaeton, Tiguan, Golf
Tire sizes for General AltiMAX RT43
13″
- 175/70R13
14″
- 175/65R14
- 175/70R14
- 185/60R14
- 185/65R14
- 185/70R14
- 195/60R14
- 195/70R14
- 205/70R14
- 215/70R14
- 225/70R14
15"
- 175/65R15
- 185/55R15
- 185/60R15
- 185/65R15
- 195/55R15
- 195/60R15
- 195/65R15
- 205/60R15
- 205/65R15
- 205/70R15
- 215/60R15
- 215/65R15
- 215/70R15
- 225/60R15
- 225/70R15
- 235/70R15
16″
- 185/55R16
- 195/50R16
- 195/55R16
- 205/50R16
- 205/55R16
- 205/60R16
- 205/65R16
- 205/70R16
- 215/55R16
- 215/60R16
- 215/65R16
- 215/70R16
- 225/55R16
- 225/60R16
- 225/65R16
- 225/70R16
- 235/60R16
- 235/65R16
17″
- 205/45R17
- 205/50R17
- 215/45R17
- 215/50R17
- 215/55R17
- 215/60R17
- 215/65R17
- 225/45R17
- 225/45R17
- 225/50R17
- 225/55R17
- 225/60R17
- 225/65R17
- 235/45R17
- 235/55R17
- 235/60R17
- 235/65R17
- 245/45R17
18″
- 215/55R18
- 225/45R18
- 225/50R18
- 225/55R18
- 225/60R18
- 235/45R18
- 235/50R18
- 235/55R18
- 235/60R18
- 235/65R18
- 245/40R18
- 245/45R18
19″
- 225/55R19
- 245/40R19
- 255/45R19
20″
- 245/50R20
FAQs
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.
Is the 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 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.
How long do General Altimax RT43 tires last? ›The General Altimax RT43 (T) has 80,000 miles of tread life in CR testing.
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.
Who manufactures General AltiMAX RT43? ›The Altimax RT43 is an all-season grand touring design from General Tire.