General is a fuel economy brand, which means it delivers optimized performance in a variety of weather conditions at an affordable price. This is one of the brands of the Continental concern, which guarantees not only high-quality products but also their technological excellence and a guarantee for up to 7 years from the date of purchase. The experience since 1915 and the continuous improvement of the offer make General tires popular with drivers from all over the world looking for reliable and affordable tires.
Tires overview
This tire model first appeared on the market in 2013. The company wanted to create a better and more modern version of the already existing Altimax RT tires. And they did it. The tires guarantee precise cornering and safe handling on winding roads. They are ideal for vehicles such as sedans, minivans, and crossovers.
The advantages of the model:
- increased adhesion to the coating;
- silicon dioxide in the tread;
- the noise reducing technology;
- polyester cord in the base of the tread, which provides longer tire life;
- replaceable tire monitor that notifies about the degree of wear;
- deformation reduction;
- 75,000 miles company warranty.
These are tires that provide balanced driving on any type of surface and regardless of the weather. Thanks to modern solutions and an optimized design, the tires work well with the advanced safety systems found in higher-class vehicles. The model is made from an innovative rubber compound with the addition of silica. It is resistant to high temperatures and loss of grip on wet surfaces. An additional layer of rubber placed under the upper tread layer provides less deformation of the tread and makes the tire more resistant to mechanical damage. This technology also helps to reduce the vibration generated when driving on uneven surfaces.
Maintenance indicators
Manufacturers have taken care of their customers and equipped their tires with special indicators that signal when the tires need to be replaced. It is worth emphasizing that the competitors of the company from the same price category don’t have such a function.
The tires are equipped with the patented Replacement Tire Monitor technology. It represents the inscription “Replacement Tire Monitor”, which is printed on the peripheral rib of the tire. If all three labels are visible, it means that the tires are brand new. Through time, the letters will be erased, and instead of this inscription will appear “Replace Tire.”
Additionally, the tires are also equipped with a Visual Alignment Indicator, with which you can check if the wheels are skewed.
These tires are the best choice for drivers who do not want to overpay. Their biggest advantage is their affordable price.
Another major feature of the tires is that the tires are available in a wide range of sizes (13 to 20 inches in diameter, 185 to 245 mm in width, and 70 to 45 mm in height at the sides). Unless your car is sporty or premium, there is a 99 percent chance of finding the right model.
The model has a directional tread pattern that performs especially well on wet surfaces. The V-grooves allow water to drain efficiently along the sides of the tire. As a result, the risk of aquaplaning is reduced to a minimum, and traffic safety remains high.
How do tires perform off-road?
Although tires are designed for use on public roads, they can handle off-road conditions as long as there is not a lot of mud and sand. But for such roads, the purchase of specially designed tires is recommended.
Features of driving on dry and slippery roads?
Considering the price of the product, we can say that the tires are quite easy to handle on dry roads, have excellent grip, and passed the braking tests well. If you want much better results, choose more expensive tires.
The same can be said for driving on slippery roads. The AltiMAX RT43 tires are not the best for driving in these weather conditions, but they are the best in their price range.
Unfortunately, these tires are not suitable for driving in harsh winters, but on light snow, they can still exhibit good braking and handling properties.
It is worth mentioning that despite this, driving in winter with AltiMAX RT43 tires is not safe, therefore it is recommended to replace them with specially designed tires for these weather conditions. Especially if you live in places with harsh winters.
A high-quality product or good advertising?
Analyzing customer reviews, it’s hard to tell if these tires are as good as the manufacturer claims they are. There are buyers who spoke negatively about AltiMAX RT43 tires, and some of them ranked them as highly as possible. We can say with confidence that if any problems arise, the operator will replace the product.
The center rib of the tire is equipped with an RTM indicator, which supports the operation of the control system and monitors the tread thickness. As a result, the driver can monitor the condition of the tires and the steering movements are always accurately transmitted to the road.
Customer Reviews
Among the negative aspects, customers noted high noise levels, low productivity, and difficult handling during the winter season. 80% of negative reviewers complained about poor tread life (20,000 30,000 miles when the manufacturer promises 75,000) and tread flaking. It should be mentioned that the driving was calm, on public roads, not off-road.
Hard to say that the tires have only negative responses. A large number of buyers noted that the tires provide good grip in all weather conditions, as well as a comfortable and quiet ride. You cannot ignore the tires’ availability and price. Many drivers were so happy with the purchase that they promised to buy the product again, at least once.
Tire Sizes
13″
175/70 R 13
14″
175/65/R14
175/70/R14
185/60/R14
185/65/R14
185/65/R14
185/70/R14
195/60/R14
195/70/R14
205/70/R14
225/70/R14
15″
175/65/R15
185/55/R15
185/60/R15
185/60/R15
185/65/R15
185/65/R15
195/55/R15
195/60/R15
195/60/R15
195/65/R15
195/65/R15
205/60/R15
205/60/R15
205/65/R15
205/65/R15
205/70/R15
215/60/R15
215/65/R15
215/70/R15
225/60/R15
225/70/R15
235/70/R15
16″
185/55/R16
195/50/R16
195/55/R16
205/50/R16
205/55/R16
205/55/R16
205/60/R16
205/60/R16
205/60/R16
205/65/R16
205/65/R16
205/70/R16
215/55/R16
215/60/R16
215/60/R16
215/60/R16
215/65/R16
215/65/R16
215/70/R16
225/55/R16
225/60/R16
225/60/R16
225/65/R16
225/65/R16
225/70/R16
235/60/R16
235/60/R16
235/65/R16
17″
205/45/R17
205/50/R17
215/45/R17
215/50/R17
215/55/R17
215/55/R17
215/60/R17
215/65/R17
225/45/R17
225/45/R17
225/50/R17
225/50/R17
225/55/R17
225/55/R17
225/55/R17
225/60/R17
225/60/R17
225/65/R17
225/65/R17
235/45/R17
235/55/R17
235/55/R17
235/60/R17
235/65/R17
245/45/R17
18″
215/55/R18
225/45/R18
225/50/R18
225/55/R18
225/60/R18
235/45/R18
235/50/R18
235/50/R18
235/55/R18
235/60/R18
235/65/R18
245/40/R18
245/45/R18
245/55/R18
19″
225/55/R19
235/40/R19
235/45/R19
235/55/R19
245/40/R19
255/45/R19
20″
245/45/R20
245/50/R20