General Altimax RT45 Tire Review and Ratings
Dry Conditions – 85%
Wet Conditions – 90%
Snow – 80%
Comfort – 85%
Noise Reduction – 80%
Durability – 85%
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The General Altimax RT45 promises the world. Released in July 2022, this all-season touring tire claims to offer class-leading wet braking distances and wear levels. A flatter contour, which mitigates edge wear for matchless longevity, is also touted as a game-changer.
Many drivers still aren’t interested. Not because they don’t trust General or the tire lineup. Quite the contrary. The Altimax family is one of the brand’s most popular, as proven by the RT43, which is still on the market even though it was released a decade ago.
Why, then, you may ask, is the Altimax RT45 not getting universal acceptance? Blame its predecessor. The Altimax RT43 is so good drivers feel no successor can match its performance levels and durability. Not at least one that costs as reasonably as the Altimax RT45.
Does that mean you shouldn’t upgrade from the RT43? Not so fast. As this guide will show, the RT45 delivers on all the areas that made its previous version a driver favorite. On top of that, it features significant improvements in wear, durability, and wet grip.
Our comprehensive General Altimax RT45 review has more.
Pros
- Superb wet performance
- Up to 75,000-nile treadwear warranty
- Stays useful in mild wintry conditions
Cons
- Slightly noisy than competition
The Features of the General Altimax RT45
Several features help the Altimax RT45 rank among premium all-season tires.
Start with the all-season tread compound. Together with the asymmetric tread pattern (the part of the tire that hugs the road), the compound ensures excellent dry, wet, and winter traction. In doing so, it helps the RT45 stay useful 365 days a year.
Then there are the large circumferential grooves lining its tread. These channels are designed to eliminate water quickly and effectively in wet situations. If they can do their job half as good as General claims, you won’t have to worry about aquaplaning.
Next comes updates to its contour. They help the RT45 evenly distribute the pressure forces your vehicle will subject it to. The result? 10% improvement in wear over the RT 43 (General’s words, not mine) and significantly longer tread life than RT43.
Speaking of tread life, General backs this tire with 60,000 to 75,000-mile tread life guarantees (depending on size). This tells me that an average American driver – one who covers 15,000 miles a year – should expect to get at least 4 years from it.
Now let’s put all the above claims to the test.
General Altimax RT45 in Dry Conditions
The Altimax RT43 performs decently on dry roads.
This means you are able to brake, accelerate and corner without slipping. All these characteristics are vital for quick lane changes as well as to avoid accidents. Plus, the feeling that this tire gives of being connected to the road will make you feel secure in the driving seat.
Straight-line tracking is pretty good, too. As long as the roads aren’t broken or winding, you can leave the steering for a few seconds without worrying about unwanted lane changes. Also, it responds proactively to steering inputs to allow for quick and precise handling.
All the above qualities indicate a good balance between grip and wear resistance. Which may disappoint you if you intend to win races with this tire. But if you want a tire that won’t wear out too quickly, the Altimax RT45 won’t make you question your decision-making skills.
General Altimax RT45 on Wet or Slippery Roads
This tire’s wet performance is much better than that of the Altimax RT43.
How can I be so sure of that? Three reasons. The first of which is that its wet braking distances are notably shorter than those of its previous version. Even when you’re driving through standing water, a sudden application of brakes will make it come to a halt.
Another reason I trust it to do much better than on wet roads is that its aquaplaning resistance is much higher. I’m not saying that the RT43 slipped and skidded on wet roads (it didn’t). Yet, having used both, I’d felt more confident driving the RT45 in the rain.
The final factor that should make this tire your go-to- choice for driving on slippery surfaces is that it comes with more sipes than its previous version. As such, you can expect it to provide you with better control over your vehicle on wet roads.
General Altimax RT45 in Snow
The Altimax RT45 offers optimal traction on snow, especially for an all-season tire.
On light snow, its open shoulder slots and grooves combine in the same way they do on rainwater. Luckily, the result is also the same. As long as you aren’t pushing this model to its limits, you’d experience very few scenarios where chains would be needed for added traction.
The same stability is also on offer on deep snow. Although you may have to carry snow chains if the snow gets extremely thin (7 inches or above), the biting edges would still do their job. Especially if you made the logical decision of driving at a speed below 45 MPH.
And what about ice? The RT45’s ice traction is average for touring tires I have tested. Its interlocking sipes and shoulder slots do a good job of handling slippery ice. But if you accelerate it too hard across the thinner sections, a few cracks may appear in the ride.
General Altimax RT45 Off-Roading
Just like its predecessor, the Altimax RT43 isn’t very good at off-roading.
Its tread pattern lacks the deep, aggressive lugs found in off-road tires. As such, it cannot dig into loose or uneven terrain, thereby offering poor traction on dirt, mud, gravel, or rocks.
To make matters even worse (for off-road enthusiasts), its sidewalls are thin and susceptible to damage when driving over rocks, stones, or other obstacles.
All in all, while you can drive this tire over a well-maintained dirt road or gravel path, don’t expect it to come good on challenging off-road conditions.
General Altimax RT45 for Sporty Driving
Although this tire performs admirably on dry roads, you shouldn’t expect the same level of performance as you get from sporty tires.
Its well-supported center ribs deliver lots of feedback to the steering, but you don’t get the daring sensation that performance tires offer. This means that the amount of road feel that you’d be getting from your hands on the wheel will be average.
However, the steering response is a proper 9 out of 10. This tire responds accurately to your inputs, even when it’s being driven at breakneck speeds on the highway. It is equally good at constant U-turns, meaning there won’t be any long delays or hesitant stutters.
All in all, while the Altimax RT45 won’t win you any races, you’d still get sure-footed traction on consistent, textured patches.
Does the General Altimax RT45 Ride Comfortably?
Paired with a competent suspension system, this tire will deliver a refined ride.
Violent bumps and panic reactions are pretty much non-existent as long as you’re driving on carpet roads. The ride rarely if ever gets off balance, as long as you don’t hit massive bumps on purpose, which, I think, most sane drivers will never do.
Unfortunately, while its ride stays comfortable, the noise levels may put you off. As soon as you hit broken roads, the roars and rumbles that were previously inaudible will become too loud to ignore.
That isn’t to say that this tire is noisy. It’s just that, compared with premium all-season touring tires, it does make a distinctive sound. As such, you shouldn’t expect a whisper-quiet ride.
General Altimax RT45 Warranty
General backs the Altimax RT45 with a 65,000 to 75,000-mile treadwear warranty.
The 65,000-mile warranty is available for tires with V speed ratings, whereas the T- & H-rated tires are slated to last up to 75,000 miles.
Both these warranties give this tire an edge over its premium counterparts. Think of Michelin CrossClimate 2 (60,000-mile mileage warranty), Continental CrossContact LX25 (up to 70,000 miles) and Cooper Endeavor Plus (up to 65,000 miles).
Of course, just because a tire is backed to last a certain number of miles doesn’t mean it will actually do so in real life. But a treadwear warranty is an excellent indicator of how long a tire will last.
So, the fact you’re getting a 75,000-mile warranty on this model indicates that you’re getting good value for your money.
General Altimax RT45 Pricing: Is It Worth the Price?
At the time of writing, this tire’s asking price begins from $98.99.
Such a pocket-friendly asking price makes this tire a bargain, especially when you compare its list price with that of its competitors. Most of which are priced much higher but cannot match this tire’s wet braking distances and treadwear warranty.
As such, I can confidently say that the Altimax RT45 is worth the money.
Should I Buy the General Altimax RT45?
The Altimax RT45 promises to be a good buy for drivers who are:
- Looking for a tire that can perform well in dry and wet conditions
- Cover a lot of miles each year and want a tire that will last
- Searching for a tire that can handle deep snow and ice
However, this is by no means an all-round tire. If you are seeking a high-performance tire for sporty or racing purposes, this model may not meet your expectations. Off-road enthusiasts would also do well to look at other options, which include all-terrain or mud-terrain tires.
What Vehicles Will the General Altimax RT45 Fit?
The Altimax RT45 comes in over 136 sizes, covering over 85% of the touring tire segment. This enables it to cover a wide variety of vehicles, including:
- Toyota Camry, RAV4, Sienna
- Honda Accord, CR-V, Odyssey
- Nissan Altima, Rogue
- Kia Sportage, Carnival, K5
- Ford Fusion, Escape
- Volkswagen Passat, Tiguan
Tire Sizes of the General Altimax RT45
14”
- 175/65R14
- 185/65R14
- 215/70R14
- 195/60HR14
- 205/70R14XL
- 225/70R14
- 195/70R14
- 185/65HR14
- 185/60HR14
- 185/70R14
- 175/70R14
15”
- 195/60R15
- 215/65R15
- 215/60R15
- 205/60HR15
- 195/65R15
- 185/55VR15
- 225/60HR15
- 235/70R15
- 195/55VR15
- 185/60R15
- 225/70R15
- 185/65R15
- 205/70R15
- 185/60HR15
- 195/60HR15
- 185/65HR15
- 205/65R15XL
- 215/70R15
- 185/55HR15
- 205/65HR15
- 175/65HR15
16”
- 235/60HR16
- 235/65R16
- 195/50VR16
- 195/55VR16
- 225/65R16
- 225/55HR16
- 235/60R16
- 205/50HR16
- 225/65HR16
- 185/60HR16
- 225/60HR16
- 225/70R16
- 215/60VR16
- 215/65HR16
- 205/60VR16
- 195/50HR16
- 215/70HR16
- 225/60R16
- 215/65R16
- 205/55VR16
- 205/60R16
17”
- 245/45R17
- 205/45R17
- 205/50R17
- 205/55R17
- 205/60R17
- 205/65R17
- 215/45R17
- 215/50R17
- 215/55R17
- 215/60R17
- 215/65R17
- 225/45R17
- 225/50R17
- 225/55R17
- 225/60R17
- 225/65R17
- 235/45R17
- 235/50R17
- 235/55R17
- 235/60R17
- 235/65R17
- 245/45R17
18”
- 225/40R18
- 225/45R18
- 225/50R18
- 225/55R18
- 225/60R18
- 235/40R18
- 235/45R18
- 235/50R18
- 235/55R18
- 235/60R18
- 245/40R18
- 245/45R18