General Tires Review & Buying Guide

General Tires was founded in 1915 by a former franchise owner of Firestone. In 1990, the ownership changed as Firestone acquired the tire brand. One thing that didn’t change over the years is the company’s proud heritage of making quality tires on a budget, helping General make a name for itself in the budget segment of the tire market.

Since the beginning, the brand has been manufacturing tires for all types of vehicles. The company maintains to lead the mid-tier market by producing high-quality tires and affordability. They believe in providing a good balance of quality and affordability.

However, there are various differences between General and other tire brands that are available on a budget. For one, General tires aren’t dirt cheap. Also, when it comes to treadlife warranty, these tires ventures into the territory of premium tire brands.

In this article, we are sharing with you some famous General tires and their features that will help you pick the right tire that fits your needs. We will do so by looking at General’s best-selling tires.  After that, we’ll turn our attention to areas where these tires rule the road.

General Tires Review

Here are the best General tires currently on the market

#1. General Exclaim UHP

General Exclaim Ultra high-performing summer driving tire is an affordable option for the users of coupes and sedans. This tire is a great substitute for a more expensive ultra-high-performing tire.

It has the latest generation silica tread compound along with a wider shoulder block that provides improved handling and cornering when driving on wet and dry surfaces with a smooth and noise-free ride.

The risk of hydroplaning is reduced by the presence of Double-V tread patterns that provide enhanced wet road handling and expel the water away from the tire thus providing safety to the user.

Within the tire, you will find two high tensile belts which are made of steel. These belts are spirally wrapped with joint-less nylon on polyester piles to provide additional power and stability to the tire when speeding up during driving. Thus developing a comfortable ride for the user.

General Exclaim UHP tire offers a pretty decent tread warranty of 30,000 miles i.e. approx. 6 years’ warranty life. The tire is also marketed with an M+S stamp, which means that the Exclaim UHP tire is manufactured to meet or exceed minimum Mud and Snow surfaces.

Thus, these tires are not recommended or considered safe to be used on snowy, icy, or muddy surfaces. 

Pros

• Longer tread life in comparison to competitors
• Reduce noise at high speed
• Affordable high performing tire

Cons

• Not recommended on snowy or muddy surfaces

#2. General G-Max RS

General G-Max Rs tire was a replacement for the General Max AS-03. This summer high-performing tire is engineered to provide greater handling and cornering hold when driving in wet and dry conditions for sports coupes and sedans.

The manufacturer has used the latest tire technology called Smart Grip Technology which provides a quick navigating response when driving at high speed. The StabiliTread technology is also used in this tire that provides an aggressive tread pattern. Also, the tire consists of a rounded shoulder and an even simple sidewall.

The company also claims that the dry handling of General G-Max Rs Tire would be much greater and better than its B-Segment competitors. The tire offers a 45,000 miles warranty with all sizes having a 360 UTGQ treadwear rating with a unique 45-day free on-road trial period.

There is however one area this tire could have done better. Its winter traction is nowhere near enough for wintry conditions, let alone deep snow and ice.

Pros

• Longer tread life in comparison to competitors
• 45,000 miles’ warranty
• Use of Smart Grip and StabiliTread Technology

Cons

• Not a winter season performing tire

#3. General Altimax HP

General Altimax is a high-performing all-season tire specially manufactured for the drivers of sport coupes and sedans, offering year-round great traction with a smooth and luxurious ride. General Altimax HP tire is an upgraded design released in 2013. 

The tire uses a unique tread compound technology to provide a comfortable and supreme quality ride to its user. The tire has the two cushion tread compounds that work by using the low-density compound present on the lowest layer of the tire and also uses the silica enhanced compound that is present on the upper layer.

The directional tread pattern and angled sweeping tread grooves increase wet traction and handling by removing access to water and decreasing the risk of hydroplaning. These angled sweeping tread grooves also play part in noise reduction. The noise reduction is also controlled by the use of sound wave suppression technology.

Cornering performance is another area where this tire excels. Its handling at high speed is something you can compete with any premium UHP tire.  That is despite the fact that this model’s asking price is three times lower. This makes it a must-have for enthusiast drivers on a budget.

Within the tire, you will find two high tensile belts which are made of steel. These belts are spirally wrapped with nylon on polyester piles to provide additional power and stability to the tire when speeding up during driving. Thus developing a comfortable ride for the user.

The manufacturer has also added a few more features to this model such as Visual Alignment Indicators that enables the user to see an uneven tread pattern. Also, the addition of Replacement Tire Monitor branding at the middle of the tire turns into Replace Tire when the tire needs to be replaced.

They also offer a tread-life guarantee which can be either 55,000 or 40,000-mile.

Pros

• Sound wave suppression technology reduces noise
• Visual Alignment Indicator
• Replacement Tire Monitor branding
• Suitable for all-season

Cons

• Below-average treadwear warranty

#4. General G-MAX AS-03

General Tires are famous for manufacturing good quality performing tires that are affordable and long-lasting. The General G-Max AS-03 is one of them. This high-performing and year-round all-season driving tire is designed for sports coupes and sedans.

The tire has stable shoulders and intermediate tread blocks that improves dry grip and traction. The center rib serves to provide continuous stability and response at high speed. The presence of interlocking 3-D tread block aids to run better handling and increase the overall tread life of the tire.

The manufacturer has also added, “The Replacement Tire Monitor” (RTM) and “Visual Alignment Indicator” (VAI). The RTM provides a visual aid to the user when the tire requires a replacement. On the tread, the indicator simply displays “replace tire”. The RTM features are quite helpful as it timely shows the need for tire replacement for the vehicle.

On the shoulders of the tire, short sipes are present in front of each other called Visual Alignment Indicator that informs the user about the misalignment of the vehicle. This feature helps you in correcting the issue and prevents damage to the tread.

The internal structure of the tire consists of two steel belts that are wrapped with polyamide thus increasing the solidity of the tire when driving at high speed. The company offers a tread life warranty of 40,000 miles for this tire

Pros

• Impressive high-speed handling
• Visual alignment indicator
• Tire replacement indicator

Cons

• Noisy

#5. General Altimax RT

The General Altimax RT touring tire is manufactured for all types of vehicles such as coupes, sedans, minivans, and cross-overs. The all-season tire has a beautiful symmetrical tread design that provides a comfortable ride with safety.

The tire features two cushion silica tread compounds that enhance wet and dry tractions as well as control. It also serves to provide improved solidity and makes the ride smooth and noiseless. General has also used the latest soundwave suppression technology called Acoustic Modulation Sound Technology (AMST) that removes road-noise, thus making the Altimax RT a quiet tire.

It also has Visual Alignment Indicators on the tire that informs the user about the misalignment of the vehicle and prevent tread damage thus increasing the tread life of the tire as misalignment is one of the main reasons that makes the tire wear out quickly.

The tire also features Reactive Contour Technology. The purpose of this technology is to aid the tire to react to different surface conditions and to provide the best grip. This increases the confidence of the user driving at high speed. However, this tire is not recommended to be used on icy or snowy surfaces.

Internally the tread consists of two steel belts with a polyester cord cap. Both make the Altimax stronger and stable at higher speeds. The best part of Altimax is its remarkable tread warranty i.e. 70,000 miles and proves itself as one of the best tires in this class

Pros

• Features Reactive Contour Technology
• Noiseless
• 70,000-mile tread warranty

Cons

• No winter traction

#6. General Altimax RT43

General Tire launched Altimax RT43 in July 2013. The purpose behind the launch was to replace the current Altimax RT and compete with competitors like Continental TrueContact and Michelin Defender T+H etc. and in this regard, they have done a rock-hard work with this advanced model.

This upgraded tire consists of two silica tread compounds along with a tread pattern. Both of them are combined with peak anti-slip sipes technology that improves dry and wet surface traction thus providing a comfortable ride tread life for drivers of coupes, sedans, minivans, and crossovers in all-season.

The circumferential grooves enhance the wet performance whereas the additional sipes increase the grip on areas covered with light snow. The center rib delivers stability and better steering response. These tires have a quiet ride due to the presence of acoustic modulation sound technology.

Internally the tread consists of two steel belts with a polyester cord that makes the tire stronger and stable at higher speeds. It offers the best tread warranty amongst its competitors i.e. 75,000 miles and proves itself as one of the best tires in this class.

The Replacement Tire Monitor feature indicates “replace tire” when needed. The Visual Alignment Indicators prolong tread life by showing vehicle misalignment. They are available in different sizes ranging from 13 to 18 inches and speed ratings up to an H

Pros

• Noiseless
• Tread life
• 75K mile warranty

Cons

• Could do with new technologies

#7. General AmeriTrac

The AmeriTrac tire model is specifically designed to provide all-season traction and handling for pickups and SUVs. Its improved design provides longer tread life. The AmeriTrac tire is a popular model among other General tire lineups and is used as original equipment on SUVs and trucks.

The dry traction is increased by the all-season tread compound and symmetric tread pattern. They also improve steering response and make the tire more stable at a higher speed. It also reduced road noise and makes the ride smooth and quiet.

The tire’s circumferential grooves and independent blocks control wet handling and reduce the risk of hydroplaning. It also provides stability to the tire on the snowy surface. Still, this tire isn’t a dedicated winter tire and shouldn’t be used in heavy snow conditions.

Internally the tread consists of two steel belts with a polyester cord that makes the tire stronger and stable at higher speeds. The tires are available in 16-inch and 17-inch sizes. That is a major drawback as it limits the number of users who could benefit from this tire

Pros

• Low noise
• Responsive steering
• Excellent handling

Cons

• Treadlife could be better

General Tires Buying Guide

What is there to like about General tires? What is it that distinguishes these tires from the chasing pack? Are there areas where General tires could or should have done better? Any shortcomings that could potentially be deal-breakers? This section has all the answers.

Legacy

General tires are running the business for over a century. They have a treasure of knowledge and experience in tire manufacturing. With the help of their experience and knowledge, the company has improved its product quality over the years and that is what they are popular for.

Affordable Price

General tires are appreciated for their price range. They have the most affordable cost for truck and suv tires. It averages $173 per tire for the common SUV and truck sizes and the SUV tire size averages about $151 per tire. 

Their passenger tires are $6 cheaper than their competitors. If you are planning to purchase a tire that offers both quality and affordability, then General tires are worth your consideration.

Product Range

As the brand name suggests General offers a range of great tires with different sizes and specifications. Each tire range offers further options to choose from. The tires manufactured by the company include:

• Performance
• Passenger
• Truck
• Winter
• Commercial

The company aims to provide tires that can fit different types of vehicles so that the user purchases a General tire regardless of the vehicle they drive.

Customer Satisfaction

The company focuses highly on customer satisfaction. They offer a 45-day road test period for customers. If the customers are dissatisfied they can return the purchased tires within the allotted 45 days This offers makes the brand stand out amongst its competitors as most of the competitors offer a road test period of 30 days only.

Durability

Naturally, a buyer expects the tire to last many years over thousands of miles. General tires satisfy this criterion by providing warranties of up to 75,000 miles on the selected range of their tires. These high-quality sturdy tires can resist minor damages, cuts, and scuffs. 

Moreover, the tire bruising is reduced by the use of long-wearing tread compounds and rigid sidewalls. The brilliant use of technology by the manufacturer makes the General tires fairly durable and long-lasting. However, regular cleaning of the wheels and rims also helps the tire last longer.

Handling

General tires have several performance-enhancing features that are incorporated during tire manufacturing to increase overall vehicle handling. The manufacturer has used the Smart Grip technology that enhances the steering response in wet and dry conditions, enabling the driver to make rapid adjustments while driving.

They have also used the StabiliTread technology. StabiliTread creates a broader contact patch between the tire’s surface and the road, thus increasing the tire’s gripping ability and allowing the driver to navigate bends in the roads at high speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the common queries people have about General tires:

Who are the manufacturers of General Tires?

The General tires were founded in 1915 by a former franchise owner of Firestone but in 1980 it was purchased by Continental a German tire manufacturing company.

In which country are General tires manufactured?

General Tire is manufactured in the U.S., Mexico, and Europe.

What is the maximum lifespan of General Tires?

The maximum tire life of General Tires is 75,000 miles.

What is a Visual Replacement Indicator?

A visual replacement indicator shows when the tire needs replacing. It turns red when the tire is past its shelf-life.

Conclusion

General tires are a mid-tier tire brand that has found a sweet spot between the quality and rate to attract people of different levels of income. They offer a wide range of tires that can fit different types of vehicles.

Their tires have a decent performance, whereas General Altimax RT43 and General AmeriTrac Tr Tire perform exceptionally well in all seasons. General tires make high-performance tires but it is not the same as that of the premium brands. Also, they offer a limited tread life warranty.