General Tires is a well-known brand that makes strong and reliable tires for different types of terrain. They have all-season, all-terrain, and snow tires.
But are there any downsides to this brand? In this review, I will tell you the good and bad things about General Tires and recommend their popular tires.
General Tires is an American company with over 100 years of experience in the competitive market. They are a leader in Germany.
General Tires and Rubber Company had different names in the past. It became General Tires after Continental, a German company, bought it in 1987.
A Firestone franchise owner founded General Tires in 1915.
General Tires are known for their long-lasting quality and advanced technologies like StabiliTread and SmartGrip. They have models for all types of terrain and offer a 75,000-mile warranty. Many people choose them for safety and durability.
You can find General Tires for Sedans, SUVs, and mini-trucks.
General Tires Overview
General Tires is a midrange brand from Germany. They aim to offer good quality and value.
I’ve had great experiences with General’s stable ride. The tires perform well for their price. You get more than what you pay for.
However, there are some cons to consider. The main issue is that General has limited sizes available compared to top brands. If your vehicle has a common wheel diameter, it’s not a problem. But if you have a less common size, you may struggle to find the right tire in General’s catalog.
Overall, General Tires do a good job balancing affordable prices with good traction. They are a good value option as long as the size works for you. Although they don’t have the latest technology, they exceed expectations with smart engineering and consistent quality.
Why Choose General Tires?
Each General Tires model has unique characteristics. All products also have common advantages.
General Tires continuously improves its safety, performance, and driving satisfaction through smart engineering. Each model year brings enhancements.
General Tires impresses with its quality design balance. It combines general road prowess with unique traits to maximize product performance. It offers the best of both worlds.
General Tires is a pioneer of modern tire technology. It occasionally introduces innovations not yet seen in premium offerings. Features like the wide contact patch StabiliTread demonstrate General’s ingenuity. The massive center stability allows for confident high-speed cruising.
Another hallmark of General Tires is its impressive durability. It has sturdy constructions and quality wear-resistant compounds that provide category-leading impact protection and longevity. General rubber is built to last, even with daily use. It consistently offers quality for the mileage.
While flashier names dominate marketing, General Tires earns its own tech-savvy following by letting the engineering speak for itself. It is sharply engineered for reliability at reasonable prices, hitting the sweet spot.
Who Makes General Tires?
General Tires used to be its own brand, making its own decisions. But in 1980, Continental bought the company.
Since then, General Tire has stayed a part of Continental AG. We can thank Continental for making and designing General Tire products.
Some people miss the days when General Tire was independent. But with Continental in charge, General Tire has access to more resources and technology.
So even though General Tire started out on its own, now it’s part of a big company that helps it compete.
How Have We Tested General Tires?
Earlier, we mentioned that General tires are excellent and are sold all over the world.
We tested these tires for quality, efficiency, cornering, maneuvering, and in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions.
The company offers different types of tires, such as all-season, summer, highway all-season, on/off-road, and sport tires. However, some of these tires are not good for winter conditions.
Top 5 General Tires Review
In this General Tires Review I’ll walk you through some of the standout options from this value-focused brand. My team and I put a range of General rubber to the test recently so you don’t have to.
One quick note before we dive in – the available rim diameters do lean larger with General’s performance-oriented tire models. Just 15, 16 and 17 inch options to choose from. But fear not, their lineup still covers the essentials.
To kick things off, here’s a quick glance at how the top General tires stack up across key road conditions based on our testing:
| Tire Model | Dry Road Performance | Wet Road Performance | Snow Road Performance | Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General G-MAX RS | Excellent | Good | Poor | 4.2 out of 5 stars on Tire Rack |
| General Grabber ATX | Good | Good | Excellent | 4.4 out of 5 stars on Tire Rack |
| General Altimax HP | Very good | Good | Not Recommended | 4.3 out of 5 stars on Tire Rack |
| General Exclaim UHP | Excellent | Excellent | Not Recommended | 4.1 out of 5 stars on Tire Rack |
| General G-MAX AS-5 | Very good | Good | Good | 4.3 out of 5 stars on Tire Rack |
1. General Tire G-MAX RS:
This tire is designed specifically for summer weather. It performs well in warm conditions. It has features like RTM and VAI that make it easy to monitor alignment and wear.
The tire’s central rib pattern helps with wet hydroplaning. General’s SmartGrip technology ensures stability when taking fast corners. It handles like a sports car, but at an affordable price.
However, this tire is not suitable for winter conditions. It is not designed for deep snow. It is meant to be used in fair weather.
There were some drawbacks in my experience. The tire’s grip when turning was not as good as top ultra-high performance options. It didn’t handle corners as sharply as I would have liked.
There is no published treadwear warranty for this tire. It offers good performance at a budget-friendly price, but it is not the absolute best.
Overall, this tire is a good option for drivers who want good handling in the summer without spending too much. It strikes a balance between value and performance, as long as you remember its limitations in certain seasons.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stable and improved handling | No treadwear warranty |
| Suitable for wet and dry conditions | Not suitable for snow and winter conditions |
| Grooves’ design resists hydroplaning |
2. General Grabber ATX
The Grabber ATX tires were made specifically for light trucks and SUVs. They performed exceptionally well when we went off-road. The tires provided a comfortable ride on trails.
However, there was some road noise during the journey. If you mostly drive on highways, you should consider other options that are better for pavement driving. And if you often go rock crawling, you may find that the ATX has its limits.
But for general off-road driving, the Grabber ATX performed excellently on different surfaces. It is even certified for severe snow conditions. The tires were able to handle deep snow and ice without losing traction.
Even when the tires were halfway through their lifespan, they still had good grip in winter conditions. This is thanks to the Duragen Technology design, which improves traction on wet and slippery surfaces.
The Grabber ATX tires come in a range of sizes from 14 to 20 inches, making them suitable for many rugged vehicles and 4x4s. They offer a good balance between on-road performance and off-road capability. However, they are not very quiet on highways.
For weekend adventurers looking for affordable off-road tires, the General Grabber ATX is definitely worth considering. These tires can handle tough terrain and offer great value for their price.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent in deep snow | Not suitable for highways and mud terrains |
| Durable and stable in all conditions | |
| Provide a comfortable ride off-road |
3. General Altimax HP
The Altimax HP has convenient tech like RTM and VAI to track wear and alignment. It aims to provide a comfortable cruising experience for drivers.
The tread pattern and grooves help resist hydroplaning on wet roads. However, there is some extra road noise compared to quieter touring options.
When tested, these tires performed well in cornering. After a 300 mile test drive, I was impressed by their strong grip.
Increasing tire pressure from 36 to 46 PSI did not affect the ride quality. The noise level remained reasonable thanks to the silica tread compound and solid-centered construction, which made the tires durable.
General offers competitive treadwear warranties for this performance touring tire. V-speed models are guaranteed for 45,000 miles and H-rated rubber for 65,000 miles.
The Altimax HP is not completely silent, but it has year-round capability and responsive handling. It has helpful tech and good coverage, making it worth considering for affordable sporty daily driving pleasure.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good in all seasons: wet, dry, and winter | It’s a little bit noisier than other models |
| Manufactured with high-quality materials | |
| Provide stability and a comfortable ride |
4. General Exclaim UHP
The General Exclaim UHP is designed for sedans and sports coupes. It offers good value for your money if you’re on a tight budget. But don’t be fooled by the low price.
The tire has a V-shaped tread pattern that helps with control on wet and dry roads. It also has wide shoulders with silica infused in them. I tested the tire and didn’t feel any rough impacts or jolts.
While it’s not specifically made for winter, the Exclaim UHP can handle light snow. But it’s not meant for extremely cold weather and deep snow.
If the sidewalls of the tire were a bit stiffer, it would improve stability when turning. But regardless, the tire has steel belts and layers made of polyester/nylon that make it reliable.
The tire’s central grooves and directional design help channel water away, reducing the risk of hydroplaning. It’s a safe choice.
Overall, the General Exclaim UHP is a good option for drivers of performance cars who are on a budget. It handles well and has decent treadlife without being expensive.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cost-effective tire | Not suitable for severe snow conditions |
| Long-lasting | |
| Provide comfortable rides in wet and dry conditions |
5. General G-MAX AS-5
The new G-MAX AS-5 was introduced in 2017 to replace the AS-3. It is designed to impress sedans, sports coupes, and hot hatches. This sporty tire provides precise handling and maintains stability while cornering.
The tire’s asymmetric tread pattern uses General’s SmartGrip technology to ensure even contact pressures. This results in smooth performance in both wet and dry conditions. The four circumferential grooves and broad shoulders effectively remove water, reducing the risk of hydroplaning.
Although not intended for heavy snow, the AS-5 offers reliable traction on light snow and in cold weather. General made sure this tire can handle occasional winter challenges.
During my on-road testing, I found the AS-5 to be superior to the AS-3 model. It offers excellent grip and performance on wet and dry pavement thanks to its smart engineering.
Even when driving on curvy roads, the tire’s cornering behavior is predictably neutral and controlled. General has created a highly capable all-season performance tire.
In fact, the AS-5 can be compared to top premium options like the Continental DWS06 and Michelin AS3 Plus. Considering its reasonable price, it provides great value for the money. General has certainly achieved another success with this tire.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Improved handling | Not preferable in severe winter conditions |
| Excellent cornering and grip on uneven terrains | |
| Smooth and less noisy ride |
Pros and Cons of General Tires
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordability: General Tires are generally known for being more budget-friendly than other major brands. This can be a significant advantage for cost-conscious consumers. | Performance: While some General Tire models offer good performance, they may not match the top-tier offerings from other brands in terms of handling, grip, or noise reduction. |
| Wide range of options: General Tires offers a variety of tire types for different vehicles and driving conditions, including all-season, performance, touring, and truck/SUV tires. | Limited availability of high-performance models: For drivers who prioritize ultimate performance, General Tires may not have as many options as some competitors. |
| Decent warranty: General Tires offers a standard warranty on most models, which can provide peace of mind for some buyers. | Brand recognition: General Tires may not have the same brand recognition as some larger competitors, which could lead some buyers to opt for more familiar brands. |
| Focus on specific needs: General Tires offers some models specifically designed for certain types of driving, such as off-road or winter driving. | Mixed reviews: Customer reviews for General Tires can vary depending on the specific model, with some praising their value and performance while others criticize their durability or handling. |
Why should you buy General Tires?
Variety of Products
With 19 different tire models available, General Tires offers an impressive variety of options to suit any driving need or budget. From passenger cars to trucks, SUVs to performance vehicles – there’s a General tire designed to tackle diverse terrains in all seasons.
The brand covers a wide range of rim sizes too, so finding the right fit is made easy. With such a comprehensive lineup, General makes selecting quality affordable rubber simple.
Long-lasting
Longevity is key when investing in new tires. General builds their tires to go the distance with reinforcements like steel belts, nylon, and polyester enhancing durability. The robust tread patterns also promote longer tire life.
To stand behind their quality, General offers impressive warranty coverage – highlighted by a 75,000 mile treadwear guarantee. They’ll even replace defective tires free within the first 45 days. Now that’s confidence!
Technologies Used in General Tires
Smart engineering takes General’s tires to the next level of performance:
- StabiliTread Technology increases stability in high-speed corners through an expanded center contact patch.
- SmartGrip enhances grip and precision by promoting uniform contact pressure.
- Replacement Tire Monitors clearly indicate when to replace your rubber. While Visual Alignment Indicators allow easy checks for wheel misalignment to prevent irregular wear.
With such intuitive tech built right into the tires, General makes maintaining your vehicle’s safety and handling simple and straightforward. Pretty clever stuff!
FAQs
You bet – General operates tire plants across Texas, Georgia, Michigan and Illinois supplying American-made rubber.
Yup, the German tire giant Continental acquired General back in 1980. So while the brands have their own identity, they share the same engineering know-how and manufacturing under Continental’s roof.
For the most part, General does a solid job keeping noise under control. Their pavement-focused passenger tires stay pleasantly quiet. Some off-road treads inevitably get louder though due to the more aggressive designs.
Studies suggest the average lifespan for General rubber falls in the range of 60,000-75,000 miles. So around 5-6 years for most drivers before replacement is due. But proper maintenance and conservative use could net even more mileage from a set.
For a ballpark estimate, figure around $95 for a tire in common sedan fitments. SUV and truck tires range $150-175 per piece. But sales and discounts frequently offer big opportunities to save – up to 30% off retail in some cases. Shopping smart pays with General.
Conclusion
In this review, I want to highlight what sets General Tires apart – they have smart engineering, good prices, and practical strengths. They may not be fancy luxury tires with all the latest features. But if you’re a smart shopper looking for affordable quality and long-lasting tires, you should seriously consider General. They have a mix of traditional reliability and modern innovations like StabiliTread, which improves stability. General consistently exceeds expectations in important areas.
Are there any downsides? Yes – they may not have tires in all sizes. But for most people, General is a great choice.
While I’m here to guide you with my opinion, the final decision is up to you. Consider what you’ve learned about General’s safe performance and value. Then decide if this impressive underdog is right for your vehicle.
Thanks for reading this casual review – I hope it gave you new insights! Drive safely wherever you go.