General Tires – Who Makes Them & Are They Worth In 2023?
The general tire is one of the best premium tire brands with a long history of trust service. They are leading the tire market since 1915. Since then, though the company has gone through various phases, the quality of the products never went down.
The General tires are really good. In fact, these tires are among the top choice list for many customers worldwide. They started by manufacturing some specific models and now they are one of the finest manufacturing line-ups in the world.
General tires primarily focus on the premium tire market. And so, the price of these tires is also a bit more than available budget tires. But what about the performance? Let’s discuss everything in detail.
A short overview of General tires brand
General tires is absolutely legit in terms of their performance and brand value. Since 1915, when the company was founded, it never compromised with its product.
The company first started its journey with two men named William and Winfred. At that time, the branch was in Akron, Ohio. Then they named the company General Tire and Rubber Company. Soon it was changed to GenCorp in 1954 and in 1987, Continental AG bought the brand.
The very first product of this brand was General Ballon Jamboo. This product was for light trucks. Then in 1955, they started manufacturing car tires.
Where are General tires made?
General is an American tire brand made in the USA too. The manufacturing unit is in Illinois.
Unlike some other American companies, General does not manufacture their product in China, Thailand, or Japan. Rather they prefer to produce their own product in their home country. Some sources say, Mexico and Portugal also manufacture some portion of their products.
Well, and due to this reason, the labor and material cost increases to some extent. And this results in the higher price of the tires. So, you may notice that the price of these tires is more than some other brands that outsource their product from another third-party manufacturer country.
Read also >> Where Are Hercules Tires Made? USA Based! (Answered!)
Who manufactures General tires?
General tires are made by a company named Continental AG. The parent company is Continental Tire North America Inc. General tires are a branch of this parent brand. But at the beginning, it was known as General Tire and Rubber Company. Then in 1987, the current company took ownership.
During the very first journey of this brand, there were about 300 other companies in the market. They were well established and it was really tough for General tires to make some space.
Then the directors of General tires focused to make premium replacement tires in spite of making cheaper ones. So, they worked on the quality and gradually achieved the popularity they have nowadays.
Are General tires good – key features & benefits explained
There is actually no question about the quality of General tires. We all know how good these tires are. Here, I’ll discuss some of the key features and flexibility that you’ll enjoy with these tires. So, let’s have look.
Excellent design:
Each of the General tires is fantastic in its design. I’m not only talking about the looks but also about the engineering behind this. The wide patch design and deep grooves improve the performance a lot.
High-speed stability:
These tires are capable of performing very well even at higher speeds. So, you need not worry about braking or slipping while driving fast.
Durability:
Durability basically depends on several factors. Material quality is one of those. Since then, when the company was General Tire and Rubber Co. to these days, they never had any complaints about their material quality. So, from this side, the tire is absolutely ok.
Noise generation:
There is no such complaint about generating too much annoying noise from these tires. Rather, they are considered really quiet and smooth.
Fuel economy:
Though there is no solid proof that these tires are more fuel-economic than others, some users claim they have noticed it. Well, no surprise if the advanced design and quality material make the tire more effective.
Are General tires directional?
Most of the models from General tires are directional. You can check the arrow sign at the sidewall of any tire to know whether that specific model is directional or not.
Directional tires are more functional while handling the vehicle. They also perform better on dry roads too. So, many people prefer directional tires over no-directional.
Are General tires the same as Continental?
Well, according to the official site of General Tires, the brand changed its name to Continental General Tire. And as I’ve mentioned earlier, the company started its journey as General Tire and Rubber Co.
So, basically both of these brands have the same production line under different names. Under this brand name, the company produced several models for different vehicles like cars, trucks, SUVs, etc.
Michelin vs General – which one is better and why?
Michelin is a top-performing brand. On the other hand, General is more average compared to Michelin If you compare the price of these two brands, you’ll get the idea.
In terms of Ultra-high performance, Michelin is far better than General. But that doesn’t mean General tires are bad or not worthy. In fact, what you get from general tires at this price range is really amazing.
Top General tires on the market
- General AltiMAX RT43: This tire is an all-season tire that comes with excellent design and grip. It can also perform well on snowy roads. But the durability and warranty of these tires are not so satisfactory.
- General Grabber HTS60: First thing first, you won’t have any warranty for this particular model. But the good side is it performs really fantastic in snow as well as rough terrain. The grip, traction, and anti-slip features are really amazing.
- General Grabber AT2: This tire can perform well on wet or snowy roads. It also generates less noise there. But on dry roads, these tire generates annoying noise that can be unpleasant for some people.
How many miles do General tires last?
In normal situations, a General tire will last for 50000-60000 miles. This means you can use a tire for 4 to five years approximately.
Earlier in this article, I already told you that the durability of a tire depends on several things like maintenance, driving skill, tire material, and so on. If you take proper care of all the tires and drive well, your tires will last more.
General tires price table
The price for the products from General tires that I reviewed earlier is given below. This is an approximate price and can change over time and region.
| Model name | Price |
|---|---|
| General AltiMAX RT43 | $92.28 |
| General Grabber HTS60 | $158.99 |
| General Grabber AT2 | $47.99 |
Are there any good General tire alternatives?
Well, of course, there are several alternatives to General tires. These days, there are thousands of tire manufacturers out there in the market. Among them, I’m mentioning the top most competitive brands that stand side-by-side with General tires.
- Michelin tires:
Michelin tires are one of the top-performing tires in the market. They are durable, and stable and provide good traction on both wet and dry roads. But the price of these tires is more than General tires.
- Goodyear tires:
Goodyear is another American tire brand that also is a premium choice for many. They have an attractive warranty policy and long history of quality service. So, these tires can be an alternative to general tires too.
frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Are General tires premium?
Some of the tires from General like AT2 will give you a real premium feeling while most other models are also good.
Are General tires Chinese?
No. General tires are made by Continental Tire North America Inc. which is completely an American company.
How long should four tires last?
Normally, with proper care and regular fixing, all four tires of a vehicle can last for four to five years.
Verdict
If you’re looking for an American brand to buy your new tire, general tires are something you can think about. Though there are problems like being noisy sometimes, wearing out soon, etc can be a problem that should be considered.
But overall, General tires are a good choice if you are looking for a premium brand but at comparatively lower prices. Long-time service, good raw material, and an advanced design-the combination of all these will give you a really good feeling while driving your vehicle.
Though it’s tough to find the right size if your tire is a bit aberrant than usual. So, look carefully at whether this brand has the specific size of tire you need.
Resources:
https://www.continental.com/en/
Certification: BSc in Mechanical Engineering
Education: Mechanical engineer
Lives In: 539 W Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75208, USA
Rasel is an auto mechanic student and writer with over half a decade of experience in the automotive field. He has worked with top automotive brands such as Lexus, Quantum, and also owns two automotive blogs autocarneed.com and taxiwiz.com.