You’ve spotted General Tires at a great price and you’re wondering: who actually makes these? Are they legit, or just another budget brand cutting corners? Let’s dig into the real story behind General Tire, including some recent recalls you need to know about.
The Quick Answer: Continental Owns General Tire
Who makes General Tires? Since 1987, Continental AG—the German automotive giant—has owned and manufactured General Tire. It’s not some no-name operation. Continental ranks as the world’s fourth-largest tire manufacturer, and they use General as their “value brand” to compete in the mid-grade market.
Here’s the deal: General Tire started as an American company in Akron, Ohio back in 1915. For over 70 years, it built a solid reputation making quality truck and passenger tires. Then Continental bought it, kept the name, and turned it into their budget-friendly option that still uses Continental’s German engineering.
Think of it like Toyota and Lexus, but in reverse. Continental is the premium brand, General is the affordable alternative. Same parent company, different price tags.
General Tire’s History: From American Icon to Continental’s Value Play
The Akron Years: Building an American Legacy
General Tire & Rubber Company launched on September 29, 1915, right in the heart of America’s tire capital. Founders William O’Neil and Winfred Fouse didn’t mess around—they went straight for the quality market when 300+ tire companies were flooding the industry.
Their breakthrough? The “General Jumbo,” an oversized pneumatic truck tire that replaced the bone-jarring solid rubber tires trucks used back then. It was revolutionary, and it scored them contracts with International Harvester and every major truck manufacturer.
By 1930, they’d gone international with a subsidiary in Mexico. The company grew so big it eventually became GenCorp, Inc.—a massive conglomerate with fingers in rockets, aerospace, and even broadcasting.
The 1987 Continental Takeover
In 1987, everything changed. GenCorp needed cash to fight off a hostile takeover, so they sold General Tire to Continental AG. For Continental, it was a brilliant move. They got instant access to the massive North American market, complete with factories, dealer networks, and those valuable automaker contracts.
Continental didn’t kill the General Tire brand. Instead, they repositioned it as their “Tier 2” or value offering. General keeps the heritage American name and reputation, but now it’s built with Continental’s technology and quality standards.
Today, General Tire’s headquarters sits in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and every tire rolls out with Continental’s engineering behind it.
Continental’s Three-Tier Brand Strategy Explained
Continental runs a smart multi-brand game plan. A Continental manager spelled it out clearly: “With Continental, General Tires and Barum, we have a clear approach… all with the Continental quality seal.”
Here’s how it breaks down:
Tier 1 (Premium): Continental
This is where Continental puts their latest tech, highest performance compounds, and premium pricing. You’re paying top dollar for cutting-edge engineering.
Tier 2 (Value): General Tire
This is the sweet spot. General gets Continental’s proven technology—often stuff that’s been refined in premium models—and delivers it at a mid-grade price. You’re competing against brands like BFGoodrich, Cooper, and Hankook here.
Tier 3 (Budget): Barum
Continental’s true budget brand, focused purely on price competition.
What’s smart about this? General Tire uses what some call “hand-me-down” Continental tech—not because it’s inferior, but because it’s proven. You’re getting German engineering at American value pricing.
Breaking Down General Tire’s Product Lineup
AltiMAX: The Passenger Car Workhorse
The AltiMAX line dominates General’s passenger car sales. These tires target everyday drivers who want reliability without premium pricing.
AltiMAX RT43 & RT45 (Grand Touring All-Season)
The RT43 built General’s “best bang for the buck” reputation. Owners rave about it—75,000-mile warranties, comfortable rides, and solid rain and snow performance. A 2020 Tire Rack test found it set the highest wet track scores in its category.
The newer RT45? It’s more complicated. Tire Rack’s 2024 testing said while it’s comfortable and handles winter well, its wet and dry traction dropped compared to top competitors. Some performance got traded for other benefits.
AltiMAX 365AW (All-Weather)
This one’s different. It carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certification, meaning it’s actually tested for severe winter use—not just marketed as “all-season.” You can run it year-round, even in snow and ice.
Tire Rack called it a “strong category contender” in snow, though you’ll sacrifice some ride smoothness. Owners praise its trustworthy performance in heavy rain and winter conditions.
The trade-off? It costs more than the RT45 but less than premium all-weather tires like the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady. That’s the value play—certified winter capability without premium pricing.
Grabber: Where General Flexes Its Muscles
The Grabber line is General’s reputation builder. These are the tires that prove the brand can compete with the big names in truck and SUV performance.
Grabber A/TX (All-Terrain)
This tire punches way above its price class. It’s designed to go head-to-head with the legendary BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2, but at a lower price with some specific advantages.
What owners say: It’s a “beast” in the snow, quieter and smoother than the KO2, and has better wet traction. It carries the 3PMSF rating and can even be studded for extreme winter use.
The weakness? Wet grip isn’t quite as sharp as some competitors. But if you prioritize snow performance, on-road comfort, and noise levels over maximum mud traction, the A/TX is hard to beat at its price point.
Grabber X3 (Mud-Terrain)
This is General’s hardcore off-road option. It’s specifically recommended by experts as a top performer for desert and rocky terrain in hot climates. If you’re running trails in extreme conditions, this is your tire.
Grabber HTS (Highway-Terrain)
The on-road comfort option for trucks and SUVs. It prioritizes quiet highway cruising and long tread life over off-road capability. Just note—this model is currently subject to a major recall (more on that below).
G-MAX: Performance Without the Premium Price
The G-MAX line brings Continental’s performance engineering to enthusiasts who don’t want to drop premium tire money.
G-MAX RS (Summer)
Track day enthusiasts love this tire. Why? It costs roughly half the price of a Michelin Pilot Sport 4S while delivering what owners call a “FANTASTIC performance/cost ratio.”
The trade-offs are real—the sidewall is softer and it feels slightly “twitchy” at the absolute limit compared to premium summer tires. But for budget track use or spirited street driving, it’s hard to argue with the value.
G-MAX AS-05 (All-Season)
This is the high-performance all-season option for sport sedans and coupes. It features “StabiliTread” technology for even wear and delivers good grip in both wet and dry conditions.
A head-to-head test against the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus revealed something interesting: Yes, the Continental had better ultimate grip. But the G-MAX was quieter and more comfortable while costing about 10% less.
That’s the whole General Tire philosophy right there. It’s not trying to be the absolute best—it’s trying to be the best value.
General Tire Product Comparison at a Glance
| Model | Category | Best For | Warranty | Winter Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AltiMAX RT45 | Grand Touring All-Season | Daily commuters, sedans, crossovers | Up to 75,000 miles | No |
| AltiMAX 365AW | All-Weather | Year-round use including winter | 60,000 miles | Yes (3PMSF) |
| Grabber A/TX | All-Terrain | Trucks, SUVs, winter off-roading | Up to 60,000 miles | Yes (3PMSF) |
| Grabber X3 | Mud-Terrain | Extreme off-road, desert, rocks | Varies | Yes (3PMSF) |
| G-MAX RS | Summer Performance | Track days, spirited driving | 50,000 miles | No |
| G-MAX AS-05 | UHP All-Season | Sport sedans, year-round performance | 50,000 miles | No |
The Safety Concern: General Tire’s Recall History
Here’s where things get serious. A brand’s value proposition means nothing if the tires aren’t safe. General Tire has a concerning pattern of recalls related to tread separation.
Past Problems: 2002 and 2005 Recalls
In 2002, General recalled certain tires for having rubber that was thinner than specifications between the belt edges. The risk? Tread separation and loss of vehicle control.
2005 brought another recall for premature wear and failure to meet federal safety standards.
Beyond official recalls, the General AmeriTrac line faced widespread owner complaints about vibration, tread separation, and blowouts—though no formal recall was issued.
Current 2025 Recalls: Two Major Issues
Recall #1: Grabber HTS 60 Tread Detachment
- Affected Tire: General Grabber HTS 60, size LT245/75/R17 121/118S
- The Problem: Tires were produced with the wrong rubber compound
- The Risk: Tread detachment, which increases crash risk
- NHTSA ID: 25T017
This is a manufacturing failure. The wrong material got into production tires, compromising their structural integrity.
Recall #2: AltiMAX RT45 Sidewall Failure
- Affected Tire: General Altimax RT45, size 235/60R18 107H
- Production Dates: August 4-10, 2024
- The Problem: Overcure condition causing potential carcass breaks and sidewall failure
- The Risk: Sudden air loss, belt separation, tread loss, crash risk
- NHTSA ID: 25T013
What’s particularly concerning here: the defective tires were flagged by automated systems but weren’t properly removed from production. That’s both a machine failure and a human oversight failure.
What This Pattern Means
One recall is an anomaly. A 2002 tread separation recall, followed by consumer complaints about tread separation, followed by two 2025 recalls for tread detachment and belt loss is a pattern.
The 2025 recalls are especially troubling because they stem from completely different causes—one is a materials error, the other is a process failure. Two distinct quality control breakdowns in the same period suggests systemic issues.
This doesn’t mean General Tires are universally unsafe. Thousands of drivers use them without problems daily. But it does mean you need to be proactive about checking for recalls before you buy.
How General Tire Stacks Up Against Competitors
All-Terrain Showdown: A/TX vs. BFG KO2 vs. Falken Wildpeak
| Feature | General Grabber A/TX | BFGoodrich KO2 | Falken Wildpeak AT3W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Performance | Excellent, “superior” to Wildpeak | Good | Good |
| Wet Performance | Good, better than KO2 | Fair (noted weakness) | Excellent |
| Road Noise | Quiet for the category | Louder | Moderate |
| Studdable | Yes | No | No |
| Value/Price | Excellent | Premium priced | Excellent |
The A/TX specifically targets the KO2’s weaknesses—noise and winter performance—while undercutting its price.
All-Weather Battle: AltiMAX 365AW vs. Goodyear WeatherReady
The Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady might edge out the AltiMAX 365AW in absolute snow and ice grip. But the General costs significantly less while still carrying the same 3PMSF certification.
For drivers who need proven winter capability but don’t want to pay premium pricing, the AltiMAX 365AW hits the sweet spot.
Are General Tires Good? The Honest Verdict
Let’s cut through the marketing and give you the straight answer.
The Good:
- Made by Continental, a top-tier global manufacturer
- Uses proven Continental technology at lower prices
- Specific models (Grabber A/TX, G-MAX RS) genuinely outperform competitors in key areas
- Strong warranties and owner satisfaction ratings
- Legitimate “best bang for the buck” in several categories
The Concerning:
- Multiple tread separation recalls spanning decades
- Two active 2025 recalls indicating possible quality control issues
- Performance can be inconsistent across model updates (RT43 vs. RT45)
Who Should Buy General Tires:
You’re a good fit if you:
- Want Continental engineering without Continental pricing
- Prioritize value over absolute peak performance
- Don’t mind doing recall checks before purchasing
- Need specific capabilities (winter all-terrain, budget track tire)
Who Should Skip Them:
Consider other brands if you:
- Want zero compromise on safety and quality control
- Need absolute maximum performance
- Don’t want to deal with potential recall hassles
