General tires
Continental's American value brand, strong on trucks. Typically $80–$230 per tire.
General Tire was founded in Akron, Ohio in 1915 and became one of the big American tire names of the twentieth century. Continental bought it in 1987, and today General serves as Continental's mid-price brand in the US, with many tires built in Continental's plant in Mount Vernon, Illinois. The brand is heavily involved in off-road racing, which is where its Grabber truck tires earned their credibility.
The Grabber family is the reason most people buy General. The Grabber A/TX is a well-reviewed all-terrain with a 60,000-mile warranty on most sizes and the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol, the Grabber HTS60 is a long-wearing highway tire for pickups and SUVs, and the Grabber X3 is a proper mud-terrain with red-letter sidewalls. On the passenger side, the AltiMAX RT45 is a value touring tire with a 75,000-mile warranty, the AltiMAX 365AW is an affordable all-weather tire and the AltiMAX Arctic 12 is a studdable winter tire that punches above its price.
General prices sit clearly below Continental and roughly level with Cooper and Hankook. Warranties are solid, and the brand benefits from Continental's engineering. Honest weaknesses are that the car tires are competent rather than exciting, and the Grabber X3 is loud on pavement.
Up to $180 back on 4 tires ($90 base + $90 card bonus)
$90 General Tire Prepaid Mastercard on G-MAX RS, Grabber APT, A/TX, H/T, HTS60, X3; $70 on AltiMAX 365AW, Arctic lines, Grabber A/T Sport, HD, HTS. Same amount again when paid with a General Tire / Continental / Synchrony Car Care credit card. Purchases 9/1-10/31/2026, submit online at generaltire-rebates.com or by mail by 11/30/2026. Ends Oct 31, 2026.
General models worth buying
| Model | Type | Mileage warranty | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AltiMAX RT45 | All-Season Tires | 75,000 mi | $100 | Everyday sedans and minivans that want a long warranty at a mid-tier price. |
| Grabber A/TX | All-Terrain Tires | 60,000 mi | $160 | Pickups and SUVs that want an aggressive-looking all-terrain that is still good in snow. |
| Grabber HTS60 | Highway Truck & SUV Tires | 65,000 mi | $130 | Half-ton pickups and SUVs that stay on pavement and want long tread life. |
| Grabber X3 | Mud-Terrain Tires | None | $250 | Off-road trucks and Jeeps that want a mud-terrain with race-proven toughness. |
| AltiMAX 365AW | All-Weather Tires | 60,000 mi | $120 | Commuters in snow states who want a 3PMSF all-weather tire on a budget. |
| AltiMAX Arctic 12 | Winter Tires | None | $110 | Cars and small SUVs in hard winters that want a studdable tire at a low price. |
Strengths
- Grabber A/TX is a well-priced, winter-rated all-terrain
- AltiMAX Arctic 12 is one of the best-value winter tires
- Continental engineering at mid-tier prices
Weaknesses
- Passenger tires are unremarkable compared with Continental equivalents
- Grabber X3 mud-terrain is noisy on the highway
General tires: common questions
Who owns General Tire?
Continental AG of Germany has owned General Tire since 1987. General is Continental's value brand in North America, and many of its tires are built alongside Continental tires in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
Are General tires as good as Continental?
Not quite, and they are not priced like it either. General tires use older or simpler compounds and tread designs than the Continental equivalents, so they give up a little wet grip and refinement. For truck tires the gap is small; the Grabber A/TX in particular competes with tires costing much more.
Is the General AltiMAX Arctic 12 a good winter tire?
Yes, it is one of the best-value winter tires sold in the US. It is studdable, performs well in deep snow and slush, and typically costs 30 to 40 percent less than a Bridgestone Blizzak or Michelin X-Ice. It is a little louder and slightly less sharp on ice than the premium tires.