General Altimax HP

[mtbiker278]

I had read a while ago of some members getting the General Altimax HP tires. Since Tirerack.com had some great reviews and they were one of the cheaper tires I decided to get a set for my civic.

I was hoping some people had some more feedback on how they ride, and the treadwear they're seeing. I'm not really too concerned since the warranty is good for 55k miles. I figure they'll be good for an MPG increase as well since the tread design seems almost continuous (not knobby).

Thanks for the help!

[MaxxMPG]

I got a set for my mom's car last August. The ride is smooth, they're pretty quiet, and she doesn't complain (which for her is rare). They have a 51psi sidewall, and the sidewalls themselves are very soft so the tire tends to look underinflated. I used her observation that the tires looked "low" to pump them up to 42psi (recommended is 32). Recently she told me that she got 26mpg on the way out to my brother's house (a trip that's 70/30 highway/stop-n-go) on a car rated 17/23 under the old EPA. Hmmmmm I wonder why!

I would say they're good tires. I would consider a set for my car if they were available in the right size, which they don't appear to be. They are indeed quiet, the handling seems fine (although she's no Danica Whatshername), and the max sidewall is high enough to run them in the 50psi range and get some good glide time.

[mtbiker278]

I did some more reading on tirerack and looked for reviews of people with hybrids trying these tires. Indeed they got lower MPG compared to the stock tires. However it's hard to say that this was due to tread design, worn tires, driving style, and a myriad of other variables. Although, most people seem to be running on the recommended pressure (~32psi). Right now I have my current set of tires at 51psi front and 45psi rear. I think I'll tr that right off the bat and see how things go.

I'm getting them installed on friday morning. I'll keep an eye on the scangauge for any wild changes.

[mtbiker278]

Well I have my new tire on, and I can definitely tell a different in the ride quality. However, I haven't determined any FE changes yet. Overall I'm happy with them. They're almost silent below 40mph, they grip better than anything else I've ever driven on. The high sidewall pressure is a nice to have feature as well.

I'm currently running about 51psi front and 45psi rear. Can't tell any changes in coasting or drag. The tires are definitely softer than other I feel. They have a dual density composition that has a low density layer of rubber under the high density rubber that contacts the road. The make-up is suppose to absorb road virations and little bumps while also providing good contact with the road. However, I can see why many people had losses in FE due to this design. More contact with a softer tire = a lot more rolling resistance. Although, with higher that door-jam pressure I haven't seen any drastic changes.

[morkys]

I have a 2001 Corolla and I'm looking at this General Altimax HP tire in 195/60-14 or the Yokohama H4S or a 185/65-14 Yoko TRZ or the regular Michelin Harmony/Destiny. I've spoken to 3 or 4 Corolla owners and they say 195/60-14's don't alter their fuel economy from the 185/65 size. I like the 195/60 because it's in between the height of my 175/65 and the 185/65 but it's a little wider at 195.

Any more reports on Fuel Economy with this tire? I'm concerned that the design of the tire with it's comfort layer will cause rolling resistance to be higher. I know the drill, you just crank up the PSI. Anyhow, just wanted to know people's feedback with this tire and fuel economy.

thanks folks,

[nervousmini]

Originally Posted by MaxxMPG

I would consider a set for my car if they were available in the right size, which they don't appear to be.

Try the tire size calculator at http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp and you may be able to find an acceptable alternate size for your car. I have used this site for a while and found it to be pretty accurate and provides allot of data about the comparison you are trying.

[warthog1984]

Another calculator is http://www.dakota-truck.net/TIRECALC/tirecalc.html

Input a tire size & it will list EVERY alternate size within your limits along with the widths, heights and height change.

Its the best calculator I've found yet.

[mtbiker278]

I've had these tires on for almost two months now. Unfortunately I can't comment much about my fuel economy. I recently moved which has changed up my commute. It now involves a lot of stop and go so my previous average of ~40mpg has dropped to 30mpg. I will says that these tires have not change my MPG numbers much. I will note that you do have to pump them up a fair amount to get the same MPG. I'm currently running them at the max cold PSI (51), but will probably go higher.

On another note, stability, traction, and braking distance have all improved over the stock tires. Not exactly fuel economy related but gives you a piece of mind. Next time I might go for the RT version.

[tcat]

I've had these tires for about 6K miles. Very happy with handling and noise (quiet!), but not too happy with FE. I drive the same 46 miles each day and record mileage of each tank. I was getting a consistent 22 mpg with OEM Bridgestones (on Subaru Baja). Dropped to 20 mpg with the Altimax HP's. DT did have the pressure a little low, so I boosted it to 44 psi, and now FE is 20.5-21 mpg. That's 5%, which over time is fairly costly, but I think the tire quality is worth it. They do feel like they are "sticking" to the road, which is a good thing (for anything but FE).

[CapriRacer]

Everyone should be aware that - all other things being equal - exchanging worn tires for new is going to hurt fuel economy. The values you quoted are about what i would expect.

But everyone also be aware that OE tires are generally designed with fuel economy in mind - and they get that by sacrificing traction (especially wet traction), and wear.

So to find you took a hit in the fuel economy department is to be expected.