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Head-to-head Updated

Continental VikingContact 7 vs General AltiMAX RT43 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 8 + 1 road tests and 32 + 1,371 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: VikingContact 7 69, AltiMAX RT43 68.

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Continental VikingContact 7
Tire AContinental

VikingContact 7

Winter

± 5

Tests 75 · 8 tests Owners 63 · 32 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test (snow braking)

General AltiMAX RT43
Tire BGeneral

AltiMAX RT43

All Season

± 7

Tests – · 1 test Owners 67 · 1,371 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 8 in 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires (tested tread life (miles))

“I have the General Altimax RT43 on 19s as my winter tires, and they are perfectly fine. For sure louder than oem, because there is no foam, but for wear, tear and handling, perfectly fine. I am not racing anyone or driving aggressively with those tires on anyway.”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 67

    Dry

    AltiMAX RT43 +1
    68
    Why this score
    SourceVikingContact 7AltiMAX RT43
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / – tests77≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online5368

    VikingContact 7: 60% × 76.6 + 40% × 52.8 = 67

    AltiMAX RT43: 60% × 68.1 (est.) + 40% × 68 = 68

    No road tests of dry for AltiMAX RT43. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 68

    Wet

    AltiMAX RT43 +2
    70
    Why this score
    SourceVikingContact 7AltiMAX RT43
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / – tests68≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online6770

    VikingContact 7: 60% × 68.4 + 40% × 66.5 = 68

    AltiMAX RT43: 60% × 70.6 (est.) + 40% × 70.4 = 70

    No road tests of wet for AltiMAX RT43. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 76

    Snow

    VikingContact 7 +12
    64
    Why this score
    SourceVikingContact 7AltiMAX RT43
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / – tests79≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online7260

    VikingContact 7: 60% × 79.1 + 40% × 72.4 = 76

    AltiMAX RT43: 60% × 66.9 (est.) + 40% × 60.3 = 64

    No road tests of snow for AltiMAX RT43. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

  4. 71

    Comfort

    VikingContact 7 +6
    65
    Why this score
    SourceVikingContact 7AltiMAX RT43
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests70≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online7163

    VikingContact 7: 40% × 70 + 60% × 71.3 = 71

    AltiMAX RT43: 40% × 67.9 (est.) + 60% × 62.6 = 65

    No road tests of comfort for AltiMAX RT43. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 81

    Noise

    VikingContact 7 +12
    69
    Why this score
    SourceVikingContact 7AltiMAX RT43
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / – tests89≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online6973

    VikingContact 7: 60% × 88.6 + 40% × 68.7 = 81

    AltiMAX RT43: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 73.2 = 69

    No road tests of noise for AltiMAX RT43. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 60

    Treadwear

    AltiMAX RT43 +9
    69
    Why this score
    SourceVikingContact 7AltiMAX RT43
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 62 (est.)71
    Reviews found online5667

    VikingContact 7: 60% × 62.5 (est.) + 40% × 55.7 = 60

    AltiMAX RT43: 60% × 70.8 + 40% × 66.6 = 69

    No road tests of treadwear for VikingContact 7. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 64

    Handling (owners)

    Level
    64
    Why this score
    SourceVikingContact 7AltiMAX RT43
    Reviews found online6464
  8. 77

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceVikingContact 7AltiMAX RT43
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / – tests77–
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental VikingContact 7General AltiMAX RT43
Relative Score 69 68
Dry 67 68
Wet 68 70
Snow 76 64
Comfort 71 65
Noise 81 69
Treadwear 60 69
Handling (owners) 64 64
Efficiency 77 –

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

VikingContact 7

± 7

AltiMAX RT43

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryVikingContact 7AltiMAX RT43ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #2/15 2025 Teknikens Värld Winter Tire Test R17 #2/8 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A VikingContact 7

Pros

  • Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
  • Strong performance in slush and deep snow
  • Stable and predictable handling at highway speeds

Cons

  • Mixed reports regarding tread life and longevity
  • Noticeable decline in ice-braking performance compared to top-tier ice specialists
  • Compound may harden or performance may degrade after multiple seasons
All owner themes in the VikingContact 7 review

Tire B AltiMAX RT43

Pros

  • Excellent value and lower price point compared to premium brands like Michelin
  • Quiet and smooth ride quality with minimal road noise
  • Strong wet and dry traction with dependable hydroplaning resistance

Cons

  • Occasional balancing difficulties or vibrations reported by some users
  • Softer sidewalls can lead to slightly spongy handling or reduced cornering sharpness
  • Winter and snow performance can diminish notably as the tread wears down
All owner themes in the AltiMAX RT43 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Continental VikingContact 7

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

General AltiMAX RT43

Positive

Community sentiment for the General AltiMAX RT43 is predominantly positive, with reviewers praising its comfort, strong winter and wet weather capability, and solid value as a budget-to-midrange touring tire. However, critics frequently point out soft sidewalls, tramlining on grooved surfaces, and mediocre handling or dry grip under aggressive driving. Tread life reports are mixed, with many reaching 50,000 to 80,000 miles while others report premature wear around 30,000 miles.

r/cars ·1 upvote ·2017-04-10

“I've personally installed the RT43's on my own family members cars. They were great. Great in the snow, rain, and they are quiet. I don't think they're in the same class as a Michelin Premiere, but for the price they are great tires.”
odyclub.com ·2013-12-21

“Update -- in the middle of a snowstorm tonight, the Altimax RT43 did very well. The best description for the RT43 in snow would be "predictable" -- if there is a bit of slide the steering response is easy to control. Better handling overall than the Optimo H727, now over 800 miles and still very quiet.”
vwvortex.com ·2017-12-12

“I keep seeing graphs like this with the off-brand tires and cannot be convinced that they would actually perform in a panic braking situation. The Laufenn takes 44 additional feet (three carlengths) to stop on a wet road from 50 MPH than the budget favorite, the General RT43; 77 feet (5 carlengths) longer than the Michelins . I am buying a set of the Michelin Premier A/Ss for my wife's car when the OE Continentals wear out (it came with the regular OEM-style ContiProContacts which are okay but kind of noisy - looks like they will last around 30-35k miles). Source = TireRack”
Top themes
#value and pricing#snow and winter traction#wet grip and hydroplaning#soft ride comfort#soft sidewalls and handling#tramlining on grooved roads#treadwear and longevity

Based on 261 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental VikingContact 7 B · General AltiMAX RT43
CategoryWinterAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available134—
Rim diameters14″ – 22″—
Tread depth10 - 11/32″10 - 12/32″
UTQG—600 - 700 A A - B
SidewallBlack Side WallBlack Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering
Max pressure44 - 51 psi44 - 51 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental VikingContact 7

General AltiMAX RT43

Too close to call: Continental VikingContact 7 and General AltiMAX RT43 are within 2 points overall. Continental VikingContact 7 is stronger on snow, noise and comfort. General AltiMAX RT43 is stronger on treadwear.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Continental VikingContact 7 scores 76 vs 64 on snow.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Continental VikingContact 7 scores 81 vs 69 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

General AltiMAX RT43 scores 69 vs 60 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Continental VikingContact 7 scores 71 vs 65 on comfort.

Tire A · Continental VikingContact 7
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · General AltiMAX RT43
Check price on Amazon

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VikingContact 7 or AltiMAX RT43?

Which is better in the wet, VikingContact 7 or AltiMAX RT43?

Neither, by our numbers: 68 vs 70 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, VikingContact 7 or AltiMAX RT43?

Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 68 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, VikingContact 7 or AltiMAX RT43?

Continental VikingContact 7, 76 vs 64 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, VikingContact 7 or AltiMAX RT43?

Continental VikingContact 7, 81 vs 69 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, VikingContact 7 or AltiMAX RT43?

Continental VikingContact 7, 71 vs 65 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, VikingContact 7 or AltiMAX RT43?

General AltiMAX RT43, 69 vs 60 on our treadwear score.

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology