Head-to-head Updated

Cooper Zeon CS Sport vs General G-MAX RS — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Zeon CS Sport is ahead, 75–70

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Tire ACooper

Zeon CS Sport

Summer

Tests – · 1 test Owners 77 · 8 reviews

Best test result: #15 of 14 in 2020 TCS Summer Tire Test R18 (overall ranking)

Tests – · 1 test Owners 62 · 567 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (overall ranking)

“General G-Max RS tires I know they just came out in February 2018 but was wondering if anyone else has had experiences with them yet. From what I’ve dug up, they’re OEM on the new Saleen Mustang. Rated at 360AA. I bring this up because that’s what the dealer has given me after an unfortunate alignment issue with my old tires. Yes I went to the dealer because I trust very few people to work on my car and can afford a little extra. So far these tires haven’t disappointed me but it’s day 1. Highway driving felt very smooth and I hugged the corners going faster than... everyone else. Later today I’m going to take my empty backroad and see how they are in tight turns. General announced these tires are UHP Summer tires meant to attract customers for track and autocross. The only thing that holds me back a little on the throttle is the price tag is SOOO cheap, which is exactly what they wanted. If you have experience with them go ahead and post up please. Read more”

Category by category

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

  1. 75

    Dry

    Zeon CS Sport +4
    71
    Why this score
    SourceZeon CS SportG-MAX RS
    Reviews found online7973
  2. 80

    Wet

    Zeon CS Sport +8
    72
    Why this score
    SourceZeon CS SportG-MAX RS
    Reviews found online8473
  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    34
    Why this score
    SourceZeon CS SportG-MAX RS
    Reviews found online–10
  4. 74

    Comfort

    Zeon CS Sport +6
    68
    Why this score
    SourceZeon CS SportG-MAX RS
    Reviews found online7966
  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    64
    Why this score
    SourceZeon CS SportG-MAX RS
    Reviews found online–60
  6. 71

    Treadwear

    Zeon CS Sport +1
    70
    Why this score
    SourceZeon CS SportG-MAX RS
    Professional tests (TWG score)7273
    Reviews found online6966
  7. 75

    Handling

    Zeon CS Sport +8
    67
    Why this score
    SourceZeon CS SportG-MAX RS
    Reviews found online7567
Scores at a glance
Cooper Zeon CS Sport vs General G-MAX RS: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryCooper Zeon CS SportGeneral G-MAX RS
Relative Score 75 70
Dry 75 71
Wet 80 72
Snow – 34
Comfort 74 68
Noise – 64
Treadwear 71 70
Handling 75 67

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

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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

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Recomputed
Headline score

Zeon CS Sport

G-MAX RS

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

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryZeon CS SportG-MAX RSΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 7% #15/14 · 2020 TCS Summer Tire Test R18 90% #3/22 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires −83.8 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Zeon CS Sport

Pros

  • Excellent wet and dry traction
  • Superior ride comfort and low road noise
  • High value for money compared to premium brands

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear reported by some users
  • Potential for premature replacement under high-mileage or aggressive use
  • Less rigid sidewall feel compared to some dedicated performance run-flat tires
All owner themes in the Zeon CS Sport review

Tire B G-MAX RS

Pros

  • Outstanding price-to-performance ratio compared to premium brands
  • Strong dry and wet weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
  • Quiet and comfortable ride quality for a performance tire

Cons

  • Softer sidewalls can lead to some squirm or less crisp steering response during hard cornering
  • Prone to temporary flat-spotting or vibration when sitting overnight in cooler weather
  • Unpredictable or slippery performance if driven in cold temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit
All owner themes in the G-MAX RS review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Cooper Zeon CS Sport

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

Tire B

General G-MAX RS

Positive

Community sentiment toward the General G-MAX RS is broadly positive, with users frequently praising its exceptional value and strong dry and wet traction as a budget-friendly ultra-high-performance summer tire. While often favorably compared against premium alternatives like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S or Firestone Indy 500, some owners note compromises including elevated road noise and occasional handling inconsistencies on specific sports car platforms.

bobistheoilguy.com ·2023-10-28

“Looking to replace a set of Conti EC Sport (which have been great), but the current 02 model is on backorder with no ETA in the size I need. Considering a Plan B, like the G-Max RS, which is a segment down (UHPS), and might not be an issue since it will be a street tire. Firestone Indy 500 (BS RE003) are in the same class, but heavier, and not as good in the wet. So the main debate is whether to wait for the ECS02, or take a chance on the RS next time it goes on silent "in cart price" sale, which also made them about $200 cheaper for a set, sans rebate or similar promo.”

r/GolfGTI ·3 upvotes ·2023-04-12

“Price no object? Michelin 100%. I have the Generals right now and while they're fine for grip and what not, they are very noisy. I have Michelin X Ice winter tires, and even with the aggressive winter tread, they are considerably quieter than my g-max rs. However I paid about 700 CAD for my set of g-max a couple years ago. So for a price like that, I'm happy. Like anything, expect to get what you pay for.”

f30.bimmerpost.com

“I deplore the treadwear of the Michelins, but haven't had them on the 435i. I've ran almost every manufacture tire in UHP form on my 135i though. For the 435i GC (which I do drive aggresively but do NOT track) the General G-Max RS are extremely satisfying on the back roads, highway, street, and in the wet. Sizes are 245/35/19 in front and 265/35/19 in the rear. I've put them through their paces in the not-so-sticky backroads of South Dakota, driven through 40 degree temperature swings from here to CA, and found out how well they will hook from a greenlight in the oily hot streets of Las Vegas. *Hint: A lot, they hook a lot. Noise varys depending on road surface. They are silent on good roads, but can be a bit loud on rough ones. I'm sold on them. They look great around the BBS's and feel great as well for the limits I've taken them to. Hope that helps.”

Top themes
#value and pricing#dry and wet grip#comparison to Michelin PS4S#comparison to Indy 500#road noise levels#treadwear and longevity#Porsche and Corvette fitment

Based on 53 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Cooper Zeon CS Sport B · General G-MAX RS
CategorySummer—
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—48
Rim diameters—16″ – 20″
Tread depth—10/32″
UTQG—360 - 700 A - AA A
Sidewall—Black Side Wall
Max pressure—50 - 51 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Cooper Zeon CS Sport

General G-MAX RS

Winner: Cooper Zeon CS Sport — better wet, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Cooper Zeon CS Sport scores 80 vs 72 on wet.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Cooper Zeon CS Sport scores 75 vs 67 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Cooper Zeon CS Sport scores 74 vs 68 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Cooper Zeon CS Sport scores 75 vs 71 on dry.

Tire A · Cooper Zeon CS Sport
Tire B · General G-MAX RS

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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.

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

75

Leads

Zeon CS Sport

Amazon