Tests – · none yet Owners 70 · 42 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Falken EuroWinter HS449 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 0 + 1 road tests and 42 + 1,371 owner reviews. How we score
EuroWinter HS449 leads, 71–68 Narrow edge
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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.
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68
Dry
Level68Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 AltiMAX RT43 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 68 (est.) ≈ 68 (est.) Reviews found online 68 68 EuroWinter HS449: 60% × 68.2 (est.) + 40% × 68.4 = 68
AltiMAX RT43: 60% × 68.1 (est.) + 40% × 68 = 68
No road tests of dry for EuroWinter HS449. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
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).
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78
Wet
EuroWinter HS449 +870Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 AltiMAX RT43 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 76 (est.) ≈ 71 (est.) Reviews found online 81 70 EuroWinter HS449: 60% × 76.2 (est.) + 40% × 80.6 = 78
AltiMAX RT43: 60% × 70.6 (est.) + 40% × 70.4 = 70
No road tests of wet for EuroWinter HS449. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
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).
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71
Snow
EuroWinter HS449 +764Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 AltiMAX RT43 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 71 (est.) ≈ 67 (est.) Reviews found online 72 60 EuroWinter HS449: 60% × 71.2 (est.) + 40% × 71.8 = 71
AltiMAX RT43: 60% × 66.9 (est.) + 40% × 60.3 = 64
No road tests of snow for EuroWinter HS449. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).
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).
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71
Comfort
EuroWinter HS449 +665Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 AltiMAX RT43 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 70 (est.) ≈ 68 (est.) Reviews found online 71 63 EuroWinter HS449: 40% × 69.5 (est.) + 60% × 71.3 = 71
AltiMAX RT43: 40% × 67.9 (est.) + 60% × 62.6 = 65
No road tests of comfort for EuroWinter HS449 or AltiMAX RT43. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
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61
Noise
AltiMAX RT43 +869Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 AltiMAX RT43 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 67 (est.) ≈ 67 (est.) Reviews found online 52 73 EuroWinter HS449: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 52.3 = 61
AltiMAX RT43: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 73.2 = 69
No road tests of noise for EuroWinter HS449 or AltiMAX RT43. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
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66
Treadwear
AltiMAX RT43 +369Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 AltiMAX RT43 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 66 (est.) 71 Reviews found online 65 67 EuroWinter HS449: 60% × 65.8 (est.) + 40% × 65.2 = 66
AltiMAX RT43: 60% × 70.8 + 40% × 66.6 = 69
No road tests of treadwear for EuroWinter HS449. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
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72
Handling (owners)
EuroWinter HS449 +864Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 AltiMAX RT43 Reviews found online 72 64
Scores at a glance
| Category | Falken EuroWinter HS449 | General AltiMAX RT43 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 68 |
| Dry | 68 | 68 |
| Wet | 78 | 70 |
| Snow | 71 | 64 |
| Comfort | 71 | 65 |
| Noise | 61 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 66 | 69 |
| Handling (owners) | 72 | 64 |
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
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Recomputed
Headline score
71
/ 100
EuroWinter HS449
68
/ 100
AltiMAX RT43
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.
| Discipline | Category | EuroWinter HS449 | AltiMAX RT43 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #9/17 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test | #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 EuroWinter HS449
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow, slush, and ice
- Strong value for money compared to premium brand winter tires
- Reliable and safe performance on wet and rainy roads with good hydroplaning resistance
Cons
- Faster tread wear or a softer rubber compound noted by some users
- Slightly reduced fuel economy or rolling resistance penalty
- Occasional reports of decreased grip or wheel spin on steep inclines and packed ice for certain 2WD setups
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
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Falken EuroWinter HS449
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
General AltiMAX RT43
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 · Falken EuroWinter HS449 | B · General AltiMAX RT43 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | All Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 6 | — |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 19″ | — |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | 10 - 12/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 600 - 700 A A - B |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Black Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | 44 - 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
71
/ 100
Falken EuroWinter HS449
68
/ 100
General AltiMAX RT43
Narrow edge: Falken EuroWinter HS449 — better wet, handling and snow. Pick the General AltiMAX RT43 if noise and treadwear matter most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Falken EuroWinter HS449 scores 78 vs 70 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Falken EuroWinter HS449 scores 72 vs 64 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
General AltiMAX RT43 scores 69 vs 61 on noise.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Falken EuroWinter HS449 scores 71 vs 64 on snow.
Tire A · Falken EuroWinter HS449
Tire B · General AltiMAX RT43
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EuroWinter HS449 or AltiMAX RT43?
Which is better in the wet, EuroWinter HS449 or AltiMAX RT43?
Falken EuroWinter HS449, 78 vs 70 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, EuroWinter HS449 or AltiMAX RT43?
Neither, by our numbers: 68 vs 68 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is better in snow, EuroWinter HS449 or AltiMAX RT43?
Falken EuroWinter HS449, 71 vs 64 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, EuroWinter HS449 or AltiMAX RT43?
General AltiMAX RT43, 69 vs 61 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, EuroWinter HS449 or AltiMAX RT43?
Falken EuroWinter HS449, 71 vs 65 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, EuroWinter HS449 or AltiMAX RT43?
General AltiMAX RT43, 69 vs 66 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