Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Defender T+H leads, 72–68 Narrow edge
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Tests – · 1 test Owners 67 · 1,371 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 8 in 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires (overall ranking)
“I've had RT43s on for the past 35k or so. They've been pretty good. I will probably only get another 10-15k on them, but will probably replace with another set.”
Tests – · 1 test Owners 71 · 1 review
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires (tested tread life (miles))
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | AltiMAX RT43 | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 68 | 74 |
| Source | AltiMAX RT43 | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 70 | 75 |
| Source | AltiMAX RT43 | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 60 | 63 |
| Source | AltiMAX RT43 | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 65 | 70 |
| Source | AltiMAX RT43 | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 73 | 70 |
| Source | AltiMAX RT43 | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 71 | 75 |
| Reviews found online | 67 | 70 |
| Source | AltiMAX RT43 | Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 65 | 72 |
| Category | General AltiMAX RT43 | Michelin Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 68 | 72 |
| Dry | 68 | 72 |
| Wet | 70 | 74 |
| Snow | 64 | 66 |
| Comfort | 67 | 70 |
| Noise | 69 | 68 |
| Treadwear | 69 | 73 |
| Handling | 65 | 72 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
AltiMAX RT43
Defender T+H
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.
| Discipline | Category | AltiMAX RT43 | Defender T+H | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tested Tread Life (Miles) | Other | 82% #3/8 · 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires | 100% #1/8 · 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires | −17.7 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 86% #2/8 · 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires | 100% #1/8 · 2022 Consumer Reports All-Season Tires | −14.3 | Same test |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
The General Altimax RT43 is widely praised by the community as an exceptional value-for-money all-season touring tire, often compared favorably to more expensive premium brands like Michelin. Users frequently highlight its strong wet-weather performance, solid tread life, and affordability, though some note it can become slightly noisier as it wears down.
“For the money, on a generic commuter car, the RT45s might be better. Depending how cheap you can get them. I had the RT43s on our old Civic because they were rated really well in the rain (they were great) and they Lasted somewhere around 110k kms. They still had tread at this point but we're almost to the wear bars and we're getting noisy so I replaced them.”
“Replacement tires I have about 25k miles on my original tires (LR AWD, 18” Aeros) and evening though I have rotated then every 6-7000, I am not going to make it past 30k. So, anyone have any recommendations for replacements? Should I go for the standard Michelin’s? Anyone used anything else? For the record, Ian not concerned with the foam and road noise is fine. I’d like something less expensive, longer wearing, or both, without sacrificing much in the way of performance. For my usage, wet weather handling is more important than high performance. I drive it hard occasionally, but I am most concerned with how it performs on day-to-day commute and driving. (70 mile commute, round trip, 3-days/week). Thanks. Edit: thanks for the info everyone. I talked to my local tire guy and he recommended General Altimax RT43s. He also said the sound dampening foam is mostly a gimmick (which is what I suspected). He quoted me $198 (his prices include EVERYTHING). I could get them from Tire Rack for $152 and local install for $30 + 3 (disposal) which would save me a mere $13 per tire. But based on past experience with this tire shop, it is easily worth the extra $13 for convenience and peace of mind if I need flat repair or warranty claims. Related to that, he said the RT43 is a 60k tire but I should only expect 40-50 on my Model 3 and at best a $15 credit per tire. Frankly, I’d be happy with 40k. Probably going to keep the current rubber for another month, then get the Generals.”
“I put RT43s on my Jetta a couple of months ago, and have been pleasantly surprised with how good they are. Definitely recommend them.”
Based on 38 community posts
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
| Attribute | A · General AltiMAX RT43 | B · Michelin Defender T+H |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | Premium Touring All Season tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Tread depth | 10 - 12/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 600 - 700 A A - B | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall - Raised Outline White Lettering | — |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | — |
General AltiMAX RT43
Michelin Defender T+H
Winner: Michelin Defender T+H — better handling, dry and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Michelin Defender T+H scores 72 vs 65 on handling.
Michelin Defender T+H scores 72 vs 68 on dry.
Michelin Defender T+H scores 74 vs 70 on wet.
Michelin Defender T+H scores 73 vs 69 on treadwear.
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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.
