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)
“Due to the mass of positive reports, I have ordered an RT43. Only 8744 on the original Kenda rear and it is at the wear bars on the sides and the wear bars are almost gone near the center.”
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 | 64 |
| 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
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.
“Anyone running General RT45? Looking to replace the shitastic Toyo A36 on my 2023 PP that I just picked up. Was going to try to make them last until fall, but having picked a screw in one, im probably going to bite the bullet and change them now. I ran the RT43 on both my NA Miata as well as my 5-GT and was happy with them. Tire Rack is running a $140 rebate on a set of 4 right now. Just curious as to people's thoughts. Or, should I just bite the bullet and go with Continental Cross Contacts? Read more”
“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.”
“I have used the Altimax RT43s on several cars over the past 10 years (' 97 Honda Civic , '99 Ford Contour, 2002 Honda Accord, 2005 Chevrolet Venture, 2013 Kia Soul) and have been very happy with them. Except for the Contour (which ate tires in spite of alignments), I typically got about 50K miles on them before they were down to 1/4 tread. We get some good snows here in the mountains of West Virginia, and they do pretty well considering they are not "winter" tires, and all of these previous vehicles were just front wheel drive. Pretty quiet, and smooth riding. The price is right, too. I get them at WalMart and get the lifetime balance/rotation for $10/tire. When our new ' 19 Forester (base) Bridgestone Ecopia 422+ tires get too worn, I will be changing to the Altimax again. Can't wait to see how they do in the snow with All-Wheel-Drive! .”
Based on 261 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.
