Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 1 + 1 road tests and 805 + 165 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: G-MAX AS-05 70, Ecsta PA51 69.
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Tests – · 1 test Owners 68 · 805 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 19 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires (tested tread life (miles))
“18 ST on freshly refinished snowflakes and general g-max as-05 tires. Tire rack mobile install is awesome.”
Tests – · 1 test Owners 70 · 165 reviews
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | G-MAX AS-05 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 69 (est.) | ≈ 69 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 71 | 70 |
G-MAX AS-05: 60% × 69.3 (est.) + 40% × 71.2 = 70
Ecsta PA51: 60% × 68.8 (est.) + 40% × 69.9 = 69
No road tests of dry for G-MAX AS-05. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
No road tests of dry for Ecsta PA51. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
| Source | G-MAX AS-05 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 71 (est.) | ≈ 71 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 71 | 71 |
G-MAX AS-05: 60% × 70.6 (est.) + 40% × 70.6 = 71
Ecsta PA51: 60% × 71.1 (est.) + 40% × 71.4 = 71
No road tests of wet for G-MAX AS-05. 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 Ecsta PA51. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
| Source | G-MAX AS-05 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 64 (est.) | ≈ 67 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 51 | 59 |
G-MAX AS-05: 60% × 64.3 (est.) + 40% × 51.1 = 59
Ecsta PA51: 60% × 67 (est.) + 40% × 59.4 = 64
No road tests of snow for G-MAX AS-05. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
No road tests of snow for Ecsta PA51. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
| Source | G-MAX AS-05 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 68 (est.) | ≈ 68 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 66 | 65 |
G-MAX AS-05: 40% × 68.1 (est.) + 60% × 65.8 = 67
Ecsta PA51: 40% × 67.9 (est.) + 60% × 64.7 = 66
No road tests of comfort for G-MAX AS-05 or Ecsta PA51. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
| Source | G-MAX AS-05 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | ≈ 66 (est.) | ≈ 66 (est.) |
| Reviews found online | 68 | 74 |
G-MAX AS-05: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 67.9 = 67
Ecsta PA51: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 74 = 69
No road tests of noise for G-MAX AS-05 or Ecsta PA51. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
| Source | G-MAX AS-05 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests | 77 | 70 |
| Reviews found online | 73 | 74 |
| Tested Tread Life (Miles) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 | 87% | 67% |
G-MAX AS-05: 60% × 77 + 40% × 72.7 = 75
Ecsta PA51: 60% × 69.9 + 40% × 74.4 = 72
| Source | G-MAX AS-05 | Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews found online | 70 | 67 |
| Category | General G-MAX AS-05 | Kumho Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 70 | 69 |
| Dry | 70 | 69 |
| Wet | 71 | 71 |
| Snow | 59 | 64 |
| Comfort | 67 | 66 |
| Noise | 67 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 75 | 72 |
| Handling (owners) | 70 | 67 |
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.
G-MAX AS-05
Ecsta PA51
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.
In the overall rankings of 1 tests that ran both, General G-MAX AS-05 finished ahead 1 times and Kumho Ecsta PA51 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | G-MAX AS-05 | Ecsta PA51 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tested Tread Life (Miles) | Treadwear | 87% | 67% | +20.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires · 225/40R18 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #3/19 | #7/19 | – | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires · 225/40R18 |
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Community members widely regard the General G-Max AS-05 as an outstanding value for an ultra-high performance all-season tire, often praising its responsive steering, strong dry handling, and wet grip as a cheaper alternative to Continental and Michelin. However, opinions on road noise are polarized, ranging from quiet to noticeably loud, and snow/winter performance is frequently cited as mediocre or limited to light conditions.
“General Tire G-MAX AS-05 I just ordered a set of General Tire G-MAX AS-05 for my Bolt. Tirerack.com says that this is an "Ultra High Performance All-Season" tire. With 28,000 miles of wear on the factory tires, I can feel it starting to hydroplane in heavy rain. I'm swapping before something worse than "starting to hydroplane" happens. And I'm looking forward to it being a lot more fun to drive. :-) General Tire G-MAX AS-05”
“I had the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3's on my GTI and didn't care for them much. Overrated, period. The + version might be better? I have 4 Continental SureContact RX's on my GTI and they are the best UHP all-season tires I've had. They aren't known for being superb in class in the snow like the Conti DWS06's are. But they grip excellent in the rain and perform great cold or hot. Every other all-season I've had gave up traction in hot summer weather except for the Conti's on my car and the Generals Gmax AS-05 on my wifes Audi. Those Generals are made in Portugal by Continental. They have a tad more road noise than my tires but are better otherwise. I'm done assuming Michelin and top tier high dollar tires are always better.”
“I'm a tire dealer. If you can get the General GMax AS05 in your size... Get them. They are so underrated. Im on my 2nd set. That is the only time I've repeated a tire purchase. The most interesting thing about them is the noise at extreme cornering. There isnt any squeal. They make a low pitched hum. And they are cheap. General is a sister of Continental .”
Based on 88 community posts
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
| Attribute | A · General G-MAX AS-05 | B · Kumho Ecsta PA51 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | All Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 1 | 13 |
| Rim diameters | 19″ | 16″ – 19″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | 10.5/32″ |
| UTQG | 500 A - AA A | 500 A A |
| Treadwear warranty | 50,000 mi | 45,000 mi |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | 51 psi |
General G-MAX AS-05
Kumho Ecsta PA51
Too close to call: General G-MAX AS-05 and Kumho Ecsta PA51 are within 2 points overall. General G-MAX AS-05 is stronger on treadwear. Kumho Ecsta PA51 is stronger on snow.
Kumho Ecsta PA51 scores 64 vs 59 on snow.
General G-MAX AS-05 scores 75 vs 72 on treadwear.
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Neither, by our numbers: 71 vs 71 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Neither, by our numbers: 70 vs 69 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Kumho Ecsta PA51, 64 vs 59 on our snow score.
Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 69 on the noise score, within 3 points.
Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 66 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
General G-MAX AS-05, 75 vs 72 on our treadwear score.
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
