Established in 1915, General Tire is owned by Continental and specializes in making passenger, light truck, SUV, performance, winter, and commercial tires. The General G-MAX AS-05 is the brand’s all-season ultra-high-performance tire that’s suited for performance coupes, sedans, sports cars, and small crossovers. General Tire’s advanced engineering ensures that the G-MAX AS-05 offers superior handling and long-lasting treadwear. It is aimed at enthusiasts who want to experience top-notch driving performance in all seasons. In fact, it is also offered with many practical abilities that make it apt for daily use too. Doesn’t matter, if it’s summer or winter, the General G-MAX AS-05 is made to tackle any given weather. It is much better than a standard summer high-performance tire because of its utility in cold weather.

But, is the General G-MAX AS-05 equipped with enough abilities to offer superior performance, comfort, driving pleasure, and year-round traction? Let’s find out in this General G-MAX AS-05 tire review.

Features and Benefits

The General G-MAX AS-05 has the DNA of a standard all-season tire. It is designed to perform year-round, but what makes it unique is its capability to offer spectacular performance in cold conditions. The G-MAX AS-05 features various state-of-the-art technologies that distinguish its overall performance and ability. General’s patented StabiliTread Technology increases the footprint of the G-MAX AS-05, which means a larger and flatter contact patch is created and less stress is passed on to the tread, resulting in even wear and longer tread life.

The asymmetric tread pattern of the G-MAX AS-05 features SmartGrip Technology to offer sporty performance on dry roads and solid grip in wet and snow conditions. For further convenience of the drivers, the G-MAX AS-05 comes with Smart Monitor Indicators. These indicators alert the drivers when the tires need to be replaced and when the vehicle is misaligned. There’s a Visual Alignment Indicator on the tire tread, which looks like additional sipes. If these sipes are not in alignment and it looks like one side is above or below the other, it’s time to take the wheel to the workshop.

Likewise, there’s a Replacement Tire Monitor that’s basically lettering in the center tread that indicates the tread depth and alerts if a tire is recommended for certain driving conditions like winter or wet. When it’s time to replace the G-MAX AS-05, the lettering “REPLACEMENT TIRE MONITOR” evolves as “REPLACE TIRE” to alert you of the tire’s replacement.

The high void and angled groove pattern of the G-MAX AS-05 is engineered for effective water evacuation to keep the tread in contact with the surface and ensure superior wet traction. The tread of the G-MAX AS-05 also features oversized tread blocks, a prominent center rib, and a flatter and larger contact patch for stability and steering responsiveness in performance driving situations.

The General G-MAX AS-05 is available in 16 to 22-inch rim sizes and is covered by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Pros and Cons

Is the General G-MAX AS-05 a good ultra-high-performance all-season tire or should you consider something else? Let’s have a look at the positives and negatives before we conclude with our verdict in this General G-MAX AS-05 tire review.

• The tire offers excellent grip and traction in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions thanks to its computer-tuned tread design.
• Smart Monitor Indicators monitor vehicle misalignment and tire replacement status.
• Optimized silica compound keeps tires glued to the surfaces in case of performance driving.
• Patented StabiliTread technology ensures even wear and increased tread life.
• Patented SmartGrip technology helps in sporty performance on dry roads and increased grip in wet and snow conditions.
• Peace of mind as it comes with a limited treadwear warranty of up to 50,000 miles.

While General claims of the G-MAX AS-05’s impeccable performance in all weathers, some of its shortcomings are likely to divide opinions.

• Not as long lasting as some of its competitors.
• Performance in snow is not as good as its counterparts.

SimpleTire’s view on General G-MAX AS-05 tires

The General G-MAX AS-05 features various impressive technologies, offers a great driving experience, and provides superior steering control at high speeds. If you need a tire that’s an affordable yet high performer on the streets, can manage to keep you enthusiastic while driving in dry and wet conditions, and has skills to provide traction and grip in light winter weather conditions, the General G-MAX AS-05 is one of the best value for money choices when compared to other ultra-high-performance all-season tires like Yokohama Advan Sport A/S, Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS, and Pirelli P Zero All Season.

Vehicles the General G-MAX AS-05 is a replacement tire for

Designed for use on performance coupes, sedans, sports cars, and small crossovers, the General G-MAX AS-05 can be a good replacement tire for performance cars like Ford Mustang, Lexus IS250, Audi A6, Chevrolet Camaro, BMW Z3, Lexus IS350, Audi S6, and BMW 3-Series.