General Altimax RT45 vs Cooper ProControl tires | SimpleTire

General Altimax RT45 vs Cooper ProControl: Comparing Top General Tires and Cooper Models

Choosing the right all-season tire involves balancing safety, longevity, and budget. This comparison explores the performance differences between the General Altimax RT45 and the Cooper ProControl to help you make an informed decision for your vehicle.

Understanding General Tires vs. Cooper All-Season Models

Both General and Cooper provide high-quality all-season tires designed to deliver reliable performance for sedans, CUVs, and SUVs. These models are engineered to handle a variety of road conditions while maintaining ride comfort and extended tread life.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Year-Round Versatility: Confident grip in dry, wet, and light wintry conditions.
• Extended Tread Life: High mileage warranties ranging from 65,000 to 75,000 miles.
• Quiet Ride Technology: Optimized tread patterns to reduce road noise.
• Smart Monitoring: Built-in visual indicators to track wear and alignment.

General Altimax RT45 Tires

Ohio-based General Tire has been around since 1915. Although it is best known for its 4x4 tires, the company has also manufactured tires that maximize road handling and longevity. The General Altimax RT45 is a tire that offers a great mix of reliable wet braking, low road noise, responsive handling, a variable warranty, and long tread life.

Suited for CUVs, SUVs, sedans, coupes, and minivans, it gets dense sipes for better grip and short braking distances. Wide grooves on the tread remove water and minimize hydroplaning chances, thereby increasing safety. This tire features an optimized tread design for preventing uneven wear and better fuel economy through low rolling resistance. Additionally, you’ll see a Replacement Tire Monitor that wears down to “REPLACE TIRE” and indicates a change. Based on these features, the Altimax RT45 earns an excellent average SimpleScore of 8.8.

Cooper ProControl Tires

Interestingly, both General and Cooper are owned by other companies today — General by Continental AG and Cooper by Goodyear. Goodyear’s takeover of Cooper has resulted in a huge leap in terms of quality. The Cooper ProControl tire's lateral grooves provide consistent wet traction, removing uncertainties from your driving experience.

To prevent hydroplaning, the tire also features four circumferential grooves that quickly remove water from the footprint. This tire is available with an asymmetric tread pattern and is most suitable for passenger cars. While the tread depth on Cooper ProControl is slightly less than that of the General Altimax RT45, a silica-enriched rubber compound provides year-round durability. We have given the Cooper ProControl an average SimpleScore of 8.8.

What are the key differences between Cooper and General tire models?

When looking at Cooper vs General tires, the primary differences lie in their construction technology and wear-monitoring tools. General Tires often focus on driver-facing maintenance technology, such as their Visual Alignment Indicators (VAI), which alert drivers to alignment issues before they ruin the tread.

Cooper, conversely, emphasizes internal structural integrity. Their Armor Belt Technology uses high-strength steel belts to provide the stiffness needed for crisp steering response. While General often leads in pure longevity scores, Cooper is frequently cited for a slightly more "connected" steering feel in wet conditions.

General Altimax RT45 vs Cooper ProControl: Traction Comparison

Dense sipes are the most noticeable features on a tire for traction, and these can be seen on the General Altimax RT45. Wide grooves are present for preventing aquaplaning and increasing wet traction. An all-season tread pattern is responsible for traction in dry, wet, and light snow conditions. Though the asymmetrical tread pattern on the Cooper ProControl may have an edge here, the General Altimax RT45 counters with higher tread depth, leading to an average traction SimpleScore of 8.5.

The Cooper ProControl's sipes widen to provide traction in both difficult dry and wet/snowy situations, featuring Widening Sipe Technology. The ProControl's sweeping grooves improve wet traction and hydroplaning resistance by removing water from the tread. The tread depth and silica rubber compound contribute to grip as well, resulting in an average traction SimpleScore of 8.5.

Advantage: Tie

Handling Performance

Those who wish to regularly drive through light snow will be happiest with the General Altimax RT45 as its tread pattern is most suited for the same. A higher tread depth and dense sipes are responsible for maximizing dry and wet traction. Wide grooves are responsible for removing water from the tread and generating wet grip, resulting in an average traction SimpleScore of 8.5.

The Cooper ProControl has been engineered to handle crisply at every turn. Armor Belt Technology, in the form of steel belts, is offered for the strength and rigidity essential to execute a rapid steering response. Although the tread patterns on both tires are asymmetrical, Cooper ProControl's tread depth is somewhat shallower than that of the General. Furthermore, the ProControl tire's silica rubber compound increases its performance and durability, leading to an average handling SimpleScore of 8.7.

Advantage: Cooper ProControl

Longevity and Warranty

A Replacement Tire Monitor on the Altimax RT45 shows the user when the tire wear is low enough for a change, indicating “REPLACE TIRE” on the tread. Along with higher tread depth, this tire receives a 75,000-mile limited manufacturer warranty for H- and T-rated sizes and a 65,000-mile warranty for V-rated sizes. Based on this, the Altimax RT45 deserves a phenomenal average longevity SimpleScore of 9.6.

In contrast, the Cooper ProControl is engineered to wear uniformly, with robust construction that enhances the compound's durability. Large polymers increase strength in the tread compound for enhancing durability and tread life. This tire is available with a 70,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, resulting in an average longevity rating of 9.3.

Advantage: General Altimax RT45

General Altimax RT45 Reviews: Expert Insight

Real-world General Altimax RT45 reviews frequently highlight the tire's exceptional value-to-performance ratio. Drivers appreciate the "quietness" of the ride even as the tire ages, a trait attributed to the optimized tread cushioning. While it isn't a dedicated winter tire, its ability to navigate light slush is a common praise point among commuters in the Northeast and Midwest.

Which Tire Should You Choose?

While looking at the average SimpleScores, both tires are equally good, attributed by their identical overall SimpleScores of 8.8 vs 8.8. While the General tire provides better tread life, the ProControl turns out to be a good option for confident handling seekers.

Choose the General Altimax RT45 if:

• You want the highest possible longevity score (9.6).
• You drive a Jeep Compass, Toyota Camry, or Subaru Outback.
• You want visual indicators for alignment and tire replacement.

Choose the Cooper ProControl if:

• You drive an Audi TT, Honda Civic, or Chrysler PT Cruiser.
• You prefer better handling and steering feel provided by Armor Belt Technology (8.7).
• You frequently drive in heavy rain and prioritize wet-road stability.

Whether you choose the value-packed General or the sturdy Cooper, both brands offer excellent protection for your daily drive. Shop our full selection of tires today to find the perfect fit for your vehicle and budget.