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Last updated 10/24/2024 - Originally published 10/24/2024
Written by SimpleTire
Established in 1915, General Tire is an America-bound tire manufacturer that offers dependable tires for use on sedans, coupes, CUVs, SUVs, Jeeps, minivans, light trucks, and many other vehicle types.
Hankook, on the other hand, is a South Korean tire maker and has been active since the 1940s. Counted among reliable tire brands, Hankook offers tires for passenger cars, light trucks, CUVs, SUVs, trailers, EVs, and commercial vehicles.
The General Altimax RT45 and the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) tires are the two solid all-season tires coming from these brands that will be pitted against each other in this comparison. The Altimax RT45 is made for use on coupes, sedans, SUVs, CUVs, and minivans, while the Kinergy GT (H436) is suitable for use on sedans, coupes, CUVs, and SUVs. The good thing about both tires is that they are suitable for use in dry, wet, and light snow conditions, which avoids the inconvenience of swapping tires with the change in season.
But, as a tire buyer, you would want to know which out of the two should be considered. So, using our proprietary tire rating system, SimpleScore, here we compare the Altimax RT45 vs Kinergy GT (H436) tires to give you a transparent analysis of these tires. Read on!
General Altimax RT45 tires
Commencing with the General Altimax RT45, which as we mentioned is an all-season tire good for year-round use. It was launched in July 2022 and sports a unique symmetrical tread design that makes drives more enjoyable in dry, wet, and light winter weather. The tire is engineered to offer raised comfort, noise-free rides, enhanced handling performance, and better traction. Besides this, the tire also comes with dedicated features that improve fuel economy and braking efficiency. For a worry-free driving experience, there is an attractive tread life warranty coverage offered with this tire.
Long-lasting tread, responsive handling, and exceptional traction performance award the tire with an excellent 9.0 SimpleScore rating.
Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) tires
The Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) was introduced in May 2019 and like its peer, Altimax RT45 can serve year-round. This grand touring all-season tire is optimized to offer vibration-free and quieter rides and is also M+S rated for confident driving in light snow conditions. The dry and wet road driving abilities of the tire are particularly impressive and there is a tread life coverage on offer. Confident handling and stability are also some of the key attributes of this tire.
All thanks to long-lasting tread life, sharp steering response, and commanding traction performance, the tire is awarded a higher 8.5 SimpleScore rating.
General Altimax RT45 vs Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) tires on traction
A tire’s ability to firmly grip the surface and maintain the necessary surefootedness can be judged through its traction performance. So, let’s check how are the Altimax tires and Kinergy GT tires on the traction front.
Starting with the Altimax RT45, it scores a higher 8.7 SimpleScore rating on the traction front. The tread of the tire features dense siping to offer a strong traction performance in dry, wet, and light snow conditions, while the circumferential grooves ensure smooth drainage of water and slush for hydroplaning resistance and solid wet grip. The lateral grooves on the tread also facilitate strong traction in wet and light snow, while the sharper edges and all-season compound maintain traction and grip in varying weather conditions.
The Kinergy GT (H436), on the other hand, scores an 8.2 SimpleScore rating in the traction area, ensuring that the drivers experience confident driving. The wide circumferential and lateral grooves of the tire boost wet traction, while the optimized pattern also enhances driving in light snow weather. There are also equalized chamfer sipes that enhance grip in snow conditions. Like the competitor, the Hankook tire also has multiple biting edges for a strong hold on dry and wet surfaces.
We found that the gap between the traction scores of both tires was very minimal, but it was the Altimax RT45 that left the Kinergy GT (H436) tire behind in the race.
ADVANTAGE: General Altimax RT45
General Altimax RT45 vs Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) tires on handling
Analysis of handling performance is next on the list, which determines the tire’s ability to respond to the steering command, cornering ability, lane-changing skills, stability, and acceleration efficiency.
The Altimax RT45 bags an 8.7 SimpleScore in the handling area. The braking performance of the tire is admirable, which is largely improved by the presence of dense siping. There are center ribs that enhance steering ability and let you change lanes whenever required. The optimized rubber compound allows the tire to maintain contact with the surface in varying weather and improves stability. The sidewalls and shoulder blocks absorb cornering pressures, while the robust construction and computer-tuned tread boost acceleration performance.
The Kinergy GT (H436) scores an 8.6 rating in handling, which means with this tire mounted on wheels, you can confidently steer and control your ride. The wide lateral grooves and step-wing shoulders assure better handling and braking performances, while the optimized block stiffness and center rib improve handling performance and braking efficiency respectively. The enhanced sidewall stiffness optimizes steering ability and the increased contact area offers maximum stability in changing conditions. The vibration control technology utilized in Kinergy GT (H436) absorbs road vibrations and the optimized pitch sequence reduces road noise, both improving the ride pleasure.
Both tires are great when it comes to handling performance, and the Altimax RT45 wins by a very small margin in the race. This means, that even choosing a Hankook tire won’t impact the steering and handling performance much, but you will have to respect the fact that the Altimax RT45 earns some extra points!
ADVANTAGE: General Altimax RT45
General Altimax RT45 vs Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) tires on longevity
Now, let’s take a look at the long-lasting ability of the Altimax RT45 and the Kinergy GT (H436) tires and find out which one serves longer.
The Altimax RT45 scores a whopping 9.7 SimpleScore rating in longevity, which underlines the tire’s remarkable ability to cover more miles. Thanks to its contemporary tread design that resists uneven wear and promotes longevity, while the innovative Replacement Tire Monitor feature visually indicates when it is time to change the tire by wearing down to “REPLACE TIRE”. Similarly, the Visual Alignment Indicators also help you by giving you a visual aid of the alignment status. Longevity can also be judged by the tire’s limited manufacturer tread life warranty of up to 75,000, highlighting that the tire is built and designed for longer use. Additionally, the tough rubber compound and reinforced construction also contribute to the long-lasting factor.
Contrarily, the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) scores an exceptional 9.0 score in longevity. This means the tire has a reduced wear rate and can be used for a good number of miles. Across all sizes, the Kinergy GT (H436) comes with a 70,000 miles limited manufacturer tread life warranty to give you an indication that these tires too can last longer than its peer. The tread block stiffness enhances durability and promotes longevity, and likewise, the solid sidewall stiffness also provides a greater level of reinforcement to further boost the tire’s strength.
After analyzing both tires, we concluded that the Altimax RT45 and the Kinergy GT (H436) tires are equipped with enough features to offer lasting service, but the scores of the General tire are higher which entitles it as a clear winner in the longevity area.
ADVANTAGE: General Altimax RT45
When to use each
Both the Altimax RT45 and the Kinergy GT (H436) are all-season types of tires and can be used year-round. The Kinergy GT (H436) is however M+S rated which makes it more capable of handling roads covered with light snow or mud.
It is to be noted that these tires aren’t Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified and hence, you should avoid using them in moderate to severe winter conditions in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Coming to the size availability part, General offers the Altimax RT45 tires in 14- to 20-inch rim sizes, while the Kinergy GT (H436) tires are available in 15- to 19-inch rim sizes.
Which one should you choose?
After analyzing the overall SimpleScores of both tires, we found the Altimax RT45 to be better with a higher 9.0 rating against the Kinergy GT’s 8.5 score. However, it is to be noted these tires have their own strengths that need to be considered prior to purchase.
Price-wise, the Altimax RT45 is available at a starting price of at least $98.99 per tire, while the Kinergy GT (H436) comes at a starting price of at least $68.07 per tire. That means a set of four Altimax tires will cost you at least $395.96, while a set of four Kinergy GT tires will cost you at least $272.28.
Looking at SimpleScore, you must choose the Altimax RT45 tire if you:
- Drive a full-size premium sedan like the Buick Lacrosse, a luxury sedan like the Hyundai Genesis, or a compact SUV like the Toyota RAV4
- Need a tire that’s better in traction (8.7 vs 8.2 in traction)
- Need a tire that’s slightly better in handling (8.7 vs 8.6 in handling)
- Need a tire that’s long-lasting (9.7 vs 9.0 in longevity)
- Need a tire that’s backed by up to 75,000 mile tread life warranty
Contrarily, you must prefer the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) if you:
- Drive compact car like the Honda Civic, a mid-size SUV like the Kia Telluride, or a minivan like the Toyota Sienna
- Need a tire that’s offered at a comparatively cheaper price and offers decent performance
- Need a tire that’s covered by a standard 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty across all sizes
- Need a tire that’s M+S rated for confident use on roads covered with light snow or mud
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, and our agents will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.