General Altimax RT45 vs Toyo Extensa A/S II tires

Founded in 1915, General is a US-based tire manufacturer that makes quality tires for use on sedans, coupes, CUVs, SUVs, Jeeps, minivans, light trucks, and other types of vehicles.

Toyo, on the other hand, is a Japanese tire manufacturer that has been active since the 1940s. In the American subcontinent, Toyo tires are known for their reliability and are often used on passenger cars, light trucks, CUVs, SUVs, EVs, and ATVs/UTVs.

The General Altimax RT45 and the Toyo Extensa A/S II tires are the two capable all-season tires offered by these manufacturers and will be compared against each other to give the readers a clearer view of their abilities in areas like traction, handling, and longevity based on our proprietary tire rating system, SimpleScore.

The Altimax RT45 is suitable for use on coupes, sedans, SUVs, CUVs, and minivans, while the Extensa A/S II is good for use on passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, minivans, passenger cars, and light trucks. They both are suitable for use in dry, wet, and light snow conditions, allowing drivers to use a single set of tires throughout the year. Both are touring all-season tires, and they both have the ability to offer quiet, comfortable, and long-lasting service.

So, without any further ado, let’s compare Altimax RT45 vs Extensa A/S II tires. Read on!

General Altimax RT45 tires

Starting with the General Altimax RT45, this all-season tire offers solid year-round performance and was introduced in July 2022. It features an innovative symmetrical tread pattern that offers solid traction and grip in dry, wet, and light snow conditions. The tire is optimized for enhanced ride comfort, quieter rides, sharper handling response, and dependable traction. In addition, there are features that boost fuel efficiency and braking performance. The tire is also covered by a tread life warranty to add to the driver’s peace of mind.

Overall, long-lasting tread life, sharper handling response, and solid traction contribute to an outstanding 8.9 SimpleScore.

Get the best deals on General Altimax RT45 tires here

Toyo Extensa A/S II tires

The Toyo Extensa A/S II was launched in August 2019 and comes with similar year-round serving abilities like its counterpart, allowing drivers to confidently tackle roads in dry, wet, and light snow conditions. This touring all-season tire is engineered for long-lasting tread life, enhanced ride comfort, strong wet braking, quicker handling response, increased fuel efficiency, and quieter rides. Additionally, it is also covered by a tread life warranty to offer a great ownership experience.

All thanks to longer tread life, superior traction, and better steering response, the Extensa A/S II is awarded a higher 8.8 SimpleScore.

Get the best deals on Toyo Extensa A/S II tires here

General Altimax RT45 vs Toyo Extensa A/S II tires on traction

Let’s compare both tires on the traction front and find out which one is better when it comes to maintaining road grip.

Commencing with the Altimax RT45, the tire scores an 8.6 SimpleScore in traction. The presence of dense siping on the tread improves traction in dry, wet, and light winter conditions, while the wide circumferential grooves optimize water channelling for increased hydroplaning resistance and wet grip. There are also lateral grooves that further boost the evacuation of water and snow for stronger traction in wet and light snow conditions. Additionally, the sharper tread block edges and all-season rubber compound enhance traction and grip throughout the year.

On the other hand, the Extensa A/S II is rated an 8.7 SimpleScore in traction, providing better traction. The presence of a silica-rich compound improves grip on wet and snowy roads, while the four main grooves evacuate water from the contact patch for increased wet traction. The dry and wet traction performance is further enhanced by multi-wave sipes, and the sharper tread block edges additionally improve the surface-biting ability.

While both tires offer decent traction performance, the Toyo all-season tire beats the General tire by a small margin.

ADVANTAGE: Toyo Extensa A/S II

General Altimax RT45 vs Toyo Extensa A/S II tires on handling

Moving on to the handling analysis, let’s find out which of the two tires is better when it comes to steering command, cornering, lane-changing, stability, and acceleration.

The Altimax RT45 is rated an 8.6 SimpleScore in handling, which means the tire influences the steering response and other controllability attributes positively. The reinforced construction and wider footprint enhance handling performance, while the shoulders and ribs dedicatedly improve cornering and lane-changing ability. There are sipes across the footprint for improved braking performance and reduced stopping distance.

The Extensa A/S II also scores an 8.6 rating in handling, offering a reliable handling response. Thanks to the improved rib design, the tire evenly distributes driving pressures for better handling and braking performance. The sipes ensure smooth and quiet rides, while the solid shoulder blocks enhance cornering performance and offer better stability.

In handling, both tires score equally good, resulting in a tie!

ADVANTAGE: Tie

General Altimax RT45 vs Toyo Extensa A/S II tires on longevity

No doubt, traction and handling play an important role, but some buyers are more inclined towards longevity. Therefore, in this section, we will find out which tire is better when it comes to long-lasting service.

The Altimax RT45 achieves a whopping 9.8 SimpleScore rating in longevity. This means that with a set of these tires installed, you will enjoy long-lasting service and cover a good number of miles. The innovative tread design of the Altimax RT45 resists uneven wear and ensures long-lasting performance, whereas the “Replacement Tire Monitor” feature visually indicates tire replacement status by wearing down to “REPLACE TIRE”. Likewise, the “Visual Alignment Indicators” also indicate alignment status and alert when the alignment inspection is needed. Thanks to an up to 75,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the long-lasting ability of the tire is further proved. The use of a tough rubber compound and solid construction positively influences longevity.

Comparatively, the Extensa A/S II scores an excellent 9.4 score in longevity, proving its ability to last longer. The backing of up to 75,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty additionally hints at the tire’s long-lasting service. The multi-wave sipes minimize the chances of irregular wear for longer tread life, and similarly, the special rubber compound and reinforced inner construction keep the tire in shape for long-lasting use.

When we compared both tires, the Altimax RT45 was slightly better in the longevity race than the Extensa A/S II. But that doesn’t mean the Toyo tire is on the negative side; it is just that the Altimax RT45 earns some extra points and comes out as a clear winner here.

ADVANTAGE: General Altimax RT45

When to use each

Both the Altimax RT45 and the Extensa A/S II are touring all-season tires and are good for year-round service on paved roads. These tires are not made for use in off-road conditions. Consider using them on dry, wet, and light snowy roads.

As far as the size availability is concerned, both the Altimax RT45 and the Extensa A/S II are available in 14- to 20-inch rim sizes.

Which one should you choose?

Based on the overall SimpleScore, we found the Altimax RT45 to be a slightly better choice than the Extensa A/S II (8.9 vs 8.8). But, it is to be noted that both tires have their own positives, which should be taken into consideration before purchase.

When it comes to price, the Altimax RT45 is available at a starting price of at least $99.99 per tire, while the Extensa A/S II comes at a starting price of at least $87.66 per tire. That means a set of four Altimax RT45 tires will cost you at least $399.96, while a set of four Extensa A/S II tires will cost you at least $350.64.

Looking at SimpleScore, you must buy the Altimax RT45 tire if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the Buick Lacrosse, Toyota RAV4, or Hyundai Genesis
• Want a tire that’s equally good in handling (8.6 vs 8.6)
• Want a tire that’s better in longevity (9.8 vs 9.4)

On the other hand, you must choose the Toyo Extensa A/S II if you:

• Drive a vehicle the Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Sonic, or Acura TLX
• Need a tire that’s better in traction (8.7 vs 8.6)
• Need a tire that’s equally good in handling (8.6 vs 8.6)
• Want a tire that’s comparatively cheaper and offers dependable performance

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.