Suche
Mein Konto
Tires from the Wild West”
With the new summer tires Altimax One and Altimax One S, the General Tire brand, which was founded in the USA and now belongs to Continental, is launching a product offensive for a wide range of vehicles - from small cars to mid-size cars.
Tires from the Wild West”
The tire brand General Tire was founded 104 years ago in the US state of Ohio and has been part of the Continental Group since 1987. Off-road specialists appreciate the robust, grippy tires such as the Grabber AT3 all-terrain tire, which causes a stir with its martial design on SUVs, pickup trucks and off-road vehicles. At first glance, the new summer tires from General Tire, the Altimax One and the Altimax One S, appear inconspicuous. The former is the successor to the Altimax Comfort and is initially available in 12 sizes for rims from 15 inches, its sporty brother with the “S” in the name follows the Altimax Sport and is currently offered in 37 sizes for rims from 15 to 20 inches. By the end of 2019, the Altimax range will be expanded to a total of 138 sizes.
Test drive in Portugal
When driving a Mercedes A-Class along country roads and highways in the south of Portugal, the Altimax S 16-inch models mounted on stylish Borbet rims cut a fine figure. The rolling behavior shows a good compromise between sportiness and comfort, and the noise development also remains inconspicuous. The Altimax One S is equipped with four running grooves for improved water drainage at higher speeds, the Altimax One comes with three grooves. Both models are equipped with extra-reinforced and interconnected shoulder blocks and a continuous rib structure in the middle for good performance on dry roads. On wet roads, a relatively high number of grip edges ensure more grip. While the Altimax One was improved by 9 percent compared to its predecessor in terms of rolling resistance, the sporty Altimax One S increased its mileage by a remarkable 12 percent. Both models are also equipped with a “Visual Alignment Indicator” that shows the correct alignment of the tire. In addition, a “Replacement Tire Monitor” with lettering in the tread shows when the minimum tread depth has been reached. In this case, the lettering turns into “Replace Tire” – an original and practical feature.
Market position in Austria
The general importer of the General Tire brand is Reifen John GmbH in Salzburg. Marketing manager Stephanie Obermeier is confident that the two new summer tire models will appeal to numerous new customers thanks to their good price-performance ratio. “In the Continental Group’s portfolio, the Altimax tires are priced slightly below the Semperit models,” explains Obermeier. The tires, which originally came from the “Wild West”, are now produced by Continental in Europe and are subject to the group’s usual high quality standards. The original American genetic makeup should not be denied, but rather should fuel the current marketing offensive. “General Tire is the sole supplier of the traditional US Nascar series, which takes place in Europe under the title Nascar Whelen Euro Series,” says Stephanie Obermeier. If you would like to experience such a spectacular race live, you can visit the “Nascar GP Germany” on September 21st and 22nd at the Hockenheimring. The special thing about it and the difference to a Formula 1 race: All drivers start with cars of the same power and with the same General Tire racing tires - pure driving skills are required!
DATA & FACTS
Company history:
The General Tire and Rubber Company was founded in Akron, Ohio, in 1915 by William F. O'Neil and Winfred E. Fouse. In 1981, General Tire had a global market share of 2.9 percent. In October 1982, the company signed a cooperation agreement with the German tire company Continental AG, which eventually took over General Tire in 1987 for $660 million.