March 2, 2011
General Tire recently unveiled the new G-MAX AS-03 Ultra High Performance All-Season tire, the first in a family of G-MAX performance tires coming down the pipeline. This tire will replace the Exclaim UHP Ultra High Performance Summer tire as the sole performance tire option in the General portfolio.
Since the tire wouldn’t be available to the public until April 2011, select members of the Tire Rack team were given a chance to preview the traction and handling of production-spec tires in several autocross-style events. Here’s what we found.
Our first exercise was intended to be conducted in the dry, featuring an autocross course set up in a large asphalt area. But thanks to steady drizzle, we drove in nearly constant wet conditions. The short but challenging course layout featured an off-camber 90 degree turn, tight lane-change slalom, along with hairpin and sweeping 180-degree turns packed into a 30-second autocross course.
The first half of the exercise featured powerful Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X MR all-wheel drive cars equipped with 18" General G-MAX AS-03 and Goodyear Eagle GT tires. In the unplanned wet conditions both tires felt similar in overall grip. The G-MAX AS-03 felt responsive and predictable as the nimble Lancer Evo danced its way through the course.
We then switched to Audi TTS coupes riding on 18" wheels and tires, this time comparing the G-MAX AS-03 to the Yokohama AVID ENVigor. Seat of the pants feel showed a modest difference in overall grip, with the advantage going to the General.
We moved to another asphalt area, this time to formally compare the wet traction of the G-MAX AS-03 versus several competitors. As fate would have it the rain subsided for the time being, so a water truck was used to keep the course surface wet. This course layout was similar to the dry autocross with a combination of 90-degree turns, several lane changes and sweeping turns designed to challenge the responsiveness and traction of each tire.
Our first comparison used Audi S4 sedans, comparing the General G-MAX AS-03 with the Hankook Ventus V4 ES and Uniroyal Tiger Paw GTZ Ultra High Performance All-Season tires. In this demo the G-MAX AS-03 displayed a perceptible advantage in ultimate wet traction, as well as responsiveness and steering authority through the tight lane change section of the course.
As the all-wheel drive system of the Audi does a good job maximizing acceleration traction, we were given the opportunity to drive a more challenging platform - a rear-wheel drive Ford V8 Mustang GT with the traction control turned off. The Mustang’s simple rear suspension design and lack of electronic aids put the burden of maximizing acceleration traction squarely on the tire’s traction and driver’s skill.
This time we compared the Goodyear Eagle GT with the General G-MAX AS-03, and like we found during the "dry" (but raining) autocross, both tires offered similar overall wet grip. The G-MAX AS-03 again felt responsive and balanced, even under the weight of the nose-heavy V8 Mustang.
Our experience with the General G-MAX AS-03 was good, but brief. We didn’t get an opportunity to evaluate the tire’s dry handling or road manners during everyday driving. We look forward to getting the General G-MAX AS-03 out on the Tire Rack Real World Road Ride and Performance Track Drive to find out how it behaves in a real world setting.
Need help choosing the right products for your vehicle? Our team of highly trained experts has the knowledge and passion to help. Just pick up the phone and give us a ring. Or let's chat via email. We love solving problems and lending a hand (or an ear).
Contact Us