May 3, 2021
Grand Touring All-Season tires have long been some of the most well-rounded all-season products. Without any serious sporting intentions or the need to deliver near six-digit mileage, tires from the category can focus on performing at a high level across the board. As is often the case, consumer demands are ever-growing, but fortunately advances in technology have allowed the tire manufacturers to make improvements in certain metrics without compromising others. As a result, we are seeing more and more Grand Touring All-Season tires that are severe snow service-rated and branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol. In the past, we predicted this is the way of the future for Grand Touring All-Season tires in the U.S., and with yet another new 3PMSF-branded option in the category, it seems to be coming to fruition.
The AltiMAX 365 AW is General’s new-for 2021 entry in Grand Touring All-Season. In addition to the enhanced light snow traction that comes with a tire bearing the 3PMSF symbol, the AltiMAX 365 AW is designed to deliver confident handling, even wear, and satisfying wet performance.
To see how this new addition to the category compares to an existing, 3PMSF-branded product, we tested it against the Firestone WeatherGrip. Our evaluation used 2020 BMW F36 430i Gran Coupes fitted with new, full tread depth 225/50R17 tires mounted on 17x7.5 wheels.
Our 6.0-mile loop of expressway, state highway and county roads provides a great variety of road conditions that include city and highway speeds, smooth and coarse concrete, as well as new and patched asphalt. This route allows our team to experience noise comfort, ride quality and everyday handling, just as you would during your drive to school or work.
In our on-road testing, the AltiMAX 365 AW had a firm ride with abrupt rebound following impacts that came across as a little choppy. The noise generated by the tire was medium in volume, but still indistinct. The steering was a little vague on-center, with some play before responding. The feel was light and fast, with a nice buildup of effort as more input was added. The WeatherGrip’s ride was nicely cushioned over small impacts, though our team wanted some additional composure over bigger bumps. On-road noise consisted of an ever-present and distinctive ring that was particularly noticeable on coarse surfaces. At top dead center, the steering was loose and unresponsive, and then it was light and imprecise with larger inputs. While not intended to be a performance tire, our team still wanted more.
Our 1/3-mile per lap test track course includes 90-degree street corners, a five-cone slalom and simulated expressway ramps. Run in both dry and wet conditions, the test track allows our team to experience the traction, responsiveness, handling and drivability normally only encountered during abrupt emergency avoidance maneuvers or competition events.
Dry track testing revealed the steering of the AltiMAX 365 AW was a relative high point, with quick reflexes and a nimble nature that set the fastest time through the slalom. Unfortunately, the steering feel was somewhat lacking, which made it a little imprecise through corners. It was easy to steer with the throttle, though our drivers wished for some additional grip overall. The WeatherGrip was rather reluctant on the track, with slow response to steering inputs and a generally uncoordinated feel when pushed. Fortunately, track driving isn’t in the expectations for a Grand Touring All-Season tire.
Both tires struggled somewhat in our wet testing, with the WeatherGrip generating slightly better outright traction than the AltiMAX 365 AW and earning a higher score from our team. With the reduced traction of the wet surface, the slow reflexes of the WeatherGrip didn’t stand out so distinctly, and overall the performance was balanced within its low limits. The AltiMAX 365 AW was able to put the power down and accelerate reasonably well, though combined with the lengthy braking distances, this created an imbalance that made it difficult to judge where the brakes should be applied. Similarly, the quick steering response felt good initially, but also made it easy to ask too much of the front end and encounter stubborn understeer at corner entry and mid-corner.
We always find it interesting to compare tires with the 3PMSF symbol because testing reveals a wide range of performance capabilities among 3PMSF-branded tires. Just because two tires have the 3PMSF doesn’t guarantee a similar winter performance. The test required to earn the 3PMSF is a pass/fail test, so one tire may exceed the requirement significantly, while another just barely passes, but they both will have the same symbol on the sidewall. Additionally, the 3PMSF test measures longitudinal acceleration traction only, which means there is no braking or cornering component, and it doesn’t evaluate ice traction in any way.
Our light snow testing revealed the WeatherGrip is a strong performer in the snow, and it led every objective and subjective metric. As we have found in tests of other tires, the purely straight-line test of acceleration and braking was very close between the two tires, with less than half a foot separating their results in both disciplines. There was a significant difference in their lap times around the handling track, however. Even though drivers are unlikely to push their vehicles to the limit in the snow, testing on the track reveals many aspects of a tire’s complete performance that can’t be measured by simple acceleration and braking tests. Our team liked the WeatherGrip on the track very much. The steering was a little slow, but it fit the overall character of the tire and worked well with the low-traction surface. The front end offered a lot of bite to initiate turns, and some easily-controllable rotation perfectly assisted when necessary. The strong acceleration and braking performance were present at higher speeds, and the entire package was usable and satisfying. The AltiMAX 365 AW was also a strong performer, but not quite to the level of the Firestone. It wasn’t as predictable due to the somewhat-abrupt drop-off in traction when the rear axle was pushed too hard. The front end also required a little bit of care to avoid pushing into understeer. Overall, though, it was very capable, especially for an all-season tire.
We found some additional separation in our ice testing, with the WeatherGrip once again leading the way. Its 4.90 second acceleration time was a quarter of a second faster than the AltiMAX 365 AW to 60 feet, and it required 5.5 feet less distance to come to a stop from 12 mph. Both tires delivered strong performances for the Grand Touring All-Season category, but they fell significantly short of what we would expect from a Studless Ice & Snow winter tire.
The two 3PMSF-branded Grand Touring All-Season tires in this group seek to deliver on the expected traits of a touring tire while adding enhanced light snow traction. As is often the case, there can be tradeoffs involved with that improved snow performance, and some tires do a better job managing those compromises than others.
The General AltiMAX 365AW is good on the road, with light and fast steering, minimal tread noise, and a ride that could use a little added composure. It’s very good in the snow, but not up to the level of the WeatherGrip. On the dry track it feels nimble and willing, but needs a big improvement in wet traction. The Firestone WeatherGrip has a soft ride that does a reasonable job cushioning the vehicle’s occupants from small impacts. It leads the test in traction on the ice and in the snow, and our drivers find it very satisfying when pushed to the limit on the snow handling track. The steering feels a little slow and vague, and there is some noticeable tread noise, particularly over coarse surfaces. It feels a little out of its comfort zone when pushed on the track, and we would have liked some additional wet traction to keep up with the competition in the category.
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