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YOUR RESEARCHGeneral Tires G-MAX RS 2021 - heads-up/review.
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big mistake
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It turned out, it was the surface of the road that had parallel groves that happened to line up perfectly with my new tire (not the old).
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I even adjusted air pressures from 30 to 60 pounds and it still felt like driving on balloons.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I pulled over and checked the installation and tire condition again and again.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I saw that because I did that with different tires on my S4 and and finally realized that I had them installed on the car the wrong way.
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I've had a prior alignment as well and still this did not solve the problem of just feeling "loose", with light steering and vague sense of where the limits are.
2003 996 C4S
(same tire size as Turbo). This is more about my experience with these General G-MAX tires than a real review. On a recent road trip to the P. Parade in Southern Indiana I experienced a tire failure on my Sumitomo's after 17K miles. They needed to be changed anyway. Being stuck in our rather rural location, the only option for next-day replacement was a set of the General's. The General's had above average reviews so I gave the OK for installation. This turned out to be a big mistake. I noticed some loose and dangerous handling within a few miles. As I drove the 1000 miles home the handling characteristics became worse. ABS warnings and PSM warnings came on at just about every corner. I pulled over and checked the installation and tire condition again and again. Air pressures, mounting and overall visual inspection continued to show no apparent problems. I even adjusted air pressures from 30 to 60 pounds and it still felt like driving on balloons. Sliding, skidding and little to no grip was a consistent feature. When arriving home I took the car to two local gurus that suggested many things like suspension, trans mount, engine mounts, etc. Before tearing into the undercarriage my local guy suggested trading out my set of tires and wheels for another spare set they had in the shop. After a test drive with the spare tires and wheels it was obvious that there was a manufacturing error with the Generals on my car. We ordered new set of Michelins which were installed a week later. The manufacturer (Continental) responded with a boiler-plate form letter from Germany offering to replace the tires with the same thing. The small rural tire shop that did the installation can also do nothing. The car now drives as it should with the Michelin's. The Generals with about 1000 miles on them are in the dumpster.
This is quite interesting! Can you confirm what sizes you ran specifically? I'm assuming you replaced all 4 tires. It's common for tires to need to shed the top layer left over from production but what you're describing sounds quite serious. I have a bit over 10k miles on my G-Max tires and they have been great with zero issues, albeit my car is RWD. I know C4S can act funny when tires are out of the factory recommended size specs.
Are the General's "directional" tires and if so were they put on backwards, which would have given you that handling feeling. I saw that because I did that with different tires on my S4 and and finally realized that I had them installed on the car the wrong way.
That's a fair point - didn't think of it. Not sure how the failure happened (blow out, steady leak?) but perhaps there was an alignment issue. Regardless, it's a ****ty situation but something haven't experienced with those tires. Hope you can figure it out. Not sure if it would make a difference but what was the production date?
That's unfortunate, I really like my Gmax RS. Picked them up in March and have about 1.5k on them. Only went with them because everywhere I looked 4s were backordered for months. Also, on the turbo forum many people suggested the RS. Figured Id give them a shot for the price and if it didn't work out just place an order for the Michelins. However, my experience is nothing like yours.
Thanks for heads up. I gotta say that my 02 C2 rides best on the street with Michelins. Have tried Bridgestone, Continental, Toyos, but keep coming back to Michelins. Never seem to have to worry about them.
+1. I have had my Gmax RS on for about 1.5k now, with zero issues, on my 03 C4S. I can confirm that they are directional tires, so that could have something to do with your issue. I'll also point out that I have Pirelli's on the front (don't get me started on why.....), and the Gmax still are performing just fine. I don't notice any problems like what the OP mentioned.
Throw me in to the I like them a lot crowd. Just after installing them drove 600 miles to an autocross where they performed very well and drove home. No issues. Also on a C4S. Did you get a bad batch?
If u guys dont get out of the 996 forum, this guys spamed his review across most of the other forums too. He must be really upset at these tires but hasnt bother to return.
I Am a car dealer and tried this tire for the first time. I am selling and driving a lot of 911 since 20y so know the handling of every trim
the bad feeling was immediate. Exactly what you described. Like driving in snow with no sharpness in direction. After 5miles , I stopped the car to verify pressure and it was fine i was scared to drive it. 1hour before, the car was perfect on pzero. Baffled
Wild thread. I love mine. from a performance per dollar standpoint, they might be the best tire in the world. My only complaint would be increased road noise.
I've been running G-Max tires on my 600+ horsepower 996 Turbo for several years now and I am a big fan of them as a street tire. I have experienced no handling at all that is similar the "greasy" feeling described. I like them enough that I just bought another set for my other wheels.
It�s rare for a tire to be such a problem, but it�s common for people to report a difference in handling after getting new tires. People, it seems, can be quite sensitive (perceptive?) to handling on a sports car.
I had been commuting in my wife�s BMW (with sport suspension) after getting new tires and the car was all over the road. It turned out, it was the surface of the road that had parallel groves that happened to line up perfectly with my new tire (not the old). Those groves would drift and move around, and man, that car really wanted to snake around. After the tires broke in, the road also broke in, and wasn�t so bad.
Sounds like 'tramlining'. It can be caused by a number of factors including alignment being off.
Or it can just happen; I had a Z4 3.0si that simply did it, no matter what. They are notorious for tramlining. I got used to it, but, sheesh.
Im having the same issue and HIGHLY regret this purchase.
I'm even wondering.... is it my steering rack?
I've already just replaced EVERY suspension component on the car.
I dont have a sense of when the tire is going to give up.
But what makes me think steering rack is - it feels like there's no "load up" effort, or increase in effort on the rack during cornering. It feels dead to me...
I’m thinking that using the same shop to do all the same tires aren’t going to get you where you want to be
I run my set 2psi over until outside temps hit 70
have you tried reversing the set swap sides
You gotta figure out if you have a bad set if tires or if you just don't like them. If they are bad, call whoever you bought them from. If you don't like them, then get another set of tires. Pretty straight forward. Life is to short, especially if you don't like the tires on your 996.
Bud I bought mine for 27 and easily have $20k into it $5k rims $3k coil overs $2k seats $2k cup bumper $3k rear bumper $3k brakes all this before maintenance $$
it’s a labor of love not money drive it enjoy it there’s worse ways to lose $$$
I think you are replacing items, but you don�t really know what the cause is of the way your car handles�
Have you driven any other 996s? Perhaps they all handle like this. Or have someone who knows 996s drive yours?
Are you driving the same roads for this comparison? Some road surfaces just aren�t any good.
A friend of mine, used to a BMW E46 M3, wondered why my 996 didn�t have tight steering on the street at 30mph. The reason is because you don�t want the same tight steering at 30mph when you plan to drive 124MPH on the German autobahn. Maybe BMW uses active variable steering�
I remember when the 996 came out, some car people complained that the steering was very light. I tend to agree, at least on my car. And when you take long sweeping corners at higher speed on the highway, the car doesn�t always feel planted and set. However, on the track, when you have tighter turns, the car does set. And trail braking in some corners makes a big difference. Back to the E46 example, If you try applying throttle in the BMW, it can help turn the car. Or as Glenn says, a nice LSD can help, but in a regular 996, the car can understeer in turns under power.
Sorry about your delema. Not trying to be difficult. Just trying to be realistic. Tires do change the feel of the car. So does alignment and your suspension set up.
Dont know if you ever had a 911 before, they feel really odd especially at highway speeds. Front end is light and you feel the nooks and crannies on road. You can balance it out with your suspension set-up, tires and tire pressures.
What are you running for your suspension set-up and what are your tire pressures?
ADD: Also let us know what 996 you have as well as what your wheel/tire sizes are. More info the better.
i've been running these tires for 2 years and they've been great for me. much better than the previous Sumitomo ZIII and Hankook Ventus V2 tires that were on before. Weightwise they're pretty light and they don't flat spot when parked over a week. My specs below:
front 235/40-18 on 18x9 wheel. -1.1 camber
rear 275/35-18 on 18x11 wheel. -2.2 camber (would've went 295/30 but I had 18x10 wheels before this setup and re-used the tire)
Hey, just reviving this in case anyone else out there is still picking it up.
Yeah, the car just feels "loose" and I have no sense of confidence. I've had the car professionally aligned, the entire suspension has been replaced.
I've tried raising and lowering the tire pressure a little bit. I think I'm running 2-4 PSI below the recommended spec to try to get more grip.
2002 C2 Cab 6M
Running all new control arms/top mounts, Koni FSD Shocks with ROW M030 Springs (new), H&R front/rear sway bars
Alignment specs attached (listed as a C4, it's a C2)
I've had a prior alignment as well and still this did not solve the problem of just feeling "loose", with light steering and vague sense of where the limits are.
I am trying to get flat handling with the slightly lowered suspension and bigger sways, but am still not confident. I know how to drive a 911 but I'm not a pro driver and my car lacks PSM.
I know that this is desirable to many, but I'd prefer the nanny just in case, and I'm never tracking the car
Tires are General G-MAX RS
225/40 tire on 18x8 57 offset wheel
295/30 tire on 18x10.5 60 offset wheel
The wheels are OEM 5-spokes. I went a little wide on the rears for grip (though maybe I should not have
Front wheels have 7mm spacers on the front (if I'm not mistaken) to bring them out into the arches a bit. Looked goofy so sunk in.
Any help is appreciated.
Since you replaced your suspension, lets assume for a minute that the suspension parts are in fine working order and have been properly installed. So lets now look at your sway bars and tire pressures.
Are your sway bars adjustable? If so, what are the settings front and rear? My recomendation would be to put the rears at the stiffest setting and the fronts at the softest setting.
For your tire pressures, try 32 in the front and 36 in the rear.
And see how that feels.
A little to far away.
Unfortunately. You have a suspension that's not adjustable. To stiff of a front end on the 996 will cause a squirrelly front end that won't feel planted. Add in hard rubber on front tires thats over inflated and you have even more.
If money was no object. I would say to get an adjustable coilover system and run a softer front than rear. Next step would be to get a set of Tarret GT 5 hole sway bars in the front and rear and run a stiff rear and soft front. That would solve it.
Your other option is to get a softer set of tires.
Remember, the front end of a 996 back to the original 911 has a front end that feels mechanical and alive. Best bet for you is to gind some 996 biddies and drive their cars to "feel" it.
Thanks. Yeah would have to find somebody local to get a feel.
Maybe go back to my stock sway bar in front?
Not going coilovers.
Think it worth getting some michellins?
Stock swaybar in the front may be a very good idea if its not as robust as your aftermarket sway bar. The 996 benefits from a much softer front end than rear. Good news is if you don't like it, you can always go back.
For sure, tires are a very big part of the handling equation. I would recommend finding a couple of 996s to drive so you have comparisons before spending any more money.
But I can tell you that if the 996 is set up properly with great tires, it is firmly planted.
They've felt bad since new. They're 2 years old, probably 2500 miles.
Thank say that the car ever felt "right" since when I got it it had the original suspension and ****ty off-brand all season tires (though new) on the rear and mismatched 10 year old fronts, all of which have since been removed.
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