GENERAL RA
Most of the tires for long-haul trucks are special tires designed to be mounted on steering or drive axle. And of course, most of these tires are seasonal products. All this turns into certain inconveniences and, of course, expenses due to the need for a seasonal tire change.
Are there any universal tires that can be installed on any axle and used at any time of the year? It turns out that there are such tires, these are General RA and we will tell about these tires in this review.
General RA - universal in every way
General RA tires are designed for long-haul trucks, driving primarily on asphalt roads or on the dense ground. These all-season tires are used with equal efficiency in warm and cold seasons, on dry and wet surfaces, and even on loose snow. Moreover, these are universal tires that can be equally well placed on any axle of a truck - on the steering axle or on the drive axle.
In designing these tires, General Tire has conducted a fair amount of testing. This was done to ensure that the tire delivers optimum all-season performance. The tires were used on various types of trucks in different climatic zones of the USA and Canada. General RA tires performed at their best on icy and snowy roads in Alaska and in hot Nevada. And only after making sure that the tire behaves properly at different ambient temperatures, General Tire launched it into production.
More about the manufacturer
General RA tires are manufactured by the American company General Tire, the oldest American manufacturer of pneumatic tires. The company has been working in this area since 1915. Since then, the company has accumulated impressive production experience and patented dozens of technologies that are still used in the manufacture of tires.
At the end of the eighties of the XX century, the company became part of the Continental AG concern. Such a merger was beneficial to both companies, especially since the tires produced by General Tire began to be sold not only in the North American market but also in other countries of the world.
Manufacturing materials, construction, and tread pattern
What are the benefits of General RA tires? Optimum handling and durability of these tires are ensured by the composition of the manufacturing materials, the special tread pattern, as well as the tire design. The General RA tire, like all modern General Tire products, has a complex multi-layer construction.
- The first layer - the bottom one, it is also called sealed, is made of dense elastic rubber that does not allow air to pass through even with minor punctures.
- The second layer is the carcass layer in which the wire mesh is literally brazed into the rubber layer. The wire braid maintains the tire's configuration and allows it to withstand high air pressure without deformation.
- The third layer is steel belts and side inserts fused into the rubber layer. This layer is reinforcing and allows the tire to withstand significant long-term loads without any consequences.
- The fourth layer is a nylon backing under the protector. This layer holds the tread blocks and, again, ensures the tightness of the tire.
- The fifth layer is the tread blocks. That is, it is the working layer that interacts with the road surface. A sealing cord runs along the contour of the inner diameter of the tire, which presses the rubber to the disc.
The composition of the production materials is just as important as the design and tread pattern. Since the tire is an all-season tire, the rubber must be strong but elastic at the same time. Again, the rubber used to cast the tread blocks must provide sufficient friction to provide the wheels with sufficient traction.
The tread pattern is designed in such a way that the tire can work efficiently on both drive wheels and steering wheels. The tread consists of 3 radial grooves and many transverse grooves. Radial grooves provide directional stability to the vehicle. In rainy weather, they prevent the effect of aquaplaning. Cross grooves provide better traction. And this technology works in the warm season and in winter.
By the way, the tread of these tires has another important advantage - there is a self-cleaning function. Thus, if the car is used on a wet road surface or a stone is packed into the tread grooves, the dirt is thrown out due to centrifugal force. It is enough to drive at a speed of 30 m/hr for self-cleaning to work and the wheels themselves become cleaner.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any modern truck tire, the General RA demonstrates a number of benefits that positively affect vehicle performance. Excellent handling in comparison with other tires is presented in the same price segment. The truck not only drives straight but also fits perfectly into turns.
- Resistance to mechanical damage to the working layer. Due to the special composition of rubber and the fillers included in this composition, tires do not wear off for a long time, and besides, they are not easy to break through.
- Durability of tires compared to other brands. As already mentioned, due to the special composition of the rubber, the tires are resistant to abrasion.
- Fast start and no less fast braking. Optimum driving performance, provided by excellent grip on dry and wet road surfaces.
- Fuel economy. According to the manufacturer, the use of General RA can reduce gasoline consumption by 15-20% of the original volume. This is because these tires are less anti-rolling.
- A variety of standard sizes and, as a result, the ability to purchase tires for the most popular brands of trucks. This is a very important point, as these truck tires are now available not only in the USA and Canada but all over the world.
- Effective drainage of water from the contact patch of the tire with the road surface. This provides extra traction, confident starts, and short braking distances.
- Affordable Price - General Tire products are not the most expensive when compared to other truck tires. Moreover, General RAs demonstrate the best combination of price and quality.
Now about the disadvantages. As such, there are no shortcomings. However, you need to understand that these are all-season tires and you should not rely on the fact that they will ride on ice like studded tires. Therefore, if the truck is operated in the north, buy special devices for better grip in ice, for example, chains.
General RA tires are manufactured only for long-haul trucks, and therefore the range of sizes is small. But the available sizes are sufficient not only for American trucks but also for trucks manufactured in other countries.
Let's summarize
There are many different tires for long-haul trucks on sale. Nevertheless, General Tire products show the best combination of price and quality. This is a very important advantage from the point of view of freight carriers. And, if you are a commercial vehicle owner and you need not the most expensive, but really good all-round tires for the main truck, first of all, take a look at the General RA.