General Tire has launched two new summer treads giving better grip on a wet road, more reliable handling on a dry one and a longer working life to reduce costs.

The Altimax One and Altimax One S replace the Comfort and Sport respectively and are improved in every key area.

Initially available in 12 sizes for rims from 15 inches making it suitable for popular superminis such as the VW Polo, the Altimax One features a three-groove tread pattern which delivers more precise handling and strong braking in dry conditions and on a wet surface the large number of gripping edges improve traction.

The Altimax One S has a four-groove tread, designed to fit higher performance and bigger cars. At first it will be available in 37 sizes for rims from 15 to 20 inches, suitable for cars from small hatchbacks to mid-size high performance cars such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. More sizes will be added over the next 18 months.

Both tyres have better EU label ratings than the earlier treads with the majority being B rated for wet grip and C for rolling resistance.

They also have General Tire’s Visual Alignment Indicator (VAI) and Replacement Tire Monitor (RTM) technology. Designed to make life easier for the car owner, the VAI lets them instantly check for wheel misalignment. They are identified by two short sipes on the tyre shoulders and if they wear unevenly it shows the tyre is out of alignment.

The RTM shows when the tyre is approaching its minimum tread depth. It sits in the centre of the tyre and has a clearly visible inscription ‘Replacement Tire Monitor’ but as the tread wears away ‘Replace Tire’ appears instead.