75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
7 professional tests
User signal (40%)
78/100
30 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental VikingContact 7 vs General Altimax Arctic 12 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
74
/ 100
Objective (60%)
60/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
87/100
56 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Continental VikingContact 7 and General Altimax Arctic 12 are within 2 points overall. Continental VikingContact 7 is stronger on wet, dry and snow. General Altimax Arctic 12 is stronger on treadwear and handling.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 48 | 17 |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | 87 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 96% | 81% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 43 |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 89 | 91 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 77% | 76% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 59 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 95 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | 96 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 100% | 92% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 94% | 90% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | 89 | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | 94 | 91 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | 85 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 61 | 100 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | 90 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 65 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | General Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 74 |
| Dry | 59 | 45 |
| Wet | 76 | 61 |
| Snow | 86 | 74 |
| Comfort | 88 | 86 |
| Noise | 84 | 83 |
| Treadwear | 68 | 86 |
| Handling | 71 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
75
/ 100
Tire A
74
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 96% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 81% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +14.8 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 88% #9/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 84% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +3.2 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 80% #9/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 88% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | -8.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/9 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | 11% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +88.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #1/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 92% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +8.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 94% #2/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 90% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +4.7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 95% #4/8 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | 94% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 100% #1/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 94% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +6.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 77% #13/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 76% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental VikingContact 7 is widely regarded as a premium, well-rounded studless winter tire that excels in comfort, noise suppression, and slush performance. While it receives high praise for its predictable handling and stability on cold, dry, or wet pavement, user consensus suggests it may slightly trail dedicated ice-focused competitors like the Bridgestone Blizzak in extreme stopping grip on pure ice.
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong performance in slush and deep snow
- Stable and predictable handling at highway speeds
- Excellent dry and wet road manners for a winter tire
Cons
- Mixed reports regarding tread life and longevity
- Noticeable decline in ice-braking performance compared to top-tier ice specialists
- Compound may harden or performance may degrade after multiple seasons
- Potential for reduced traction if driven in warmer, non-winter conditions
Observations
- Users noted that the tire maintains excellent fuel economy and low noise levels even on electric vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 and Mazda MX-30.
- Drivers of rear-wheel-drive sports cars (e.g., Mazda Miata) reported that the tire's soft compound can feel overwhelmed during aggressive acceleration on dry pavement.
- Downsizing to a smaller wheel diameter (e.g., -2 from OE) was successfully used to improve the tire's profile and winter performance on hybrid SUVs.
The General Altimax Arctic 12 is widely regarded as a high-value, top-tier winter tire that excels in deep snow, slush, and icy conditions. While users note some expected trade-offs in dry pavement handling and increased road noise, the consensus highlights its exceptional longevity and performance-to-price ratio compared to premium competitors.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and confidence in deep snow, slush, and ice
- Exceptional tread life and durability for a winter-specific tire
- High value-for-money proposition compared to premium brands like Nokian or Bridgestone
- Reliable performance across a diverse range of vehicles, from small sedans to heavy trucks
Cons
- Noticeable increase in road noise, particularly as the tire wears
- Softer sidewalls leading to 'squishy' or less precise handling on dry pavement
- Slightly higher rolling resistance resulting in a minor decrease in fuel economy
- Reduced grip on dry and wet pavement compared to dedicated all-season or summer tires
Observations
- Drivers of RWD vehicles, such as the BMW Z4, reported high satisfaction with the tire's ability to maintain control in harsh winter conditions.
- Users with light-weight vehicles (e.g., Chevy HHR) and heavy-duty trucks (e.g., Ram, F-150) both report consistent, reliable traction in deep snow.
- The XL-rated versions provide a robust, beefy sidewall that some users appreciate for sport-tuned suspensions.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 7 | B · General Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Premium Touring Winter tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 18 | 38 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 22″ | 15″ – 19″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 12/32″ |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Continental
74
/ 100
General
Too close to call: Continental VikingContact 7 and General Altimax Arctic 12 are within 2 points overall. Continental VikingContact 7 is stronger on wet, dry and snow. General Altimax Arctic 12 is stronger on treadwear and handling.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 86 vs 68 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 76 vs 61 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 59 vs 45 on dry.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 86 vs 74 on snow.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 7
Tire B · General Altimax Arctic 12
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental VikingContact 7 also compared with
General Altimax Arctic 12 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.