80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
82/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 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
72
/ 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.
VerdictWinner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 — better dry, snow and wet. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if handling, treadwear and comfort matter most to you.
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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)
Blizzak WS80 leads by 29
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 17 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 87 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS80 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 43 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 91 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Blizzak WS80 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 59 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 96 | 95 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 96 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 91 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | – | 85 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 100 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 90 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak WS80 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 65 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 | General Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 72 |
| Dry | 74 | 45 |
| Wet | 76 | 61 |
| Snow | 96 | 74 |
| Comfort | 83 | 86 |
| Noise | – | 83 |
| Treadwear | 82 | 86 |
| Handling | 70 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
80
/ 100
Tire A
72
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, praised for its exceptional traction in deep snow and on icy inclines. While some users note a 'squishy' feel on wet pavement, the consensus highlights its reliability and longevity in harsh, rural winter conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and climbing ability on deep snow and ice
- Impressive tread longevity when properly rotated
- High confidence and stability in severe winter weather conditions
- Quiet road noise levels
Cons
- Noticeable 'squishy' or soft handling characteristics on wet roads
- Potential for reduced performance in slush compared to newer compounds
- Handling feedback can feel vague to the average driver
Observations
- Subaru Forester owners report excellent capability in deep snow, even when conditions exceed subframe depth.
- Small vehicle owners, such as those driving Scion XDs, noted significant performance advantages on steep, snow-covered hills compared to other vehicles.
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 · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 | B · General Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Premium Touring Winter tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 38 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 19″ |
| Tread depth | — | 12/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Bridgestone
72
/ 100
General
Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 — better dry, snow and wet. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if handling, treadwear and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 74 vs 45 on dry.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 96 vs 74 on snow.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 76 vs 61 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 80 vs 70 on handling.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
Tire B · General Altimax Arctic 12
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 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.