74
/ 100
Objective (60%)
79/100
10 professional tests
User signal (40%)
76/100
3 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental IceContact 3 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 IceContact 3 and General Altimax Arctic 12 are within 2 points overall. Continental IceContact 3 is stronger on dry, wet and snow. General Altimax Arctic 12 is stronger on treadwear and noise.
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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)
IceContact 3 leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 56 | 17 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 87 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 81% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
IceContact 3 leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 43 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 91 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 100% | 76% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
IceContact 3 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 59 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 95 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 96 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 99% | 92% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 89% | 90% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
IceContact 3 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 100 | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 91 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 85 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 36
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 100 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 90 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
IceContact 3 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 65 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental IceContact 3 | General Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 74 |
| Dry | 68 | 45 |
| Wet | 84 | 61 |
| Snow | 88 | 74 |
| Comfort | 89 | 86 |
| Noise | 65 | 83 |
| Treadwear | 50 | 86 |
| Handling | 83 | 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
74
/ 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 | 98% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 81% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +16.9 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #1/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 84% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +15.7 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 74% #14/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 88% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | -13.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 14% #7/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | 14% #7/17 · 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 92% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +7.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 89% #1/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 90% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | -0.2 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 100% #1/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 94% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +6.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 60% #13/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 94% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | -33.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 76% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +24 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental IceContact 3 is highly regarded for its exceptional traction on packed snow and ice, offering a confidence-inspiring driving experience in severe winter conditions. While performance is competitive with top-tier rivals, some users have noted concerns regarding the long-term durability of the studs under regular highway use.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance on packed snow and ice
- Predictable handling in severe winter conditions
- Strong performance on lake ice tracks
- Good tread longevity for the rubber compound itself
Cons
- Premature stud wear or loss reported after moderate mileage
- Potential for reduced stability in deeper snow (4-5 cm) depending on tire width
- Unpredictable handling characteristics when paired with certain electronic stability control systems
Observations
- Users noted that wider tire profiles may struggle to maintain contact with the road surface in deeper snow conditions.
- Performance is highly effective in coastal, mild-to-severe winter climates like Northern Norway.
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 IceContact 3 | 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?
74
/ 100
Continental
74
/ 100
General
Too close to call: Continental IceContact 3 and General Altimax Arctic 12 are within 2 points overall. Continental IceContact 3 is stronger on dry, wet and snow. General Altimax Arctic 12 is stronger on treadwear and noise.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 86 vs 50 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental IceContact 3 scores 68 vs 45 on dry.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental IceContact 3 scores 84 vs 61 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 83 vs 65 on noise.
Tire A · Continental IceContact 3
Tire B · General Altimax Arctic 12
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental IceContact 3 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.