84
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
85/100
35 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Falken EuroWinter HS449 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: Falken EuroWinter HS449 — better dry, wet and snow. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if handling matters 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)
EuroWinter HS449 leads by 40
Why this score
| Source | EuroWinter HS449 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 17 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 87 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
EuroWinter HS449 leads by 26
Why this score
| Source | EuroWinter HS449 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 43 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 91 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
EuroWinter HS449 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | EuroWinter HS449 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 59 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 95 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 96 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | EuroWinter HS449 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 91 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | EuroWinter HS449 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | – | 85 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | EuroWinter HS449 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 100 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 90 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | EuroWinter HS449 | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 65 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Falken EuroWinter HS449 | General Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 84 | 72 |
| Dry | 85 | 45 |
| Wet | 87 | 61 |
| Snow | 80 | 74 |
| Comfort | 84 | 86 |
| Noise | – | 83 |
| Treadwear | 85 | 86 |
| Handling | 77 | 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
84
/ 100
Tire A
72
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 11% #9/17 · 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test | 14% #7/17 · 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test | -3.2 | Same test |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Falken Eurowinter HS449 is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that offers impressive performance in snow, ice, and wet conditions. While most users praise its affordability and reliability in harsh climates, a minority of drivers report inconsistent traction on steep inclines and occasional issues with high-speed stability.
Pros
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio compared to premium brands
- Strong traction and confidence-inspiring grip in deep snow and slush
- Effective water dispersal and hydroplaning resistance in wet conditions
- Good dry road handling and comfort for a winter-specific compound
Cons
- Reports of inconsistent grip on steep, snow-covered inclines
- Potential for vibrations or handling instability at high speeds
- Faster-than-expected tread wear for some users
- Occasional noise levels noted by some drivers
Observations
- Users with AWD vehicles, particularly Subaru Outbacks, report highly consistent and 'rail-like' performance in deep snow.
- Drivers of lighter vehicles (e.g., Renault Clio) report excellent snow performance, suggesting the tire is well-suited for smaller, lighter platforms.
- Some users noted that the tire's performance on steep hills can be polarizing, with success often depending on the vehicle's drivetrain and weight distribution.
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 · Falken EuroWinter HS449 | 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?
84
/ 100
Falken
72
/ 100
General
Winner: Falken EuroWinter HS449 — better dry, wet and snow. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if handling matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Falken EuroWinter HS449 scores 85 vs 45 on dry.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Falken EuroWinter HS449 scores 87 vs 61 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Falken EuroWinter HS449 scores 80 vs 74 on snow.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 80 vs 77 on handling.
Tire A · Falken EuroWinter HS449
Tire B · General Altimax Arctic 12
More comparisons
Also compared with
Falken EuroWinter HS449 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.