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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
General Altimax Arctic 12 vs Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 — 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
78
/ 100
Objective (60%)
68/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
84/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 — better dry, snow and wet. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if treadwear and noise 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)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 26
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 17 | 59 |
| Tire Rack owners | 86 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 88 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 81% | 93% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 43 | 64 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 74 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 76% | 84% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 59 | 83 |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 96 |
| SimpleTire owners | 96 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 92% | 98% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 90% | 92% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 82 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 92 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 77 |
| SimpleTire owners | 85 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | General Altimax Arctic 12 | Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 78 |
| Dry | 45 | 71 |
| Wet | 61 | 68 |
| Snow | 74 | 88 |
| Comfort | 86 | 92 |
| Noise | 83 | 77 |
| Treadwear | 86 | 78 |
| Handling | 80 | 82 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
Tire A
78
/ 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 | 81% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 93% #9/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -12.4 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 84% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 70% #15/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +13.9 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 88% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 86% #16/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +2.8 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 14% #7/17 · 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test | 20% #5/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | -5.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 92% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 98% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -6.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 90% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 92% #10/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -2.7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 94% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 90% #5/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +3.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 76% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 84% #9/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -8 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
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.
The Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that excels in deep snow and provides a comfortable, communicative driving experience. While it offers impressive traction in wintry conditions, users note that its performance is less refined on ice and that the compound is prone to accelerated wear when used in dry, warmer conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and plowing capability in deep snow
- High level of ride comfort and stability during long-distance driving
- Excellent steering feedback and surface communication
- Strong value proposition relative to price
Cons
- Rapid tread wear when driven on dry pavement
- Limited grip and confidence on icy surfaces
- Reduced performance and stability during aggressive driving maneuvers
- Not optimized for regions with infrequent snowfall
Observations
- Users report the tire is well-suited for city driving and daily commuting rather than high-performance or aggressive driving styles.
- The tire's soft compound provides a comfortable ride but necessitates careful driving in dry, non-winter conditions to preserve tread life.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · General Altimax Arctic 12 | B · Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring Winter tire | 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
General
78
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 — better dry, snow and wet. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if treadwear and noise matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 scores 71 vs 45 on dry.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 scores 88 vs 74 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 86 vs 78 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 scores 68 vs 61 on wet.
Tire A · General Altimax Arctic 12
Tire B · Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616
More comparisons
Also compared with
General Altimax Arctic 12 also compared with
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 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.