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 Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62 — 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
91
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
93/100
6 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62 — better dry, wet and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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)
Winguard winSpike WH62 leads by 50
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winguard winSpike WH62 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 17 | 96 |
| Tire Rack owners | 86 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 81% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winguard winSpike WH62 leads by 30
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winguard winSpike WH62 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 43 | 84 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 100 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 76% | 95% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winguard winSpike WH62 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winguard winSpike WH62 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 59 | 81 |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 96 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 92% | 96% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 90% | 100% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winguard winSpike WH62 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winguard winSpike WH62 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 82 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winguard winSpike WH62 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winguard winSpike WH62 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 85 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winguard winSpike WH62 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winguard winSpike WH62 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 100 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winguard winSpike WH62 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winguard winSpike WH62 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 90 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | General Altimax Arctic 12 | Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 91 |
| Dry | 45 | 95 |
| Wet | 61 | 91 |
| Snow | 74 | 89 |
| Comfort | 86 | 92 |
| Noise | 83 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 86 | 92 |
| Handling | 80 | 90 |
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
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Important
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
Tire A
91
/ 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 | 99% #3/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -18.1 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 84% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 60% #8/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | +24.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 88% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 100% #8/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -11.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 14% #7/17 · 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test | 14% #7/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 92% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 96% #8/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -4.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 90% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 100% #8/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -10.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 76% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 95% #6/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -18.5 | 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 Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62 is highly regarded by users for its exceptional winter performance, frequently outperforming premium competitors in both traction and tread longevity. Owners consistently report confidence in deep snow and icy conditions, noting that the tire provides a surprisingly quiet and comfortable ride for a dedicated winter product.
Pros
- Superior traction in deep snow and icy conditions
- Excellent tread life compared to premium winter tire alternatives
- Low road noise levels for a winter-specific tire
- Strong value proposition relative to performance
Cons
- Limited ice performance without the use of studs
- Availability of studding options may be desired for extreme icy climates
Observations
- Users operating front-wheel-drive minivans in heavy snow regions report high levels of stability and reliability.
- Owners of 4x4 trucks report excellent capability on steep, unpaved mountain terrain.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · General Altimax Arctic 12 | B · Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring Winter tire | Winter High Performance tires |
| 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
91
/ 100
Nexen
Winner: Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62 — better dry, wet and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62 scores 95 vs 45 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62 scores 91 vs 61 on wet.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62 scores 89 vs 74 on snow.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62 scores 90 vs 80 on handling.
Tire A · General Altimax Arctic 12
Tire B · Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62
More comparisons
Also compared with
General Altimax Arctic 12 also compared with
Nexen Winguard winSpike WH62 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.