81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
27 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Firestone Winterforce 2 vs General Altimax Arctic — Compared (May 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
85
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
85/100
57 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: General Altimax Arctic — better handling, comfort and noise. Pick the Firestone Winterforce 2 if snow and wet 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)
Altimax Arctic leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Altimax Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 58 | 73 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | 92 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winterforce 2 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Altimax Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 48 | 67 |
| SimpleTire owners | 97 | 90 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winterforce 2 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Altimax Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 10 |
| SimpleTire owners | 97 | 96 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Altimax Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 80 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 58 | 57 |
| SimpleTire owners | 85 | 90 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Altimax Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 78 | 81 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Altimax Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 83 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 53 |
| SimpleTire owners | 85 | 87 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic leads by 28
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Altimax Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 50 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Firestone Winterforce 2 | General Altimax Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 85 |
| Dry | 83 | 87 |
| Wet | 89 | 86 |
| Snow | 96 | 88 |
| Comfort | 81 | 86 |
| Noise | 78 | 83 |
| Treadwear | 82 | 84 |
| Handling | 50 | 78 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
Tire A
85
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Firestone WinterForce 2 is widely regarded as a high-value, budget-friendly winter tire that excels in deep snow and challenging winter conditions. While it earns high praise for its aggressive traction and affordability, users note compromises in dry-road handling, road noise, and ice performance compared to premium alternatives.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and capability in deep snow
- Highly competitive price point
- Reliable performance for daily winter commuting
- Effective water displacement in wet conditions
Cons
- Increased road noise compared to all-season tires
- Noticeable 'mushy' or soft handling feedback on dry pavement
- Limited performance on ice without studs
- Faster tread wear when used year-round
Observations
- Users with RWD vehicles report significant improvements in winter drivability, though some note a lack of dry-handling precision.
- Owners of smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., Mazda Miata, Ford Focus) report high satisfaction with snow-clearing capabilities.
- Some users report a harsh ride quality on older SUVs, suggesting the tire's construction may be less forgiving on certain chassis types.
The General AltiMAX Arctic is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that delivers exceptional traction in snow, slush, and ice. While some users note a slight increase in road noise and a softer feel in dry conditions, the consensus is that it offers performance comparable to premium brands at a significantly more accessible price point.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and grip in deep snow and icy conditions
- High value-for-money ratio compared to premium winter tire brands
- Impressive tread longevity for a dedicated winter compound
- Reliable handling and braking performance in cold-weather environments
Cons
- Increased road noise, particularly as the tire wears
- Soft sidewall feel leading to less precise handling on dry pavement
- Potential for minor understeer during aggressive cornering
- Not intended for year-round use, as dry performance is compromised
Observations
- Owners of RWD vehicles, including sports roadsters, report high confidence in deep snow and winter conditions.
- Users with light-weight vehicles (e.g., Chevy HHR, FWD Civics) report excellent starting and stopping capability on slippery surfaces.
- Drivers of heavy-duty trucks and SUVs appreciate the durability and load-handling capabilities of the tire's construction.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Firestone Winterforce 2 | B · General Altimax Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 31 | 1 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 18″ | 17″ |
| Tread depth | 12/32″ | 12/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | 44 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Firestone
85
/ 100
General
Winner: General Altimax Arctic — better handling, comfort and noise. Pick the Firestone Winterforce 2 if snow and wet matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
General Altimax Arctic scores 78 vs 50 on handling.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Firestone Winterforce 2 scores 96 vs 88 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
General Altimax Arctic scores 86 vs 81 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
General Altimax Arctic scores 83 vs 78 on noise.
Tire A · Firestone Winterforce 2
Tire B · General Altimax Arctic
More comparisons
Also compared with
Firestone Winterforce 2 also compared with
General Altimax Arctic 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.