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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
General Altimax Arctic 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.
VerdictWinner: General Altimax Arctic — 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)
Altimax Arctic leads by 42
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 17 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | 92 | 87 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic leads by 25
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 43 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | 91 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 59 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 10 | 95 |
| SimpleTire owners | 96 | 96 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 57 | 70 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | 91 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 81 | 85 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 53 | 100 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | 90 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 65 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | General Altimax Arctic | General Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 85 | 74 |
| Dry | 87 | 45 |
| Wet | 86 | 61 |
| Snow | 88 | 74 |
| Comfort | 86 | 86 |
| Noise | 83 | 83 |
| Treadwear | 84 | 86 |
| Handling | 78 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
85
/ 100
Tire A
74
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
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.
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 · General Altimax Arctic | B · General Altimax Arctic 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Touring tires | Premium Touring Winter tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 1 | 38 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ | 15″ – 19″ |
| Tread depth | 12/32″ | 12/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
85
/ 100
General
74
/ 100
General
Winner: General Altimax Arctic — better dry, wet and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
General Altimax Arctic scores 87 vs 45 on dry.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
General Altimax Arctic scores 86 vs 61 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
General Altimax Arctic scores 88 vs 74 on snow.
Tire A · General Altimax Arctic
Tire B · General Altimax Arctic 12
More comparisons
Also compared with
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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.