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 May 2026
General Altimax Arctic vs Kumho Solus KL21 — 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
77
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
76/100
26 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: General Altimax Arctic — better handling, snow and wet. Pick the Kumho Solus KL21 if noise matters most to you.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
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 | Altimax Arctic | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 73 |
| SimpleTire owners | 92 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 71 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 67 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 45 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 10 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 96 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 73 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 57 | 65 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Solus KL21 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 81 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 63 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 53 | 73 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 61 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | General Altimax Arctic | Kumho Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 85 | 77 |
| Dry | 87 | 83 |
| Wet | 86 | 76 |
| Snow | 88 | 72 |
| Comfort | 86 | 76 |
| Noise | 83 | 86 |
| Treadwear | 84 | 81 |
| Handling | 78 | 61 |
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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
85
/ 100
Tire A
77
/ 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 Kumho Solus KL21 is a polarizing tire that frequently serves as original equipment on SUVs and crossovers. While many owners report exceptional tread life and value, a significant subset of users expresses concerns regarding road noise, inconsistent grip in adverse weather, and premature structural degradation.
Pros
- Exceptional tread longevity and durability, with some users reporting over 60,000 miles of use.
- Strong value proposition as a cost-effective alternative to premium tire brands.
- Generally reliable performance in dry, warm-weather conditions.
- Consistent ride comfort for daily commuting and long-distance driving.
Cons
- Reports of excessive road noise and a harsh ride quality.
- Poor traction and braking performance in snow, ice, or cold conditions.
- Inconsistent quality control, with isolated reports of tire deformation or premature wear.
- Lack of confidence-inspiring grip during emergency braking maneuvers.
Observations
- Users with mid-size SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento report highly variable experiences, ranging from extreme longevity to early failure.
- The tire is frequently noted as a standard OEM fitment for Korean-manufactured SUVs, which influences user expectations regarding replacement intervals.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · General Altimax Arctic | B · Kumho Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Touring tires | All Season Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | 12/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
85
/ 100
General
77
/ 100
Kumho
Winner: General Altimax Arctic — better handling, snow and wet. Pick the Kumho Solus KL21 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
General Altimax Arctic scores 78 vs 61 on handling.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
General Altimax Arctic scores 88 vs 72 on snow.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
General Altimax Arctic scores 86 vs 76 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
General Altimax Arctic scores 86 vs 76 on comfort.
Tire A · General Altimax Arctic
Tire B · Kumho Solus KL21
More comparisons
Also compared with
General Altimax Arctic also compared with
Kumho Solus KL21 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.