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 Vredestein Wintrac Pro — 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
83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
93/100
32 professional tests
User signal (40%)
87/100
30 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Vredestein Wintrac Pro — better dry, wet and snow. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if noise and comfort 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)
Wintrac Pro leads by 44
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 17 | 89 |
| Tire Rack owners | 86 | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 89 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 81% | 95% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Wintrac Pro leads by 25
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 43 | 83 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 90 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 76% | 99% |
| Wet Circle (% of best) | 92% | 99% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Wintrac Pro leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 59 | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 88 |
| SimpleTire owners | 96 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 92% | 95% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 90% | 98% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 74 |
| Tire Rack owners | 82 | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 87 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Altimax Arctic 12 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 71 |
| SimpleTire owners | 85 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Wintrac Pro leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 87 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Wintrac Pro leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Altimax Arctic 12 | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | General Altimax Arctic 12 | Vredestein Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 83 |
| Dry | 45 | 89 |
| Wet | 61 | 86 |
| Snow | 74 | 82 |
| Comfort | 86 | 79 |
| Noise | 83 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 86 | 87 |
| Handling | 80 | 82 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
83
/ 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 | 95% #10/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | -14.4 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 84% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 96% #3/16 · 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | -11.5 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 11% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 13% #8/9 · 2020 ACE Winter Tyre Test | -1.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 92% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 95% #8/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -3 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 90% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | -8.4 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 94% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 80% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +13.8 | Different tests |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 94% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 80% #9/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +13.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 76% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -23 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 92% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | -6.9 | 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 Vredestein Wintrac Pro is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that bridges the gap between dedicated winter traction and the handling characteristics of a summer tire. Users consistently praise its exceptional wet-weather performance, steering feedback, and stability at high speeds, making it a favorite for owners of performance-oriented vehicles.
Pros
- Exceptional wet-weather grip and aquaplaning resistance
- High-speed stability and responsive steering feedback
- Strong performance in cold, dry conditions
- Excellent value for money compared to premium competitors
- Predictable handling and confidence-inspiring snow traction
Cons
- Noticeable increase in fuel consumption/rolling resistance
- Potential for accelerated tread wear if used in warmer temperatures
- Occasional reports of noise or 'squealing' during hard cornering in dry conditions
- Some users noted reduced traction when starting from a standstill on deep snow
Observations
- Performance sedan and coupe owners (e.g., BMW M-series, Audi S-series) report the tire maintains a 'summer-like' handling feel while providing necessary winter safety.
- Heavy vehicle owners (SUVs/Vans) report mixed results; while some appreciate the stability, others noted uneven wear patterns or reduced cornering precision on heavy commercial chassis.
- Drivers of high-horsepower RWD vehicles specifically highlight the tire's ability to manage torque and minimize wheelspin in cold conditions.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · General Altimax Arctic 12 | B · Vredestein Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring Winter tire | Winter Ultra 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
83
/ 100
Vredestein
Winner: Vredestein Wintrac Pro — better dry, wet and snow. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if noise and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Vredestein Wintrac Pro scores 89 vs 45 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Vredestein Wintrac Pro scores 86 vs 61 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 83 vs 71 on noise.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Vredestein Wintrac Pro scores 82 vs 74 on snow.
Tire A · General Altimax Arctic 12
Tire B · Vredestein Wintrac Pro
More comparisons
Also compared with
General Altimax Arctic 12 also compared with
Vredestein Wintrac Pro 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.