General Altimax Arctic 12 review
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.
Owners rate it 27.3 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
By owner reviews
87.1%By road tests
59.8%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 56 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
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
Worth knowing
- 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.
2 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter tire Test · 215/55 R17
9th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 7th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 9th of 10 | |
| Ice Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 9th of 10 | |
| Ice Traction | 9th of 10 | |
| Subj. Noise | 7th of 10 | |
| Subj. Road Score | 10th of 10 | |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 9th of 10 | |
| Dry Circle | 8th of 10 |
2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter tire Test · 215/60 R16
7th of 17
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
General Altimax Arctic 12 specs & sizes
Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Tread depth | 12/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 51 psi |
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