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General Altimax Arctic 12

The General Altimax Arctic 12 is a winter tire with relatively low noise and useful snow and ice ability. Its test record is mixed, with longer braking distances and imprecise steering in the more recent comparison.

The quick answer

Owners say 82% from 3 owner reviews Read the reviews
Tests say 6th average finish across 2 independent tests Latest: P4 of 5 · Winter · 2026 See every test
Strengths & weaknesses Wet, Dry Comfort, Snow Relative to its rivals across every test we hold

Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated October 2026.

  • 3owner reviews
  • 62,500miles driven
  • 2professional tests

Tire Reviews Score

General Altimax Arctic 12

6.5/10

Better than 38% of Nordic winter tires

  • Limited Confidence
  • 1 test
  • 3 owner reviews
Scores of the 44 Nordic winter tires we have tested

How this score is built

Source Better than Weight
Independent tests1 test · 1 publication · 2026 38% 100%
Owner reviewsFewer than 5 reviews, so they do not count yet – 0%
Combined 38% 6.5

A fixed curve turns the combined figure into the 0 to 10 score, so roughly the top 10% of a group score 9 or more.

Category by category

How it compares with other Nordic winter tires in each area, and how much each area counts. 50 is the middle of the group.

Category Better than Weight Tests
SnowBraking, traction and handling on snow 14% 33% 1
IceBraking, traction and handling on ice 26% 33% 1
WetBraking, handling and aquaplaning in the wet 79% 20% 1
DryBraking and handling on dry roads 42% 10% 1
ComfortNoise and ride comfort 25% 5% 1

Faded bars rest on one or two tests.

By discipline

The same results grouped by what the tire was doing. They are not counted a second time.

TractionEvery traction test, on any surface 36% 1
BrakingEvery braking test, on any surface 29% 1
HandlingEvery handling test, on any surface 23% 1

Confidence

  1. Limited
  2. Medium
  3. High

Its own test results decide 69% of the test figure. The other 31% is the average for its group, and it shrinks as more tests arrive.

High needs at least 3 tests, with its own results deciding 90% or more. Medium needs 2 tests and 70%. Anything less is Limited: expect the number to move as tests arrive.

The tests behind it

Only measured results count. A test that published its placings alone is listed, but not scored.

  1. 2026 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tire Test Tire Rack · 215/55 R17 · Winter P4 / 5
  2. 2020 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tire Test Consumer Reports · 215/60 R16 P7 / 17 Placing only

Tested 2 times by independent publications, the General Altimax Arctic 12 averages a finish of 6th.

2 Tests
0 Test Wins
6th Average
4th Best
7th Worst
The latest test

2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tire Test P4 of 5Winter

The Altimax Arctic 12 is the value winter choice here. Even unstudded it is comfortably better in snow and on ice than any all-season tire in the test, and it is easy to live with day to day, but its road manners and steering precision are the price of that. Predictable and forgiving rather than sharp.

Strong: Wet Circle, Subj. Noise Weak: Dry Braking, Subj. Road Score, Wet Braking, Snow Braking, Snow Handling, Subj. Snow Handling, Ice Braking, Ice Traction, Subj. Comfort Winner: Continental VikingContact 8

Every independent test of the General Altimax Arctic 12, newest first
YearTestResultAward
20262026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tire TestTire Rack · 215/55 R17P4 / 5Winter
20202020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tire TestConsumer Reports · 215/60 R16P7 / 17
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is the General Altimax Arctic 12 in the wet?
Across the 1 wet-braking test it has featured in, the General Altimax Arctic 12 stops 9.2% longer than premium rivals and 26.7% longer than mid-range rivals. It has a Tire Reviews wet score of 79/100, and owners rate it 8/10 in the wet from 3 reviews.
How good is the General Altimax Arctic 12 in the dry?
Across the 1 dry-braking test it has featured in, the General Altimax Arctic 12 stops 11.7% longer than premium rivals and 16% longer than mid-range rivals. It has a Tire Reviews dry score of 42/100, and owners rate it 7/10 in the dry from 3 reviews.
How good is the General Altimax Arctic 12 in the snow?
Across the 1 snow-braking test it has featured in, the General Altimax Arctic 12 stops 8.4% shorter than premium rivals and 10.2% shorter than mid-range rivals. It has a Tire Reviews snow score of 14/100, and owners rate it 9.3/10 in the snow from 3 reviews.
How good is the General Altimax Arctic 12 on ice?
Across the 1 ice-braking test it has featured in, the General Altimax Arctic 12 stops 5.8% shorter than premium rivals and 11.6% shorter than mid-range rivals. Across the 1 ice-traction test, it is 3.8% better than premium rivals and 6.8% better than mid-range rivals. It has a Tire Reviews ice score of 26/100, and owners rate it 9/10 on ice from 3 reviews.
Owner Questions
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Questions and Answers for the General Altimax Arctic 12

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General Altimax Arctic 12 Owner Reviews

Review this tire

Owner ratings averaged from 3 ratings

  • Owner score 82%
  • Wear 93%
  • Snow Grip 93%
  • Ice Grip 90%
  • Wet Grip 80%
  • Road Feedback 73%
  • Comfort 73%
  • Dry Grip 70%
  • Handling 67%

All 2 General Altimax Arctic 12 reviews

Score spread across 2 written reviews
89%
Member
I’ve been using the General Tire Altimax Arctic 12 (studded ) this winter, and they’ve been a game-changer in harsh conditions. The **traction on ice and packed snow is outstanding**, giving me confidence even on slippery roads. The studs really help with stability, especially when braking or cornering on black ice.

One thing that really impressed me is the **wet traction in cold temperatures**. Unlike some winter tires that can feel slippery in slushy or rainy conditions, these handle wet roads **very well**, maintaining control and grip.

In deep snow, they also perform impressively, keeping the car stable and predictable. One downside is that, like most studded tires, they are **noisy on dry pavement**. However, that’s a small trade-off for the **safety and performance they provide** in extreme winter conditions.

Overall, if you need **serious winter traction** with **great wet performance in the cold**, the **Altimax Arctic 12 (studded)** is a solid choice. Just be prepared for some road noise on clear days!
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 10
  • Snow Grip 10
  • Ice Grip 10
Helpful 866
79%
Member
This is a pretty good snow tire. It's a bit noisy on the road, and dry and wet grip are not as good as a dedicated summer, or all season tire. Snow and ice are almost as good as a blizzak, but they will last me 4 seasons, rather than the 2 out of a blizzak. There is a fair amount of road noise, and the rolling resistance is fairly high, i see about a 10% decrease in gas mileage.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 7
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 5
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 9
  • Snow Grip 9
  • Ice Grip 9
Helpful 918

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