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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 vs General Altimax Arctic 12 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 0 + 1 road tests and 36 + 33 owner reviews. How we score

Blizzak DM-V2 is ahead, 71–66

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Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 67

    Dry

    Blizzak DM-V2 +18
    49
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 67 (est.)47
    Reviews found online6753

    Blizzak DM-V2: 60% × 67.5 (est.) + 40% × 66.8 = 67

    Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 47.2 + 40% × 52.9 = 49

    No road tests of dry for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

  2. 75

    Wet

    Blizzak DM-V2 +7
    68
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 74 (est.)66
    Reviews found online7772

    Blizzak DM-V2: 60% × 74.2 (est.) + 40% × 77.1 = 75

    Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 65.9 + 40% × 72.3 = 68

    No road tests of wet for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 79

    Snow

    Blizzak DM-V2 +3
    76
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 75 (est.)74
    Reviews found online8580

    Blizzak DM-V2: 60% × 75.2 (est.) + 40% × 85.1 = 79

    Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 74 + 40% × 79.9 = 76

    No road tests of snow for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 69

    Comfort

    Blizzak DM-V2 +4
    65
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 69 (est.)69
    Reviews found online6962

    Blizzak DM-V2: 40% × 68.8 (est.) + 60% × 69.4 = 69

    Altimax Arctic 12: 40% × 68.8 + 60% × 62 = 65

    No road tests of comfort for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 68

    Noise

    Altimax Arctic 12 +1
    69
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 66 (est.)72
    Reviews found online7063

    Blizzak DM-V2: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 69.5 = 68

    Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 72.4 + 40% × 62.9 = 69

    No road tests of noise for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 61

    Treadwear

    Altimax Arctic 12 +10
    71
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 63 (est.)≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online5874

    Blizzak DM-V2: 60% × 63.4 (est.) + 40% × 57.7 = 61

    Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 69.2 (est.) + 40% × 73.9 = 71

    No road tests of treadwear for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

    No road tests of treadwear for Altimax Arctic 12. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 75

    Handling (owners)

    Blizzak DM-V2 +10
    65
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Altimax Arctic 12
    Reviews found online7565
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Blizzak DM-V2General Altimax Arctic 12
Relative Score 71 66
Dry 67 49
Wet 75 68
Snow 79 76
Comfort 69 65
Noise 68 69
Treadwear 61 71
Handling (owners) 75 65

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Blizzak DM-V2

± 7

Altimax Arctic 12

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryBlizzak DM-V2Altimax Arctic 12ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #5/8 2022 Consumer Reports Winter/Snow Truck/SUV Tires #9/10 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Blizzak DM-V2

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and braking performance on snow and ice
  • High level of driver confidence in severe winter weather
  • Surprisingly quiet and comfortable ride quality

Cons

  • Faster tread wear compared to all-season tires
  • Performance degrades if left on the vehicle during warmer spring/summer months
  • Potential for reduced wet-weather grip as the tire wears down
All owner themes in the Blizzak DM-V2 review

Tire B Altimax Arctic 12

Pros

  • Outstanding grip and traction in heavy snow, slush, and ice
  • Excellent value and affordable price point compared to premium winter tires
  • Impressive tread life and long-term durability across multiple winter seasons

Cons

  • Noticeable road noise, which can increase as the tires wear
  • Slightly soft, squishy, or vague handling characteristics on dry pavement
  • Higher rolling resistance resulting in a minor decrease in fuel economy
All owner themes in the Altimax Arctic 12 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 B · General Altimax Arctic 12
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available7338
Rim diameters15″ – 22″15″ – 19″
Tread depth13/32″12/32″
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure44 psi51 psi
Sizes in common1212

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2

General Altimax Arctic 12

Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 — better dry, handling and wet. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if treadwear matters most to you.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 scores 67 vs 49 on dry.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 scores 75 vs 65 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 71 vs 61 on treadwear.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 scores 75 vs 68 on wet.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
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Tire B · General Altimax Arctic 12
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Blizzak DM-V2 or Altimax Arctic 12?

Which is better in the wet, Blizzak DM-V2 or Altimax Arctic 12?

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2, 75 vs 68 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Blizzak DM-V2 or Altimax Arctic 12?

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2, 67 vs 49 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Blizzak DM-V2 or Altimax Arctic 12?

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2, 79 vs 76 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Blizzak DM-V2 or Altimax Arctic 12?

Neither, by our numbers: 68 vs 69 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Blizzak DM-V2 or Altimax Arctic 12?

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2, 69 vs 65 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Blizzak DM-V2 or Altimax Arctic 12?

General Altimax Arctic 12, 71 vs 61 on our treadwear score.

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology