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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 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 45 + 31 owner reviews. How we score

Blizzak WS80 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. 66

    Dry

    Blizzak WS80 +15
    51
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 67 (est.)48
    Reviews found online6556

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 66.8 (est.) + 40% × 65 = 66

    Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 47.8 + 40% × 55.6 = 51

    No road tests of dry for Blizzak WS80. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 73

    Wet

    Blizzak WS80 +4
    69
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 72 (est.)65
    Reviews found online7375

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 72.1 (est.) + 40% × 73.2 = 73

    Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 65.2 + 40% × 75 = 69

    No road tests of wet for Blizzak WS80. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 78

    Snow

    Blizzak WS80 +1
    77
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 75 (est.)74
    Reviews found online8381

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 75.3 (est.) + 40% × 82.8 = 78

    Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 74 + 40% × 81.1 = 77

    No road tests of snow for Blizzak WS80. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.37).

  4. 69

    Comfort

    Blizzak WS80 +4
    65
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 69 (est.)68
    Reviews found online6964

    Blizzak WS80: 40% × 69.1 (est.) + 60% × 69 = 69

    Altimax Arctic 12: 40% × 68.5 + 60% × 63.5 = 65

    No road tests of comfort for Blizzak WS80. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 66

    Noise

    Altimax Arctic 12 +3
    69
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 67 (est.)73
    Reviews found online6464

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 64.4 = 66

    Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 72.5 + 40% × 63.5 = 69

    No road tests of noise for Blizzak WS80. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 66

    Treadwear

    Altimax Arctic 12 +4
    70
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Altimax Arctic 12
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online6673

    Blizzak WS80: 60% × 66.2 (est.) + 40% × 66.4 = 66

    Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 68.5 (est.) + 40% × 72.9 = 70

    No road tests of treadwear for Blizzak WS80. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

    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 0.35).

  7. 68

    Handling (owners)

    Blizzak WS80 +1
    67
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak WS80Altimax Arctic 12
    Reviews found online6867
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Blizzak WS80General Altimax Arctic 12
Relative Score 71 66
Dry 66 51
Wet 73 69
Snow 78 77
Comfort 69 65
Noise 66 69
Treadwear 66 70
Handling (owners) 68 67

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
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Blizzak WS80

± 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 WS80Altimax Arctic 12ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #6/9 2018 Autofil Studless Winter Tire Test R16 #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 WS80

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and grip in deep snow, slush, and ice
  • High confidence and safety during severe winter weather and mountain driving
  • Surprisingly low road noise on dry and wet pavement

Cons

  • Reduced fuel economy / lower gas mileage
  • Slightly squishy handling and reduced braking performance on dry roads
  • May feel less responsive than standard all-season or newer model compounds in non-winter conditions
All owner themes in the Blizzak WS80 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 WS80 B · General Altimax Arctic 12
CategoryWinter Premium Touring tiresPremium Touring Winter tire
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available2138
Rim diameters15″ – 18″15″ – 19″
Tread depth11/32″12/32″
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure44 psi51 psi
Sizes in common1616

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80

General Altimax Arctic 12

Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 — better dry, wet and comfort. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if treadwear and noise matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 66 vs 51 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 73 vs 69 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 scores 69 vs 65 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 70 vs 66 on treadwear.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
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Tire B · General Altimax Arctic 12
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Blizzak WS80 or Altimax Arctic 12?

Which is better in the wet, Blizzak WS80 or Altimax Arctic 12?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, 73 vs 69 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Blizzak WS80 or Altimax Arctic 12?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, 66 vs 51 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Blizzak WS80 or Altimax Arctic 12?

Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 77 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Blizzak WS80 or Altimax Arctic 12?

General Altimax Arctic 12, 69 vs 66 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Blizzak WS80 or Altimax Arctic 12?

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, 69 vs 65 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Blizzak WS80 or Altimax Arctic 12?

General Altimax Arctic 12, 70 vs 66 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