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Continental ExtremeContact DWS vs General Altimax Arctic — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 0 + 0 road tests and 16 + 32 owner reviews. How we score

ExtremeContact DWS is ahead, 68–59

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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

    ExtremeContact DWS +10
    57
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWSAltimax Arctic
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)≈ 61 (est.)
    Reviews found online6651

    ExtremeContact DWS: 60% × 67.1 (est.) + 40% × 66.2 = 67

    Altimax Arctic: 60% × 60.8 (est.) + 40% × 50.5 = 57

    No road tests of dry for ExtremeContact DWS. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.40).

    No road tests of dry for Altimax Arctic. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.40).

  2. 72

    Wet

    ExtremeContact DWS +10
    62
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWSAltimax Arctic
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 64 (est.)
    Reviews found online7260

    ExtremeContact DWS: 60% × 71.3 (est.) + 40% × 72.4 = 72

    Altimax Arctic: 60% × 64.2 (est.) + 40% × 59.8 = 62

    No road tests of wet for ExtremeContact DWS. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.56).

    No road tests of wet for Altimax Arctic. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.56).

  3. 66

    Snow

    ExtremeContact DWS +7
    59
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWSAltimax Arctic
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 68 (est.)≈ 64 (est.)
    Reviews found online6352

    ExtremeContact DWS: 60% × 67.6 (est.) + 40% × 63.1 = 66

    Altimax Arctic: 60% × 63.8 (est.) + 40% × 51.6 = 59

    No road tests of snow for ExtremeContact DWS. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.33).

    No road tests of snow for Altimax Arctic. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.33).

  4. 69

    Comfort

    ExtremeContact DWS +9
    60
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWSAltimax Arctic
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 69 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online7051

    ExtremeContact DWS: 60% × 69.2 (est.) + 40% × 69.6 = 69

    Altimax Arctic: 60% × 66 (est.) + 40% × 50.8 = 60

    No road tests of comfort for ExtremeContact DWS or Altimax Arctic. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 62

    Noise

    Level
    62
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWSAltimax Arctic
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online5554

    ExtremeContact DWS: 60% × 67.3 (est.) + 40% × 54.5 = 62

    Altimax Arctic: 60% × 67.3 (est.) + 40% × 54.1 = 62

    No road tests of noise for ExtremeContact DWS or Altimax Arctic. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 65

    Treadwear

    ExtremeContact DWS +8
    57
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWSAltimax Arctic
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 65 (est.)≈ 61 (est.)
    Reviews found online6450

    ExtremeContact DWS: 60% × 65.2 (est.) + 40% × 64.2 = 65

    Altimax Arctic: 60% × 60.8 (est.) + 40% × 50.1 = 57

    No road tests of treadwear for ExtremeContact DWS. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).

    No road tests of treadwear for Altimax Arctic. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).

  7. 70

    Handling (owners)

    ExtremeContact DWS +21
    49
    Why this score
    SourceExtremeContact DWSAltimax Arctic
    Reviews found online7049
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental ExtremeContact DWSGeneral Altimax Arctic
Relative Score 68 59
Dry 67 57
Wet 72 62
Snow 66 59
Comfort 69 60
Noise 62 62
Treadwear 65 57
Handling (owners) 70 49

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
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score

ExtremeContact DWS

Altimax Arctic

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A ExtremeContact DWS

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and safety in wet weather conditions and heavy rain
  • Superior winter and snow performance compared to many competing all-season tires
  • Smooth, comfortable ride quality with compliant road manners

Cons

  • Softer sidewalls reduce sharp handling response and feel when pushed at or beyond the limit
  • Some users report higher-than-expected road noise
  • Mixed performance in severe or deep winter conditions
All owner themes in the ExtremeContact DWS review

Tire B Altimax Arctic

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow, slush, and ice
  • High value and affordable price point compared to premium competitors
  • Reliable wet and dry handling during cold weather months

Cons

  • Handling and responsiveness drop off compared to dedicated summer or all-season tires
  • Some users report accelerated wear once the tire reaches 50% tread life
  • Minor tendencies toward understeer during hard cornering
All owner themes in the Altimax Arctic review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental ExtremeContact DWS B · General Altimax Arctic
CategoryAll SeasonWinter Touring tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Tread depth10/32″—
UTQG540 A A—
Treadwear warranty50,000 mi—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental ExtremeContact DWS

General Altimax Arctic

Winner: Continental ExtremeContact DWS — better handling, dry and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score. Continental ExtremeContact DWS rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 16 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental ExtremeContact DWS scores 70 vs 49 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental ExtremeContact DWS scores 67 vs 57 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental ExtremeContact DWS scores 72 vs 62 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Continental ExtremeContact DWS scores 69 vs 60 on comfort.

Tire A · Continental ExtremeContact DWS
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Tire B · General Altimax Arctic
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ExtremeContact DWS or Altimax Arctic?

Which is better in the wet, ExtremeContact DWS or Altimax Arctic?

Continental ExtremeContact DWS, 72 vs 62 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, ExtremeContact DWS or Altimax Arctic?

Continental ExtremeContact DWS, 67 vs 57 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, ExtremeContact DWS or Altimax Arctic?

Continental ExtremeContact DWS, 66 vs 59 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, ExtremeContact DWS or Altimax Arctic?

Neither, by our numbers: 62 vs 62 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, ExtremeContact DWS or Altimax Arctic?

Continental ExtremeContact DWS, 69 vs 60 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, ExtremeContact DWS or Altimax Arctic?

Continental ExtremeContact DWS, 65 vs 57 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