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Head-to-head Updated

General Altimax Arctic 12 vs Continental VancoFourSeason — 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 1 + 0 road tests and 31 + 1 owner reviews. How we score

Check price on Amazon · Altimax Arctic 12 Check price on Amazon · VancoFourSeason
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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. 51

    Dry

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Arctic 12VancoFourSeason
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests48–
    Reviews found online56–

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

  2. 69

    Wet

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Arctic 12VancoFourSeason
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests65–
    Reviews found online75–

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

  3. 77

    Snow

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Arctic 12VancoFourSeason
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests74–
    Reviews found online81–

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

  4. 65

    Comfort

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Arctic 12VancoFourSeason
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests68–
    Reviews found online64–

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

  5. 69

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Arctic 12VancoFourSeason
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests73–
    Reviews found online64–

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

  6. 70

    Treadwear

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Arctic 12VancoFourSeason
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 68 (est.)–
    Reviews found online73–

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

    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. 67

    Handling (owners)

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Arctic 12VancoFourSeason
    Reviews found online67–
Scores at a glance
CategoryGeneral Altimax Arctic 12Continental VancoFourSeason
Relative Score 65 –
Dry 51 –
Wet 69 –
Snow 77 –
Comfort 65 –
Noise 69 –
Treadwear 70 –
Handling (owners) 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
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Altimax Arctic 12

VancoFourSeason

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A 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

Tire B VancoFourSeason

Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.

Specs side by side

Attribute A · General Altimax Arctic 12 B · Continental VancoFourSeason
CategoryPremium Touring Winter tireAll-Season tire
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available386
Rim diameters15″ – 19″15″ – 17″
Tread depth12/32″11 - 15/32″
UTQG—280 A A
SidewallBlackwallBlack Side Wall
Max pressure51 psi51 - 90 psi
Sizes in common11

Which one should you actually buy?

General Altimax Arctic 12

Continental VancoFourSeason

Only General Altimax Arctic 12 has enough test and review data for a Relative Score, so there is no head-to-head winner yet.

Tire A · General Altimax Arctic 12
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Continental VancoFourSeason
Check price on Amazon

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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