Tests 64 · 1 test Owners 69 · 33 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
General Altimax Arctic 12 vs Hankook Winter i*cept evo — 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 33 + 28 owner reviews. How we score
Winter i*cept evo is ahead, 73–65
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests – · none yet Owners 75 · 28 reviews
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
49
Dry
Winter i*cept evo +2170Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 Winter i*cept evo Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 47 ≈ 69 (est.) Reviews found online 53 71 Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 47.2 + 40% × 52.9 = 49
Winter i*cept evo: 60% × 69.1 (est.) + 40% × 70.8 = 70
No road tests of dry for Winter i*cept evo. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).
-
68
Wet
Winter i*cept evo +876Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 Winter i*cept evo Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 66 ≈ 74 (est.) Reviews found online 72 78 Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 65.9 + 40% × 72.3 = 68
Winter i*cept evo: 60% × 74.4 (est.) + 40% × 77.5 = 76
No road tests of wet for Winter i*cept evo. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
-
76
Snow
Winter i*cept evo +177Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 Winter i*cept evo Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 74 ≈ 74 (est.) Reviews found online 80 82 Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 74 + 40% × 79.8 = 76
Winter i*cept evo: 60% × 74.3 (est.) + 40% × 82.3 = 77
No road tests of snow for Winter i*cept evo. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
-
65
Comfort
Winter i*cept evo +671Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 Winter i*cept evo Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 69 ≈ 69 (est.) Reviews found online 62 72 Altimax Arctic 12: 40% × 68.8 + 60% × 62 = 65
Winter i*cept evo: 40% × 69.4 (est.) + 60% × 72.2 = 71
No road tests of comfort for Winter i*cept evo. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
-
69
Noise
No comparison–Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 Winter i*cept evo Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 72 – Reviews found online 63 – Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 72.4 + 40% × 62.9 = 69
-
71
Treadwear
Altimax Arctic 12 +170Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 Winter i*cept evo Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 69 (est.) ≈ 69 (est.) Reviews found online 74 72 Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 69.2 (est.) + 40% × 73.9 = 71
Winter i*cept evo: 60% × 68.6 (est.) + 40% × 72.2 = 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 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for Winter i*cept evo. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
-
65
Handling (owners)
Winter i*cept evo +772Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 Winter i*cept evo Reviews found online 65 72
Scores at a glance
| Category | General Altimax Arctic 12 | Hankook Winter i*cept evo |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 65 | 73 |
| Dry | 49 | 70 |
| Wet | 68 | 76 |
| Snow | 76 | 77 |
| Comfort | 65 | 71 |
| Noise | 69 | – |
| Treadwear | 71 | 70 |
| Handling (owners) | 65 | 72 |
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
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
65
/ 100
Altimax Arctic 12
73
/ 100
Winter i*cept evo
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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.
| Discipline | Category | Altimax Arctic 12 | Winter i*cept evo | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #9/10 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | #8/9 2013 Auto Bild Sports Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
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
Tire B Winter i*cept evo
Pros
- Exceptional grip and capability in deep snow and ice
- Favorable price-to-performance/value ratio compared to premium brands
- Good aquaplaning resistance and handling in heavy rain
Cons
- Inconsistent or poor wet weather traction reported by some drivers
- Prone to wheelspin under acceleration in damp or cold conditions
- Squirmy feel or reduced stability in warmer weather or at high highway speeds
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · General Altimax Arctic 12 | B · Hankook Winter i*cept evo |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 38 | 5 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 19″ | 15″ – 18″ |
| Tread depth | 12/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 1 | 1 |
Which one should you actually buy?
65
/ 100
General Altimax Arctic 12
73
/ 100
Hankook Winter i*cept evo
Winner: Hankook Winter i*cept evo — better dry, wet and handling. Where the General Altimax Arctic 12 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Winter i*cept evo scores 70 vs 49 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Winter i*cept evo scores 76 vs 68 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter i*cept evo scores 72 vs 65 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook Winter i*cept evo scores 71 vs 65 on comfort.
Tire A · General Altimax Arctic 12
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*cept evo
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Altimax Arctic 12 or Winter i*cept evo?
Which is better in the wet, Altimax Arctic 12 or Winter i*cept evo?
Hankook Winter i*cept evo, 76 vs 68 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Altimax Arctic 12 or Winter i*cept evo?
Hankook Winter i*cept evo, 70 vs 49 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Altimax Arctic 12 or Winter i*cept evo?
Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 77 on the snow score, within 3 points.
Which is more comfortable, Altimax Arctic 12 or Winter i*cept evo?
Hankook Winter i*cept evo, 71 vs 65 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Altimax Arctic 12 or Winter i*cept evo?
Neither, by our numbers: 71 vs 70 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.
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