Tests 64 · 1 test Owners 70 · 31 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 15 in 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
General Altimax Arctic 12 vs Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
X-Ice Snow SUV leads, 70–67 Narrow edge
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Tests 67 · 2 tests Owners 74 · 4 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 8 in 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test (ice traction)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
52
Dry
X-Ice Snow SUV +1870Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 48 70 Reviews found online 58 70 Dry Braking (% of best) 81% 93% -
69
Wet
Altimax Arctic 12 +465Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 65 56 Reviews found online 75 78 Wet Braking (% of best) 76% 88% -
76
Snow
Level76Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 74 73 Reviews found online 79 81 Snow Handling (% of best) 90% 98% -
68
Comfort
X-Ice Snow SUV +573Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 68 – Reviews found online 67 77 -
69
Noise
X-Ice Snow SUV +473Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 72 76 Reviews found online 65 – -
70
Treadwear
Altimax Arctic 12 +268Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Snow SUV Reviews found online 72 70 -
69
Handling
X-Ice Snow SUV +271Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Snow SUV Reviews found online 69 71
Scores at a glance
| Category | General Altimax Arctic 12 | Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 70 |
| Dry | 52 | 70 |
| Wet | 69 | 65 |
| Snow | 76 | 76 |
| Comfort | 68 | 73 |
| Noise | 69 | 73 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 68 |
| Handling | 69 | 71 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
67
/ 100
Altimax Arctic 12
70
/ 100
X-Ice Snow SUV
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Altimax Arctic 12 | X-Ice Snow SUV | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 81% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 93% #7/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | −11.8 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 91% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 96% #2/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | −5.3 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 67% #6/15 · 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires | 25% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | +41.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 90% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 98% #5/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | −8.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 76% #9/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 88% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | −12.1 | 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 X-Ice Snow SUV
Pros
- Outstanding traction on snow and ice
- Remarkably low road noise for a winter tire
- Excellent ride comfort
Cons
- Unsuitable for year-round use due to soft compound in warm temperatures
- Reduced handling precision compared to dedicated summer tires
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · General Altimax Arctic 12 | B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring Winter tire | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 38 | 90 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 19″ | 16″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 12/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
General Altimax Arctic 12
70
/ 100
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Winner: Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — better dry, comfort and noise. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if wet matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 70 vs 52 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 73 vs 68 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 69 vs 65 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 73 vs 69 on noise.
Tire A · General Altimax Arctic 12
Tire B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
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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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.