Tests 64 · 1 test Owners 65 · 34 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
General Altimax Arctic 12 vs Michelin X-Ice Xi3 — 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 34 + 14 owner reviews. How we score
X-Ice Xi3 leads, 66–64 Narrow edge
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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.
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48
Dry
X-Ice Xi3 +1664Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 47 ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 49 62 Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 47.2 + 40% × 48.6 = 48
X-Ice Xi3: 60% × 65.6 (est.) + 40% × 62.2 = 64
No road tests of dry for X-Ice Xi3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
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67
Wet
Level67Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 66 ≈ 68 (est.) Reviews found online 69 66 Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 65.9 + 40% × 69 = 67
X-Ice Xi3: 60% × 68.2 (est.) + 40% × 66.1 = 67
No road tests of wet for X-Ice Xi3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
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75
Snow
Altimax Arctic 12 +669Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 74 ≈ 70 (est.) Reviews found online 76 67 Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 74 + 40% × 76 = 75
X-Ice Xi3: 60% × 69.5 (est.) + 40% × 67.3 = 69
No road tests of snow for X-Ice Xi3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
-
61
Comfort
X-Ice Xi3 +465Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 69 ≈ 68 (est.) Reviews found online 57 64 Altimax Arctic 12: 40% × 68.7 + 60% × 56.5 = 61
X-Ice Xi3: 40% × 67.7 (est.) + 60% × 63.8 = 65
No road tests of comfort for X-Ice Xi3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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68
Noise
No comparison–Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 72 – Reviews found online 61 – Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 72.3 + 40% × 61.2 = 68
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69
Treadwear
Altimax Arctic 12 +366Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 68 (est.) ≈ 66 (est.) Reviews found online 70 66 Altimax Arctic 12: 60% × 67.7 (est.) + 40% × 69.8 = 69
X-Ice Xi3: 60% × 66.2 (est.) + 40% × 65.6 = 66
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 X-Ice Xi3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
-
62
Handling (owners)
Altimax Arctic 12 +656Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Reviews found online 62 56
Scores at a glance
| Category | General Altimax Arctic 12 | Michelin X-Ice Xi3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 64 | 66 |
| Dry | 48 | 64 |
| Wet | 67 | 67 |
| Snow | 75 | 69 |
| Comfort | 61 | 65 |
| Noise | 68 | – |
| Treadwear | 69 | 66 |
| Handling (owners) | 62 | 56 |
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
64
/ 100
Altimax Arctic 12
66
/ 100
X-Ice Xi3
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.
In the overall rankings of 1 tests that ran both, General Altimax Arctic 12 finished ahead 0 times and Michelin X-Ice Xi3 1 times.
| Discipline | Category | Altimax Arctic 12 | X-Ice Xi3 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #7/17 | #5/17 | – | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test · 215/60 R16 |
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 Xi3
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Long-lasting treadwear and durability over multiple seasons
- Good stability and grip on dry pavement and cold winter roads
Cons
- Squirmy feel and delayed, sluggish steering response on dry and wet roads
- Lacks cornering grip and confidence during sharp turns
- Performs poorly in heavy mountain snow, wet ice, and milder above-freezing temperatures
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · General Altimax Arctic 12 | B · Michelin X-Ice Xi3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 38 | 37 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 19″ | 14″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 12/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 13 | 13 |
Which one should you actually buy?
64
/ 100
General Altimax Arctic 12
66
/ 100
Michelin X-Ice Xi3
Narrow edge: Michelin X-Ice Xi3 — better dry and comfort. Pick the General Altimax Arctic 12 if snow, handling and treadwear matter most to you. Michelin X-Ice Xi3 rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 14 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin X-Ice Xi3 scores 64 vs 48 on dry.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 75 vs 69 on snow.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 62 vs 56 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X-Ice Xi3 scores 65 vs 61 on comfort.
Tire A · General Altimax Arctic 12
Tire B · Michelin X-Ice Xi3
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Altimax Arctic 12 or X-Ice Xi3?
Which is better in the wet, Altimax Arctic 12 or X-Ice Xi3?
Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 67 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Altimax Arctic 12 or X-Ice Xi3?
Michelin X-Ice Xi3, 64 vs 48 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Altimax Arctic 12 or X-Ice Xi3?
General Altimax Arctic 12, 75 vs 69 on our snow score.
Which is more comfortable, Altimax Arctic 12 or X-Ice Xi3?
Michelin X-Ice Xi3, 65 vs 61 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Altimax Arctic 12 or X-Ice Xi3?
General Altimax Arctic 12, 69 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