Tests 64 · 1 test Owners 70 · 31 reviews
Best test result: #7 of 17 in 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
General Altimax Arctic 12 vs Michelin X-Ice Xi3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
X-Ice Xi3 leads, 68–67 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.
-
52
Dry
X-Ice Xi3 +1567Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Professional tests (TWG score) 48 – Reviews found online 58 66 -
69
Wet
X-Ice Xi3 +170Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Professional tests (TWG score) 65 – Reviews found online 75 70 -
76
Snow
Altimax Arctic 12 +670Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Professional tests (TWG score) 74 – Reviews found online 79 70 -
68
Comfort
X-Ice Xi3 +169Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Professional tests (TWG score) 68 – Reviews found online 67 69 -
69
Noise
Altimax Arctic 12 +267Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 65 68 -
70
Treadwear
Altimax Arctic 12 +367Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Reviews found online 72 68 -
69
Handling
Altimax Arctic 12 +663Why this score
Source Altimax Arctic 12 X-Ice Xi3 Reviews found online 69 63
Scores at a glance
| Category | General Altimax Arctic 12 | Michelin X-Ice Xi3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 68 |
| Dry | 52 | 67 |
| Wet | 69 | 70 |
| Snow | 76 | 70 |
| Comfort | 68 | 69 |
| Noise | 69 | 67 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 67 |
| Handling | 69 | 63 |
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
68
/ 100
X-Ice Xi3
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 | X-Ice Xi3 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #7/17 | #5/17 | – | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test |
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 | Premium Touring Winter tire | 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 | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
General Altimax Arctic 12
68
/ 100
Michelin X-Ice Xi3
Too close to call: General Altimax Arctic 12 and Michelin X-Ice Xi3 are within 2 points overall. General Altimax Arctic 12 is stronger on snow, handling and treadwear. Michelin X-Ice Xi3 is stronger on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin X-Ice Xi3 scores 67 vs 52 on dry.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 76 vs 70 on snow.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 69 vs 63 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
General Altimax Arctic 12 scores 70 vs 67 on treadwear.
Tire A · General Altimax Arctic 12
Tire B · Michelin X-Ice Xi3
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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.