tirewheelguide
Head-to-head Updated

General Altimax Winter 3 vs Michelin X-Ice North 4 — 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 5 + 13 road tests and 3 + 12 owner reviews. How we score

X-Ice North 4 leads, 74–71 Narrow edge

Check price on Amazon · X-Ice North 4 or Altimax Winter 3 on Amazon
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.

General Altimax Winter 3
Tire AGeneral

Altimax Winter 3

Winter

± 8

Tests 69 · 5 tests Owners 73 · 3 reviews

Best test result: #4 of 20 in 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)

Michelin X-Ice North 4
Tire BMichelin

X-Ice North 4

Winter

± 5

Tests 74 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 12 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Nordic and Studded 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.

  1. 64

    Dry

    X-Ice North 4 +12
    76
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Winter 3X-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 10 tests5981
    Reviews found online7270

    Altimax Winter 3: 60% × 58.7 + 40% × 71.5 = 64

    X-Ice North 4: 60% × 80.8 + 40% × 69.8 = 76

  2. 71

    Wet

    Altimax Winter 3 +6
    65
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Winter 3X-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 12 tests6960
    Reviews found online7474

    Altimax Winter 3: 60% × 69.4 + 40% × 74.4 = 71

    X-Ice North 4: 60% × 59.6 + 40% × 74 = 65

  3. 78

    Snow

    X-Ice North 4 +5
    83
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Winter 3X-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 11 tests7887
    Reviews found online7777

    Altimax Winter 3: 60% × 77.7 + 40% × 77.3 = 78

    X-Ice North 4: 60% × 87.1 + 40% × 77.4 = 83

  4. 69

    Comfort

    X-Ice North 4 +6
    75
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Winter 3X-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 69 (est.)76
    Reviews found online6974

    Altimax Winter 3: 40% × 68.6 (est.) + 60% × 68.6 = 69

    X-Ice North 4: 40% × 76 + 60% × 74 = 75

    No road tests of comfort for Altimax Winter 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 72

    Noise

    Altimax Winter 3 +12
    60
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Winter 3X-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 10 tests7655
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Altimax Winter 3: 60% × 75.7 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 72

    X-Ice North 4: 60% × 55.4 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 60

    No owner ratings of noise for Altimax Winter 3 or X-Ice North 4. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 70

    Treadwear

    X-Ice North 4 +4
    74
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Winter 3X-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests69≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online7179

    Altimax Winter 3: 60% × 68.9 + 40% × 70.6 = 70

    X-Ice North 4: 60% × 71 (est.) + 40% × 78.8 = 74

    No road tests of treadwear for X-Ice North 4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 72

    Handling (owners)

    X-Ice North 4 +5
    77
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Winter 3X-Ice North 4
    Reviews found online7277
  8. 65

    Efficiency

    Altimax Winter 3 +5
    60
    Why this score
    SourceAltimax Winter 3X-Ice North 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 7 tests6560
Scores at a glance
CategoryGeneral Altimax Winter 3Michelin X-Ice North 4
Relative Score 71 74
Dry 64 76
Wet 71 65
Snow 78 83
Comfort 69 75
Noise 72 60
Treadwear 70 74
Handling (owners) 72 77
Efficiency 65 60

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
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

Altimax Winter 3

± 5

X-Ice North 4

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.

DisciplineCategoryAltimax Winter 3X-Ice North 4ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 92% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test 95% #6/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test 79% #17/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 86% #36/56 · 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview 92% #7/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 94% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test 97% #6/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 95% #14/35 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview 99% #5/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 97% #16/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test 99% #2/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 97% #4/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #5/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test 98% #3/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 82% #14/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test 96% #6/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #35/56 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview #3/6 2027 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Altimax Winter 3

Pros

  • Strong performance in snow and slush conditions
  • Effective resistance to aquaplaning
  • Competitive price-to-quality ratio

Cons

  • Increased road noise at highway speeds
  • Soft sidewalls resulting in vague handling and road feedback
  • Mediocre emergency wet braking performance
All owner themes in the Altimax Winter 3 review

Tire B X-Ice North 4

Pros

  • Outstanding grip and traction on ice and snow
  • Significantly lower road noise compared to competing studded tires
  • Comfortable ride quality

Cons

  • Premature stud loss reported by some users over multiple seasons
  • Slightly slippery feel on rain and dry concrete
  • Light studs can struggle to penetrate loose snow sitting on top of hard ice
All owner themes in the X-Ice North 4 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · General Altimax Winter 3 B · Michelin X-Ice North 4
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available38—
Rim diameters13″ – 19″—

Which one should you actually buy?

General Altimax Winter 3

Michelin X-Ice North 4

Narrow edge: Michelin X-Ice North 4 — better dry, comfort and snow. Pick the General Altimax Winter 3 if noise, wet and efficiency matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

General Altimax Winter 3 scores 72 vs 60 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 76 vs 64 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

General Altimax Winter 3 scores 71 vs 65 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin X-Ice North 4 scores 75 vs 69 on comfort.

Tire A · General Altimax Winter 3
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin X-Ice North 4
Check price on Amazon

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Altimax Winter 3 or X-Ice North 4?

Which is better in the wet, Altimax Winter 3 or X-Ice North 4?

General Altimax Winter 3, 71 vs 65 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Altimax Winter 3 or X-Ice North 4?

Michelin X-Ice North 4, 76 vs 64 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Altimax Winter 3 or X-Ice North 4?

Michelin X-Ice North 4, 83 vs 78 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Altimax Winter 3 or X-Ice North 4?

General Altimax Winter 3, 72 vs 60 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Altimax Winter 3 or X-Ice North 4?

Michelin X-Ice North 4, 75 vs 69 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Altimax Winter 3 or X-Ice North 4?

Michelin X-Ice North 4, 74 vs 70 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Altimax Winter 3 or X-Ice North 4?

General Altimax Winter 3, 65 vs 60 on our efficiency 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