Winter tire Updated September 2026

General Altimax Arctic review

Name: General Altimax Arctic
Brand: General

Relative score from owner reviews only

Better than 13% of the winter tires we score.

Owners 53 · 32 reviews analysed

How scores work

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General Altimax Arctic has a Relative Score of 58 out of 100 among winter tires. 32 owner reviews rate it 53 out of 100. 60% would buy it again.

What owners say

No road-test results yet, so every score here comes from owner reviews found online.

How scores work

Relative score: 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
Road tests: 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
Owner reviews: 0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.

Full methodology

By owner reviews

53/100

From 32 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.

Would buy again 60%

Dry

Overall dry

Corner stability

Dry traction

Steering response

Wet

Overall wet

Hydroplaning resistance

Wet traction

Snow & ice

Overall snow & ice

Light snow

Heavy snow

Comfort

Overall comfort

Ride comfort

Noise

Overall noise

Treadwear

Overall treadwear

Handling

Overall handling

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General Altimax Arctic specs & sizes

Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.

Size	Retailer
225/55 R17	Amazon

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What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 32 owner reviews found online.

The General AltiMAX Arctic is widely praised by users as an exceptional, budget-friendly winter tire that provides outstanding traction and control in heavy snow, ice, and wet conditions. While the vast majority of drivers report impressive confidence and longevity, a small minority experienced performance issues or faster-than-expected wear under specific conditions.

Pros

Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow, slush, and ice
High value and affordable price point compared to premium competitors
Reliable wet and dry handling during cold weather months
Impressive overall tread life and durability for many users

Cons

Handling and responsiveness drop off compared to dedicated summer or all-season tires
Some users report accelerated wear once the tire reaches 50% tread life
Minor tendencies toward understeer during hard cornering
Rare reports of extreme lack of traction on ice from isolated reviews

Worth knowing

Perform exceptionally well on smaller, lighter winter vehicles and sedans such as the BMW E30 and Alfa Romeo Milano.
Successfully utilized on various light trucks and SUVs like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford dually, and Subaru Foresters, providing tank-like capability in adverse weather.