The General Altimax Arctic 12 tires receive overwhelmingly positive reviews for their performance in winter conditions, particularly in snow and ice.
The General Altimax Arctic 12 tires are highly recommended for winter driving. They offer exceptional performance in snow and ice, with many users praising their ability to handle challenging winter conditions. The tires also provide a comfortable and quiet ride, which is unusual for winter tires. While there are a few isolated complaints, the vast majority of users are very satisfied with the purchase and feel much safer driving in winter with these tires.
Positive highlights
Excellent traction and grip in snow, ice, and slush. Quiet and smooth ride for a winter tire. Good handling and stability on dry and wet roads. Long tread life and durability. Great value for the price. Improved safety and confidence in winter driving conditions.
Negative highlights
Some users reported poor performance on ice compared to previous models. A few complaints about wandering on highway grooves. One user experienced significant traction issues, though this seems to be an isolated case.
Scorecard
Dry
4.5
Wet
4.8
Winter
5
Comfort
4.8
Noise
4.6
Treadwear
4.7
24 SimpleTire reviews
Beyleon
4.5
Mini Cooper Countryman 2017 S ALL4
Verified Customer
Jan 18, 2025
ALL AROUND GOOD
Great tire for all winter driving. Great grip in slushy snow to dry powder. Northern MI driving, so it's worth getting a quality winter tire and this one checks all the boxes. Very low road noise and corners pretty well.
Would you buy again?Yes
Miles driven on tires5k - 9k
Scorecard
Wet
4
Winter
5
Comfort
5
Noise
4
Kirstin
5
Toyota Corolla Cross 2023 XLE (AWD)
Verified Customer
Jan 11, 2025
to know i am safe with these tires is so great
Would you buy again?Yes
Miles driven on tires5k - 9k
Scorecard
Dry
5
Wet
5
Winter
5
Comfort
5
Noise
5
Treadwear
5
Matt
4
Toyota Camry 2022 Hybrid SE Nightshade
Verified Customer
Dec 20, 2024
Good aggressive tires
Only a couple hundred miles on them a little noisy but traction in snow and ice is next level
Would you buy again?Yes
Miles driven on tires5k - 9k
Scorecard
Dry
4
Wet
5
Winter
5
Comfort
4
Noise
3
Alysia
5
Toyota Tacoma 2014 4x2 Access Cab
Verified Customer
Dec 4, 2024
2nd Set of these Tires
When our last set of these tires needed to be replaced I did not hesitate to get them again. They are a great price, do great in snow, aren't terribly loud and have good tread life.
Would you buy again?Yes
Miles driven on tires30k+
Scorecard
Dry
5
Wet
5
Winter
5
Comfort
5
Noise
5
Treadwear
5
Bob
5
Nissan Rogue 2016 SV
Verified Customer
Jul 31, 2023
Awesome tires
I have been buying General Artic tires for my cars and truck for over 12 years. Best tires to have in winter weather. Run them all year and they wear extremely well provided you rotate your tires.
Would you buy again?Yes
Miles driven on tires20k - 29k
Scorecard
Dry
5
Wet
5
Winter
5
Comfort
5
Noise
5
Treadwear
5
Marcus
5
Honda Civic 2006 Si
Verified Customer
Jul 14, 2023
Great for snow driving! FWD civic here!
Would you buy again?Yes
Miles driven on tires5k - 9k
Scorecard
Dry
4
Wet
5
Winter
5
Comfort
5
Noise
5
Treadwear
5
Marcus
5
Honda Civic 2006 Si
Verified Customer
Jul 14, 2023
Great for snow driving! FWD civic here!
Would you buy again?Yes
Miles driven on tires5k - 9k
Scorecard
Dry
4
Wet
5
Winter
5
Comfort
5
Noise
5
Treadwear
5
James
4
Subaru Forester 2022 Premium
Verified Customer
Feb 25, 2023
I've owned the General Altimax Arctic for 11 years
This review comes from my experience with the previous generation Altimax Arctic that I purchased for my 2005 Subaru Forester XS Premium, but the AA-12 is so similar that my opinion should still apply.
I bought snow tires for the Forester as my wife was using the vehicle to drive around the State of Wisconsin for her job. Keeping just all-season tires year-round wasn't safe as she had to drive in all weather conditions. I read the reviews and Consumer Reports rankings and chose the Generals as a good balance of performance and price. That was 2012 and I still have the tires mounted on 17-inch rims size 215/55-17. I used them for 10 years straight until 2022 when the pinch weld broke on my 2005 and emissions failures made license renewal uncertain.
I would have ordered the 16 inch as that was the factory size at the time 215/60-16, but the stock was low early in the season. Going to 17's also forced me to buy rims that cost $50 more per wheel than the standard steel 16-inch rims. Turns out to be a good thing, as I recently purchased a 2022 Forester Premium, and it requires 17's. I've kept the tires & wheels despite the tires were manufactured 12 years ago. Once I retire the new Forester will be our only vehicle, so I'll need the 17-inch size. The tires are in great shape and probably could have been used this season. Out of an abundance of caution and working from home for much of the Winter, I kept the original equipment all seasons on the new Forester (Ecopia H/L). Later this year I will buy a set of the AA-12's, which should last the rest of my life. We'll confidently travel this country year-round knowing these tires will get us through Winter with ease.
My advice. Buy a wall rack and mount the tires up high enough to park the front of your car under them. Helps our slightly longer Forester fit better in our garage. Also keeps them looking good and out of the way the other 8 months of the year.
Would you buy again?Yes
Miles driven on tires5k - 9k
Scorecard
Dry
4
Wet
4
Winter
5
Comfort
4
Noise
4
Treadwear
4
James
4
Subaru Forester 2022 Premium
Verified Customer
Feb 25, 2023
I've owned the General Altimax Arctic for 11 years
This review comes from my experience with the previous generation Altimax Arctic that I purchased for my 2005 Subaru Forester XS Premium, but the AA-12 is so similar that my opinion should still apply.
I bought snow tires for the Forester as my wife was using the vehicle to drive around the State of Wisconsin for her job. Keeping just all-season tires year-round wasn't safe as she had to drive in all weather conditions. I read the reviews and Consumer Reports rankings and chose the Generals as a good balance of performance and price. That was 2012 and I still have the tires mounted on 17-inch rims size 215/55-17. I used them for 10 years straight until 2022 when the pinch weld broke on my 2005 and emissions failures made license renewal uncertain.
I would have ordered the 16 inch as that was the factory size at the time 215/60-16, but the stock was low early in the season. Going to 17's also forced me to buy rims that cost $50 more per wheel than the standard steel 16-inch rims. Turns out to be a good thing, as I recently purchased a 2022 Forester Premium, and it requires 17's. I've kept the tires & wheels despite the tires were manufactured 12 years ago. Once I retire the new Forester will be our only vehicle, so I'll need the 17-inch size. The tires are in great shape and probably could have been used this season. Out of an abundance of caution and working from home for much of the Winter, I kept the original equipment all seasons on the new Forester (Ecopia H/L). Later this year I will buy a set of the AA-12's, which should last the rest of my life. We'll confidently travel this country year-round knowing these tires will get us through Winter with ease.
My advice. Buy a wall rack and mount the tires up high enough to park the front of your car under them. Helps our slightly longer Forester fit better in our garage. Also keeps them looking good and out of the way the other 8 months of the year.
Would you buy again?Yes
Miles driven on tires5k - 9k
Scorecard
Dry
4
Wet
4
Winter
5
Comfort
4
Noise
4
Treadwear
4
Steven
4.5
Subaru Legacy 1998 GT Limited
Verified Customer
Feb 21, 2022
Used in snow only once so far but they REALLY stick and stopping is really great as well
The General AltiMAX Arctic 12 is a winter tire for passenger cars and offers drivers excellent grip, reliable braking on wet, snow, or ice-covered roads, superb steering response, and a longer tread life.
Features & Benefits
Winter tread; should not be used when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit
Black sidewall
Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for severe snow performance
Can be pinned 11 mm (TSMI #12) studs for extra traction and grip in severe winter weather conditions
Specialized tread pattern ensures optimal performance during winter driving conditions
The General AltiMAX Arctic 12 is a winter tire designed to provide superior performance in harsh winter conditions. It features exceptional grip in low temperatures, ensuring reliable braking on wet, snow, or ice-covered roads. The AltiMAX Arctic 12 is built for longevity with long-lasting treadwear. It carries a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, indicating its high performance in severe snow conditions. In addition, the tire is studdable for enhanced traction on ice.
Yes, General Altimax Arctic 12 tires are pretty good snow tires. The innovative tread design gives the Altimax Arctic 12 superior traction on wet, snowy, and icy roads, while its tread blocks help with fast braking.
General Altimax Arctic 12 tires are made by Continental AG, who bought the tire division of General Tire Inc. in 1987.
General Altimax Arctic 12 tires are mostly manufactured in Europe but could also be made in Texas, Mayfield, KY, Bryan, OH, Illinois, or other parts of the world.
No, General Altimax Arctic 12 tires are not backed by a limited manufacturer tread life warranty. That being said, Altimax Arctic 12 tires are covered under General's Limited Warranty which includes 72 months of treadwear coverage and a 45 day Satisfaction Trial.
The Altimax Arctic 12 is available in sizes ranging from 14 to 19-inch wheel diameters.
The Altimax Arctic 12 can be pinned with TSMI #12 (11mm) studs and the stud size is also molded on the sidewall for the convenience of its users. That being said, studs are not legal for use in all 50 States so please consult local laws before adding studs to your Altimax Arctic 12 tires.
Yes, the tread of General Altimax Arctic 12 is angled to move water away quickly from the tire to help fight hydroplaning, and the center of the tire helps in quick steering response helping in delivering superior traction.
No, General Altimax 12 is a winter tire that's designed to perform exceptionally well in winter and wet conditions but its flexible tread will wear down more quickly in warmer temperatures.
More from General
Here's what General has to say about the AltiMAX Arctic 12:
The General AltiMAX Arctic 12 offers reliable braking on wet, snow, or ice-covered roads, ensuring enhanced cofidence in harsh winter conditions. Its advanced tread compound and design provide superior grip and control, allowing for shorter stopping distances on slippery surfaces.
The General AltiMAX Arctic 12 delivers superb steering response and dry handling, offering precise control and stability on clear roads. Its optimized tread design enhances cornering and maneuverability, making it a reliable choice for winter and dry conditions.
The General AltiMAX Arctic 12 is designed for long-lasting treadwear, providing extended mileage and consistent performance throughout its lifespan. Its durable construction and wear-resistant compound ensure that the tire remains effective even after many miles of winter driving.
The General AltiMAX Arctic 12 features the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, ensuring excellent performance in severe winter conditions. Additionally, its studdable capability allows for even greater traction on icy surfaces, providing enhanced confidence in extreme winter weather.