Best Reviewed
Snow Tires
- Best winter tire Michelin X-Ice Xi2 *Est. $100
- Budget snow tire General Altimax Arctic *Est. $80
- Studded snow tire Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 *Est. $140
- Mild-winter performance tire Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 *Est. $155
- SUV/Light truck winter tire Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 *Est. $130
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Budget snow tire
- Impressive on icy, snowy and wet roads
- Durable
- Inexpensive
- Studdable
- Unimpressive on dry roads
- Less ice grip than Michelin X-Ice Xi2
The General Altimax Arctic performs better than some snow tires costing twice as much, tests show. It doesn't grip ice quite as well as the top-rated Michelin X-Ice Xi2 (*Est. $100), but it runs a close second, and it gets better traction on wet roads than the Michelin does. However, the cheaper General Altimax Arctic doesn't roll quite as quietly or comfortably as the Michelin, testers say, and it has a higher rolling resistance (which can mean lower gas mileage). Unlike the Michelin, the General can be studded for maximum ice grip.
ConsumerReports.org conducts by far the most extensive review of the General Altimax Arctic, pitting it against a wide range of competing winter tires in tests on wet, dry, snowy and icy roads. TireRack.com (a retail site) also tests the Altimax Arctic, and more than 600 owners give their opinions. Wheels.ca also gives a short summary recommendation, but no testing is mentioned.
| Featured Stores | Store Rating | Notes | Total Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  60 store reviews | In Stock. | $49.50 | See It |
 |  40 store reviews | In Stock. | $61.20 | See It |
 | 3 store reviews | In Stock. Tiresavings.com - the best value in online tires for over 10 years. | $55.64 | See It |
| See All Stores | ||||
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
The General Altimax Arctic is one of 36 winter tires tested at ConsumerReports.org. Editors rate each tire's performance on snow, ice, and wet and dry pavement, as well as its quietness, comfort and rolling resistance, and they recommend specific models as best buys.
Review: Winter Tire Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2. Wheels.ca
The General Altimax Arctic makes this list of the top 10 winter tires by John Mahler, a longtime tire columnist at Wheels.ca (the auto website of the Toronto Star). Mahler calls the Altimax Arctic "an inexpensive tire that works above its price category."
Review: The Time to Buy Your Winter Tires Is Now, John Mahler, Oct. 25, 2010
3. Tire Rack
This retail site also conducts tire tests. A few winter tires are recommended, including the General Altimax Arctic in the studdable category.
Review: Winter Tires or Snow Tires Which Do I Need?, Chad Hocker, Oct. 13, 2009
4. Tire Rack
The General Altimax Arctic is TireRack.com customers' favorite studdable winter tire. It gets better ratings for wet-road performance than others, including the Firestone Winterforce and Pirelli Winter Carving Edge, with more than 600 reviews posted.
Review: General Tire Altimax Arctic, Contributors to TireRack.com, As of Nov. 2010
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