General Altimax Arctic 12 Studdable Winter/Snow Tire for Max Ice Traction in 235/60R18

This is my fourth set of these tires and the traction in winter is outstanding. I have run these tires on my WRX for 10 years now and my cross track for three years now and just put this set on my wife's Forester. With the Subarus all-wheel-drive and these tires, there's absolutely nowhere or any conditions I cannot go in. These tires are not the fastest or the best handling winter tire but if you absolutely have to drive in icy bad conditions, you cannot beat these tires and I do not use studs in them, there is no reason to do so.

Great set of tires ! Great traction and stability in winter driving , also great in wet driving conditions and in muddy conditions. Noise is very minimal for a winter tread .

Over the years we have had Blizzaks and General Arctics for snow tires as well as General RT43's for summer tires. It is that history that led us to get the Arctics last year for the wife's Rav4. She previously had same for her Prius and was amazed how well just front wheel drive with snows did in the New England winters. I have them on my Fusion AWD and have fantastic results as well. She works nights as a CNA so needs reliable tires/transportation which is why when she leased her Rav we knew it would be Generals for winter use. This winter has not been as bad with snow as previous ones but we have had more ice storms than usual. The combination of the Rav AWD and the Generals (along with careful driving) has made sure she gets to and from work safely and without incident. She appreciates that the Generals are quieter and ride smoother than the OEM summers. She can be a little spirited with stopping so I'm glad for the traction the Generals provide both with snow and ice. This winter has forced her to reign in her driving somewhat but her confidence in the Generals shows when she drives herself rather than have me take her in. As we have dedicated summer and winter tires we expect to get at least 5+ seasons out of the Generals - I expect they will be replaced based on age long before they run out of tread. Anyone considering a good snow tire and can't afford Blizzaks (our previous 1st choice) will be very please to try the Generals and have both comfort and safety as a reward. Thanks General!

I waited until we had a couple of Michigan snow storms before I rated these tires and now I can say with confidence, these tires really get the job done. This car has been mediocre in the snow at best but these tires have transformed it into a snow beast. Let's face it, you buy winter only tires for one reason, driving in winter weather and that is where these tires really pull through but the dry performance is also very respectable. I really don't push the car through tight corners at speed so it's not fair for me to rate them in that category but driving the way you expect someone to drive an 09 Focus sedan, they are quiet on the road and handle just fine. Driving on snow covered highways and side streets is a joy with a very stable feel and stopping on snow and ice is where they really pay off. I find myself tempted to be "that guy" driving faster and passing everybody just because I can but better judgement takes over and I just maintain a reasonable speed in traffic and enjoy the drive. What can be a anxious, white knuckle, just want to be there type of ordeal is now a relaxing and enjoyable drive in a beautiful winter storm. The more you hate driving in snow, the more you need these tires and at the same time, the more you like driving in the snow, the more you need these tires!

For more than a decade I've been outfitting my cars with the previous version, the Altimax Arctic Ice, and they were fantastic. Then one year I bought a used car that came with a set of highly rated Toyo's - which were horrible on ice. I couldn't find the Altimax Ice anywhere (they were moving to the new 12's) so I settled for the Blizzak WS80's. They were better, but just didn't feel great..

Fast forward to last year and I picked up a Lexus LS460 RWD (that's a 4600lb, 380HP V8 with power only going to the rear!). The Altimax Arctic 12's were finally out so I put a set on it. They were everything I was hoping for - great grip, very low noise, comfortable ride, simply fantastic. We got piles of snow and ice this past winter and not once did I ever hesitate to go out driving. One day we had so much snow that when I pulled into my driveway I discovered a mound of snow I had pushed up the street and into my driveway. Yes, I turned into a snowplow with a front-heavy & rear-light RWD whale of a car.

If that doesn't convince you then I don't know what will.. Unless they screw up a future version, I'll be buying the Altimax Arctic series for life.

We had about a couple snow storms in philly and they held up great. We had about 4 inches of snow on the ground and i didn't bother to shovel the driveway and it got out no problem. There is not much of a difference between these and the stock sport maxx that come stock in regards to dry traction and noise. They perform better in snow, ice and rain than the stocks. And are worst in handling and cornering as one would expect, you can immediately feel the softer sidewalls. Bottom line I would absolutely recommend them to a friend.

These are my winter set for my 2018 WRX. I have 3 seasons and approx 15k miles on them now. Compared to the original Altimax Arctic which I ran on my previous car, the AA 12s are significantly quieter and better in dry conditions. I did not get mine studded as ice isn't the majority of my winter driving conditions. In dry, cold conditions they're still squishy and spongy compared to my summer setup but that's to be expected. Steering response is delayed and it's easy to make them howl in the corners. However when it comes to the white stuff they really shine. I've tried to get stuck. Snow up to the hood is the upper limit but it's really more of a ground clearance thing at that point. In normal snowy road conditions they do fantastic, I love being able to out-stop and out-accelerate nearly anything else on the road short of a snowmobile. Would definitely recommend as a great budget friendly winter tire.

Consistently, a good and economical choice. Comfortable ride, but somewhat noisy.

These are great tires! I am an independent contractor working in the metals fabrication/manufacturing industries driving in all weather conditions and road conditions that can happen on a 75 mile stretch of interstate between Lomira WI and Mukwonago WI. If you look at a map the route goes right through metro Milwaukee which has been under construction for a couple of years. I have never missed a day of work because of weather of any kind. These tires get me through it all. I have been running snow tires year around for a couple of years now and they work great for every condition. My car has a suspension that leans towards comfort so judging for handling really does not apply. Especially because I buy a half size larger tire because it fits and gets more miles, has a bigger foot print on the pavement, and makes my speedo quite accurate. I do notice preciseness of handling is reduced but I am just changing lanes at 78 mph, not running a rally race. For my purposes this tire performs just fine. They are quieter than my last snow tires and that is a plus. They are at about 1/2 tread now and still good for another Wisconsin winter and maybe through the summer. I buy my snow tires on price points - on sale with some additional discount added. I would defiantly but these tires again, but if something comparable can be had for less, I go for the best deal.

On an older Focus these tires are great. I was able to travel on snow and slippery roads during the winter that would not have been possible with all season radials. Including on packed snowy roads with a touch of frozen material on top. Quiet on the freeway and deliver a smooth ride. I run General Altimax all seasons on the same car in spring, summer and fall. General makes a good tire for the money. I have a set of Grabbers on my Nissan Frontier with over 55k on them and they still show good tread and ride well.

quiet, great performance, and great treadware - long lasting and even even on a car that is very tough on tires. No need to shop around, after a few winters I will definitely just buy another set of these

The Tires are pricey but well worth it .. Considering inflation the off season price could have been better but I actually run these tires all year long because they wear well and I drive a lot and wouldn't buy any other tire