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GeneralAltimax Arctic 12
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  • GeneralAltimax Arctic 12
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The AltiMAX Arctic 12 is General's Studdable Winter/Snow tire designed for the drivers of coupes, sedans, crossovers and SUVs looking for confident performance and traditional wintertime traction on dry, wet and snow-covered roads.

General Altimax Arctic 12General AltiMAX Arctic 12 tires feature a winter-focused compound molded into a highly directional tread pattern. The arrow-shaped, rigid central rib provides solid on-center feel and steering response, and the optimized tread contour aids in pressure distribution across the footprint for improved wear compared to the previous-generation tire. High-void, angled grooves and wide lateral notches evacuate water and slush from the contact patch to resist hydroplaning, and the strategically angled tread blocks and serrated sipes provide additional biting edges for confident traction in slippery conditions.

Internal construction of the AltiMAX Arctic 12 consists of a high-turn up, polyester casing beneath two wide, steel belts. A spirally wound, polyamide cap ply aids handling and provides high-speed durability.

AltiMAX Arctic 12 tires meet the industry's severe snow service requirements and are branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.

Install AltiMAX Arctic 12 tires in sets of four only.

Molded to accept optional TSMI #12 silver-colored metallic winter studs.

Related Information: What is the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol (3PMSF)?

Tire Rack Test Results General Altimax Arctic 12

All-Weather vs. Winter Tires: The Definitive Test(12:05)

Brent and TJ set off with a couple of objectives in this, the first test of 2026. The first is to highlight the differences between two types of Grand Touring tires: all-season and all-weather. Second, to see how they stack up to dedicated winter tires. The internet is a great resource, but not all the information out there is accurate, and this test is designed to truly set the record straight.

Read the Full Test Report

Ratings Charts & Reviews General Altimax Arctic 12

Tire Category: Studdable Winter / Snow

Consumer Surveys

 
Best in Category
Miles Reported
Recommended
Treadwear
General Altimax Arctic 12
Excellent
100%
3.5M
9.0 - Excellent
8.8 - Excellent
8.8 Hydroplaning Resistance
8.8 Wet Traction
8.6 - Excellent
8.5 Corner Stability
8.8 Dry Traction
8.6 Steering Response
9.1 - Excellent
9.4 Light Snow Traction
9.1 Deep Snow Traction
8.7 Ice Traction
8.2 - Good
8.6 Ride Quality
7.8 Noise
8.7 - Excellent

Pirelli Scorpion STR Reviews

Owners report excellent dry traction (9-10 ratings) and confident wet performance with strong hydroplaning resistance, fitting the Highway All-Season category. Treadwear receives praise for durability, though scores vary (7-10), with some noting uneven wear over time. Comfort stands out for smooth ride quality (7-10), though a few mention occasional road noise. Winter traction earns positive marks (7-10) for light snow handling, though ice performance shows mixed results. Wet grip (7-10) and responsive dry handling align well with all-season expectations, with most users highlighting reliable year-round capability. Overall, drivers appreciate its balanced performance, particularly in dry and wet conditions, with minor concerns about tread consistency and noise.

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Customers Like:

368 reviews mention "Wet Traction"

  • 294 positive
  • 74 negative

Most customers rate wet traction highly, with scores mostly 9-10, highlighting strong grip and hydroplaning resistance. A few lower ratings suggest occasional variability, but overall performance excels for all-season highway driving.

September 17, 2022
(Verified Purchase)
4.4 out of 5 Star Rating
4.4 out of 5

...so far dry and heavy rain performance was excellent...

Tires are great so far, ive had them before, i am sure they will do fine. so far dry and heavy rain performance was excellent. a word on tire rack, their price was unbeatable, delivered in 2 days, as always tire rack is the only way to buy tires. i do want to mention that i always ship to my house and find an installer independently of tire rack, usually its my car dealer service dept. i have them install and balance the tires and then do a wheel alignment. i can’t comment on the service of having a tire rack certified installer do the job, im sure it depends on installer, Tire Rack is Awesome!!!

Vehicle: 2020 Hyundai Palisade AWD Limited
Miles Driven on Tires: 1,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: ASHBURN, VA
Driving Style: Spirited

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November 21, 2016
(Verified Purchase)
3.7 out of 5 Star Rating
3.7 out of 5

...Heavy rain has never been a problem. Very cold and dry seamed to be the only time the tires lost the feeling of solid contact with the road.

I average 25K miles per year. As I approach 2 years on these tires (45K miles on them) I have decided to re-purchase them again. I will end up replacing them a little early due to the time of year rather than running them down to the ware bars. Mid January in middle Ga can get a bit slick, and it's not worth pushing them to see how far they will go. They were 3 days old when ATL had a pretty good snow storm, many people slept in their cars stuck on the highways. I had no problem zigzagging around them and got home just fine. I'm sure being new added some, but the tire impressed me with it's ability to get a grip. Heavy rain has never been a problem. Very cold and dry seamed to be the only time the tires lost the feeling of solid contact with the road.

Vehicle: 2010 Toyota Venza V6
Miles Driven on Tires: 45,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: STOCKBRIDGE, GA
Driving Style: Average

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August 13, 2013
4.7 out of 5 Star Rating
4.7 out of 5

...THESE TIRES ARE BEASTS in the rain and I am incredibly happy that I decided to purchase them again - zero hydroplaning and handle very well during rainstorms...

Drove 70,000 miles on my first set of these tires and just repurchased them. Since my repurchase, it has been one of the wettest summers in the South Jersey/Philadelphia Area on record with frequent flash floods, thunderstorms and small tornadoes.

THESE TIRES ARE BEASTS in the rain and I am incredibly happy that I decided to purchase them again - zero hydroplaning and handle very well during rainstorms. They are also good in light snow (2-6 inches) which we get often.

This goes without saying that in dry/normal conditions they are excellent with minimal noise as I drive 40 highway miles to work everyday.

I would strongly recommend these tires to anyone on the fence about spending just a little more for a quality tire.

Vehicle: 2007 Ford Edge SE FWD
Miles Driven on Tires: 5,000
Driving Conditions: Mostly Highway
Location: COLLINGSWOOD, NJ
Driving Style: Average

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259 reviews mention "Winter Traction"

  • 175 positive
  • 84 negative

Most customers report strong winter traction with scores of 8-10 in snow and deep snow, highlighting reliable grip. Some note reduced ice performance with occasional lower scores, but overall satisfaction remains high for all-season use.

April 01, 2017
4.5 out of 5 Star Rating
4.5 out of 5

...This tire kept me on the road and confident (which I'm not in snow). Our 500 foot driveway gets a ton of lake effect snow. I've never had an issue getting out even with 12+ inches of snow on the drive. On ice it's not as reliable (certainly would be good for a 2wd on ice) but good enough with AWD to stop and go...

I bough a CX9 because it's a SUV that corners like a sports car. I'm from California where it is sunny all the time and moved to Michigan where snow seems to be on the ground 6 months out of 12. This tire kept me on the road and confident (which I'm not in snow).

Our 500 foot driveway gets a ton of lake effect snow. I've never had an issue getting out even with 12+ inches of snow on the drive.

On ice it's not as reliable (certainly would be good for a 2wd on ice) but good enough with AWD to stop and go.

I did a poor job of keeping up with tire rotation. So the front tires wore thin before the rear. Braking and handling did become worrisome with the thin treads. If I had maintained a good rotation they would have lasted another 10k plus (based upon rear tread life remaining).

I just replaced them with the exact same tire. My wife who is an aggressive driver already told me she appreciates the cornering, braking and handling improvements. Plan on getting another 70,000+ miles out of this set which I will be rotating on a regular frequency.

I would say it was a 50/50 split highway/city-back roads. My wife likes the back roads but we take long road trips so overall it balances out.

The drive road native is good with these on ice and snow and whatever nature throws my way.

Vehicle: 2011 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD
Miles Driven on Tires: 78,771
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: LAWTON, MI
Driving Style: Average

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March 01, 2017
4.8 out of 5 Star Rating
4.8 out of 5

...I felt very safe, even in the middle of a blizzard, going down on ice, going forward at low and high speeds, or backing up on ice, never interfered with how I directed or drove this very safe car...

Basically on the worse mountain road near and on Stratton Mountain, VT from November 1 to January 9, this set of Pirelli Scorpions SRT's served me, my auto and my life, extremely well. My tires are not new. There was 59000 miles on my manual shift 2007, X3 3.0 IS Sports, made in Germany. I felt very safe, even in the middle of a blizzard going down root 30 from Stratton to Brattleboro starting at 5:00 pm.
Occasionally I have felt a slight shift of my wheels on a very wet highway. Going forward at low and high speeds, or backing up on ice, never interfered with how I directed or drove this very safe car. Have had 5 BMW's, 4 Mercedes, 4 Infinitys,Audi, three Saabs, Mustang, GM, Ford and Jeep products.
PHDragonas, MD, NYC, Boston, Lyme, NH

Vehicle: 2007 BMW X3 3.0si Sport Package
Miles Driven on Tires: 60,000
Driving Conditions: Track/Autocross
Location: LYME CENTER, NH
Driving Style: Spirited

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November 21, 2016
(Verified Purchase)
3.7 out of 5 Star Rating
3.7 out of 5

...Mid January in middle Ga can get a bit slick, and it's not worth pushing them to see how far they will go. They were 3 days old when ATL had a pretty good snow storm, many people slept in their cars stuck on the highways. I had no problem zigzagging around them and got home just fine...

I average 25K miles per year. As I approach 2 years on these tires (45K miles on them) I have decided to re-purchase them again. I will end up replacing them a little early due to the time of year rather than running them down to the ware bars. Mid January in middle Ga can get a bit slick, and it's not worth pushing them to see how far they will go. They were 3 days old when ATL had a pretty good snow storm, many people slept in their cars stuck on the highways. I had no problem zigzagging around them and got home just fine. I'm sure being new added some, but the tire impressed me with it's ability to get a grip. Heavy rain has never been a problem. Very cold and dry seamed to be the only time the tires lost the feeling of solid contact with the road.

Vehicle: 2010 Toyota Venza V6
Miles Driven on Tires: 45,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: STOCKBRIDGE, GA
Driving Style: Average

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383 reviews mention "Dry Traction"

  • 342 positive
  • 41 negative

Most customers rate dry traction as excellent, with scores of 9-10 highlighting responsive handling and confident grip. High scores align with its all-season highway design, ensuring reliable performance in dry conditions.

April 17, 2020
(Verified Purchase)
4.2 out of 5 Star Rating
4.2 out of 5

...I think these tires excel in treadware, response, and wet/dry traction...

Got a set of these for my Tundra Crewmax after the stocks were nearly bald. Significant upgrade from what I had, but I bought my vehicle used, so I can't speak to how the stocks performed new in comparison.

I drive anywhere from 25k-35k miles a year for business, and haul a trailer. I think these tires excel in treadware, response, and wet/dry traction. They are pretty comfortable, but not soft by any means.
My biggest complaint is that they are louder than any A/T tire I've ever owned. Highway speeds up they quite a bit, but have a noticeable high pitch drone around 80 mph. From 0-45 they are ok, but anything after that is a constant drone, and it's pretty disappointing.
I probably wouldn't buy again unless I am in a pinch for cash and these are on sale.
Go get Kuhmos.

Vehicle: 2007 Toyota Tundra 2wd CrewMax
Miles Driven on Tires: 12,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: LITTLE ROCK, AR
Driving Style: Average

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384 reviews mention "Ride Quality"

  • 296 positive
  • 88 negative

Most customers give the Pirelli Scorpion STR excellent comfort scores of 9s and 10s, praising its smooth ride and low noise levels. While a few lower ratings exist, the tire delivers outstanding highway comfort for all-season driving.

April 29, 2022
(Verified Purchase)
4.8 out of 5 Star Rating
4.8 out of 5

Nice comfortable tire no road noise just all around great tire

Nice comfortable tire no road noise just all around great tire

Vehicle: 2015 Ford F150 4WD
Miles Driven on Tires: 3,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: DEPTFORD, NJ
Driving Style: Easy Going

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December 31, 2025
(Verified Purchase)
5 out of 5 Star Rating
5 out of 5

...Very quiet and comfortable...

Great match for my vehicle. I use it on a car that I keep in Phoenix, AZ so not a lot of rain and no snow. Very quiet and comfortable. Purchasing & shipping was great and the installer that Tire Rack recommended was also good.

Vehicle: 2016 Ford Edge FWD Titanium
Miles Driven on Tires: 350
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ
Driving Style: Average

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April 17, 2020
(Verified Purchase)
4.2 out of 5 Star Rating
4.2 out of 5

...They are pretty comfortable, but not soft by any means...

Got a set of these for my Tundra Crewmax after the stocks were nearly bald. Significant upgrade from what I had, but I bought my vehicle used, so I can't speak to how the stocks performed new in comparison.

I drive anywhere from 25k-35k miles a year for business, and haul a trailer. I think these tires excel in treadware, response, and wet/dry traction. They are pretty comfortable, but not soft by any means.
My biggest complaint is that they are louder than any A/T tire I've ever owned. Highway speeds up they quite a bit, but have a noticeable high pitch drone around 80 mph. From 0-45 they are ok, but anything after that is a constant drone, and it's pretty disappointing.
I probably wouldn't buy again unless I am in a pinch for cash and these are on sale.
Go get Kuhmos.

Vehicle: 2007 Toyota Tundra 2wd CrewMax
Miles Driven on Tires: 12,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: LITTLE ROCK, AR
Driving Style: Average

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335 reviews mention "Treadwear"

  • 200 positive
  • 135 negative

Most customers rate treadwear as excellent (9s-10s), praising long-lasting performance. Some variability exists, but the Scorpion STR delivers strong durability for all-season highway use.

June 12, 2022
(Verified Purchase)
4.2 out of 5 Star Rating
4.2 out of 5

...On average, I get about 50,000 to 65,000 miles per set of tires. I drive about 65% highway and 35% city for my job and these tires wear like iron for me...

While you see mixed reviews for this tire, I have nothing but glowing words to say about them in the over 12 years I have been buying them. I'm an outside sales rep who drive about 35,000 to 40,000 miles a year....pre & post Covid. On average, I get about 50,000 to 65, 000 per set of tires. I drive about 65% highway and 35% city for my job and these tires wear like iron for me. Being I drive so many miles per year, I'm very cognoscente of their balance and air pressure so I get the maximum mileage I can...especially now that a gallon of regular gas is over $5.00 a gallon. Maybe that's why they last so long for me, even as I drive the wheels off of my Ford Edge every day. They're not the best in every category...but I don't drive in medium to heavy snow or during very heavy rain. They corner great, road noise is tolerable, and they're very reasonably priced.

Vehicle: 2008 Ford Edge AWD SE
Miles Driven on Tires: 67,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: TOMS RIVER, NJ
Driving Style: Spirited

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July 03, 2014
4.4 out of 5 Star Rating
4.4 out of 5

I have never had a tire perform like these and last for 95,000+ miles...

I have never had a tire perform like these and last for 95,000+ miles. There was no question in my mind when it came time to replace them, I went right back for the SAME Pirelli Scorpion STR's. I am very happy with these tires.

Vehicle: 2010 Ford Edge Limited FWD
Miles Driven on Tires: 95,014
Driving Conditions: Mostly Highway
Location: PORT WASHINGTON, NY
Driving Style: Average

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Consumer Reviews

Media Gallery

All-Weather vs. Winter Tires: The Definitive Test(12:05)

Brent and TJ set off with a couple of objectives in this, the first test of 2026. The first is to highlight the differences between two types of Grand Touring tires: all-season and all-weather. Second, to see how they stack up to dedicated winter tires. The internet is a great resource, but not all the information out there is accurate, and this test is designed to truly set the record straight.

Read the Full Test Report

Testing Studdable Winter / Snow Tires: General AltiMAX Arctic 12 Studded and Non-Studded(03:31)

The General AltiMAX Arctic 12 has been a customer favorite since it was released. We compared it to another big name in the category – and a studded set of AltiMAX Arctic 12 tires – to see if the performance justifies the reputation.

Read the Full Test Report

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