Automotive · Head-to-head
Michelin X-Ice Snow vs General Tire General AltiMAX Arctic 12
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Winter Tires: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The X-Ice Snow pairs a studless snow and ice design with the only treadwear warranty in this group and the widest size range Michelin quotes. The AltiMAX Arctic 12 gives you the same 3PMSF marking, deeper starting tread and a stud option for less money.
Michelin X-Ice Snow
Buy itA studless 3PMSF winter tire in 123 sizes with a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is rare for a dedicated winter tire.
- Michelin's page shows both the 3PMSF mark and its Ice Grip label, and the tire is designed studless, so there are no stud rules or stud noise to deal with.
- Backed by a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty under the Michelin Promise Plan, which also includes a 60-day satisfaction guarantee; none of the other three lists a treadwear warranty.
- Michelin says it comes in 123 sizes for sedans, crossovers, SUVs, pickups and EVs, so it is likely to fit whatever you drive.
- It is the most expensive way into a good winter tire here.
- Michelin's FAQ gives an average tread depth of 10/32 in, shallower than the 12/32 in the General and Firestone flyers list.
- It cannot be studded, so drivers who face sheet ice on untreated roads every day get no stud option.
General Tire General AltiMAX Arctic 12
Buy itA studdable, directional 3PMSF winter tire with 12/32 in of tread, T speed ratings across its listed sizes and a 45-day trial.
- General's spec flyer says it meets the USTMA and TRAC severe snow service requirements, the standard behind the 3PMSF symbol shown on the product page.
- Pinned for studs (11 mm stud length, TSMI #12 for metric sizes), so you can add studs for ice where your state allows it or run it unstudded.
- The flyer lists 46 sizes from 14 to 19 in, all T speed rated (118 mph), XL load and 12/32 in of tread, with a 45-day trial and 12 months of road hazard coverage.
- No treadwear mileage warranty is listed on the product page.
- The size flyer linked from the product page dates from the tire's launch, so confirm your size with a dealer before planning on it.
- It stops at 19 in, with a single 19 in size, so larger SUV and EV wheels need a different tire.
Side by side
| Michelin X-Ice Snow | General Tire General AltiMAX Arctic 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Drivers who want one studless winter tire to fit almost any car and expect it to last several winters, with a warranty that says so. | Budget-minded drivers of cars and small crossovers who want a capable 3PMSF tire and the option of studs. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Michelin X-Ice Snow - A studless 3PMSF winter tire in 123 sizes with a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is rare for a dedicated winter tire. Choose the General Tire General AltiMAX Arctic 12 instead if budget-minded drivers of cars and small crossovers who want a capable 3PMSF tire and the option of studs.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Winter Tires: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).