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General Altimax Winter 3

Premium Touring Winter Winter rated

Replaces the Altimax Winter Plus

With its directional design and enhanced silica technology, the Altimax Winter 3 provides safe and reliable winter mobility for compact to upper mid-range cars. The successor to the Altimax Winter Plus delivers enhanced performance in all the key metrics. With an increase in the sipe density, multi-angled block edges and broad shoulder blocks, the Altimax Winter 3 offers a higher number of gripping edges in all directions of travel as well as greater block stiffness. This delivers added traction, excellent handling on snow and improved handling properties on dry roads, not to mention better transmission of braking and acceleration forces. The Altimax Winter 3 is produced in 44 sizes for 13- to 19-inch rims with aspect ratios between 80 and 40 percent. It is available in tyre widths from 155 to 245 millimetres and approved for speeds of up to 149 mph.

The quick answer

Owners say 85% from 3 owner reviews Read the reviews
Tests say 24th average finish across 6 independent tests Latest: P35 of 56 · 2022 See every test
Strengths & weaknesses Comfort, Snow Wet, Dry Relative to its rivals across every test we hold

Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tyre - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated January 2025.

  • 3owner reviews
  • 9,200miles driven
  • 6professional tests
General Altimax Winter 3 1 photos

Tyre Reviews Score

General Altimax Winter 3

7.2/10

Better than 48% of winter tyres

  • Medium Confidence
  • 5 tests
  • 3 owner reviews
Scores of the 278 winter tyres we have tested

How this score is built

Better than Weight
Independent tests5 tests · 1 publication · 2019-2022 48% 100%
Owner reviewsFewer than 5 reviews, so they do not count yet – 0%
Combined 48% 7.2

A fixed curve turns the combined figure into the 0 to 10 score, so roughly the top 10% of a group score 9 or more.

Category by category

How it compares with other winter tyres in each area, and how much each area counts. 50 is the middle of the group.

Category Better than Weight Tests
WetBraking, handling and aquaplaning in the wet 47% 30% 5
SnowBraking, traction and handling on snow 81% 23% 3
IceBraking, traction and handling on ice Not tested, counted as average 18% –
DryBraking and handling on dry roads 13% 17% 1
ValueWear, efficiency and cost 56% 6% 1
ComfortNoise and ride comfort 81% 5% 1

Faded bars rest on one or two tests.

By discipline

The same results grouped by what the tyre was doing. They are not counted a second time.

TractionEvery traction test, on any surface 94% 1
BrakingEvery braking test, on any surface 54% 5
HandlingEvery handling test, on any surface 18% 1

Confidence

  1. Limited
  2. Medium
  3. High

Its own test results decide 84% of the test figure. The other 16% is the average for its group, and it shrinks as more tests arrive.

High needs at least 3 tests, with its own results deciding 90% or more. Medium needs 2 tests and 70%. Anything less is Limited: expect the number to move as tests arrive.

The tests behind it

Only measured results count. A test that published its placings alone is listed, but not scored.

  1. 2022 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview Auto Bild · 215/55 R17 P35 / 56
  2. 2021 2021 ADAC 15 Inch Winter Tyre Test ADAC · 195/65 R15 P14 / 16 Placing only
  3. 2021 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview Auto Bild · 205/55 R16 P24 / 50
  4. 2020 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild · 245/45 R18 P18 / 20
  5. 2020 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test Auto Bild · 245/45 R18 P17 / 51
  6. 2019 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview Auto Bild · 225/45 R17 P35 / 53
All Tests
View Test Results

Tested 6 times by independent publications, the General Altimax Winter 3 averages a finish of 24th.

6 Tests
0 Test Wins
24th Average
14th Best
35th Worst
Finishing position in each test1stLast20192022

Finishing position in each test

YearTestResultAward
20222022 Winter Tyre Market OverviewAuto Bild · 215/55 R17P35 / 56
20212021 ADAC 15 Inch Winter Tyre TestADAC · 195/65 R15P14 / 16
20212021 Winter Tyre Market OverviewAuto Bild · 205/55 R16P24 / 50
20202020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre TestAuto Bild · 245/45 R18P18 / 20
20202020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking TestAuto Bild · 245/45 R18P17 / 51
20192019 Winter Tyre Test Market OverviewAuto Bild · 225/45 R17P35 / 53

On the full record: Record by disciplineHead-to-head recordEvery published verdict

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Running Costs
View Test

In 245/45 R18, the General Altimax Winter 3 is projected to cost €18.85 per 1,000 km to buy and run - about €754 over 40,000 km - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test.

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+€18.62
General Altimax Winter 3€18.85
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5€20.55
Hankook Winter i cept evo3€21.32
Tyre purchase + fittingExtra fuel vs the most efficient tyrecost per 1,000 km
Assumes a typical car using 8 l/100km (with rolling resistance causing 20% of fuel use), fuel at €1.65 per litre and €70 fitting per set of four. Purchase prices are from the time of the 2020 test; financing costs are excluded.
Dimensions & Label Scores
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Size Range38 sizes available

155-245Width40-80Profile13-19Rim75-102 T-VLoad/Speed Index2017First On Market

EU LabelAcross 38 sizes - the grade depends on the size you buy.

Noise

71-72dB

3PMSF on every size

Popular sizes225/45 R17195/65 R15
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is the General Altimax Winter 3 in the wet?
Across the 5 wet-braking tests it has featured in, the General Altimax Winter 3 stops 10% longer than premium rivals, 4.3% longer than mid-range rivals and 2.2% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tyre Reviews wet score of 47/100, and owners rate it 8/10 in the wet from 3 reviews.
How good is the General Altimax Winter 3 in the dry?
Across the 1 dry-braking test it has featured in, the General Altimax Winter 3 stops 3.1% longer than premium rivals, 1.8% longer than mid-range rivals and 9.7% longer than budget rivals. It has a Tyre Reviews dry score of 13/100, and owners rate it 8.3/10 in the dry from 3 reviews.
How good is the General Altimax Winter 3 in the snow?
Across the 3 snow-braking tests it has featured in, the General Altimax Winter 3 stops 0.1% shorter than premium rivals, 2.4% shorter than mid-range rivals and 13.8% shorter than budget rivals. Across the 1 snow-traction test, it is 1.7% better than premium rivals, 6.1% better than mid-range rivals and 47.3% better than budget rivals. It has a Tyre Reviews snow score of 81/100, and owners rate it 10/10 in the snow from 3 reviews.
How fuel efficient is the General Altimax Winter 3?
Across the 1 test measuring rolling resistance, the General Altimax Winter 3's rolling resistance is 9.1% higher than premium rivals, 2.4% higher than mid-range rivals and 3.2% higher than budget rivals.
How many miles does the General Altimax Winter 3 last?
Based on test and owner data, the General Altimax Winter 3 is expected to last around 24,457 miles (39,360 km).
More questions about the General Altimax Winter 3 (4)
How much does the General Altimax Winter 3 cost to run?
In 245/45 R18, the General Altimax Winter 3 is projected to cost €18.85 per 1,000 km to buy and run - about €754 over 40,000 km - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test. The cheapest to run in that test is the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+, at €18.62.
What is the General Altimax Winter 3's EU tyre label rating?
Across its range, the General Altimax Winter 3 most commonly carries EU label ratings of D for fuel efficiency, C for wet grip and 72 dB for noise.
What does the General Altimax Winter 3 replace?
The General Altimax Winter 3 is the successor to the General Altimax Winter Plus in General's range.
What sizes does the General Altimax Winter 3 come in?
The General Altimax Winter 3 is available in 44 sizes, ranging from 155-245/40-80 R13-19.
Owner Questions
Ask a question
Sorry, we don't currently have any questions and answers for the General Altimax Winter 3. Why not submit a question to our tyre experts using the form below!

General Altimax Winter 3 Owner Reviews

Review this tyre

Owner ratings averaged from 3 ratings

  • Owner score 85%
  • Snow Grip 100%
  • Ice Grip 100%
  • Wear 85%
  • Dry Grip 83%
  • Wet Grip 80%
  • Handling 80%
  • Comfort 80%
  • Road Feedback 73%

All 2 General Altimax Winter 3 reviews

Score spread across 2 written reviews
90%
Member
ı fit my tyres last year in november.it is good in wet ıcy roads and snow but it is a little bit noisy and not soft compound like michelin or any other tyres but general is good price but good quality
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 9
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 9
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 9
  • Buy again 10
  • Snow Grip 10
  • Ice Grip 10
Helpful 896
58%
Member
Had fitted these tyres for over 200 miles now. Initial impressions are as expected from a budget tyre. Rubber compound is not extremely soft, might be slightly noisy at speeds over 75mph. Handling and road feedback is not great due to soft sidewalls. Also had to perform emergency wet braking and felt that it could have performed better. On the positive side they were good resisting aquaplaning at speed of 60mph and did perform good in a slush giving confidence in ability to control the vehicle. Most likely these tyres would not be my first choice for highly powered vehicles and would not be suitable for spirited driving. Overall considering the price I would recommend these tyres.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 5
  • Road Feedback 5
  • Handling 6
  • Comfort 6
  • Buy again 6
Helpful 688

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