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Last updated 10/12/2023 - Originally published 10/12/2023
Written by SimpleTire
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Best tires
General and Bridgestone are known to be solid tire manufacturers for winter tires, as they focus on delivering top-notch tires with a blend of innovative technology. They both are known for their innovative approach towards ensuring that all the customer’s needs are met and are exceeded as well. The same is visible in their tire range of the General Altimax Arctic 12 and the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80. Both of these tires are meant for use on passenger vehicles and are designed to give drivers superior traction in lower temperatures and wet, snow, and icy road conditions. While both tires offer great performance, one has to be better than the other, right? Let’s compare General Altimax Arctic 12 vs Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 tires using SimpleScore to show where each tire excels and which one might be right for you.
The General Altimax Arctic 12 is a studdable winter tire that's designed to give passenger vehicles strong traction in snow, ice, and wet conditions. This tire comes with a directional winter tread pattern for increased traction and handling, and is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified. Additionally, the Altimax Arctic 12’s tough rubber compound keeps the tire flexible in sub-freezing temperatures and aids in increasing strength and handling for a higher load-carrying capacity. The Altimax Arctic 12 can be pinned 11 mm (TSMI #12) studs for extra traction and grip in severe winter weather conditions.
On average, the Altimax Arctic 12 offers a great SimpleScore of 8.7 thanks to its solid handling, longevity, and traction.
The Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 is also a winter tire that’s designed to be used on passenger vehicles and offers drivers shorter stopping distances on icy and snowy roads because of its Anti-hydroplane safety technology.
The Blizzak WS80 is built with a special tread design that enhances grip for shorter stopping distances on icy and snowy roads and the special winter tread compound helps the tire to remain flexible at lower temperatures. Additionally, this tire is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in severe winter weather conditions. The Blizzak WS80 has been tested to ensure performance in the toughest winter conditions.
On average, the Blizzak WS80 shows a great SimpleScore of 8.7 thanks to its handling, longevity, and traction.
Winter weather makes it hard for normal all-season tires to perform to their best. With ice, slush, snow, and colder temperatures, maintaining a grip on the road becomes the most significant feature to look for in a tire. Fortunately, winter tires are engineered to perform in these conditions to help prevent drivers from losing traction.
While comparing both the tires on the basis of traction, you will find the Altimax Arctic 12 with a score of 9.1 out of 10 in traction. The Altimax Arctic 12’s zigzag center angled groove reduces the risk of hydroplaning on wet and slippery roads. Additionally, the winter tread design and innovative grooves pack snow into the tire for snow on snow contact, which actually further increases traction. You get enhanced traction as this tire can be pinned with 11 mm (TSMI #12) studs for extra traction and grip in severe winter weather conditions. Finally, with multiple sipes, the Altimax Arctic 12 expands and “bite” into the road to deliver increased grip.
The Blizzak WS80, on the other hand, has an excellent score of 9.7 out of 10 in traction. This is thanks to Anti-hydroplane technology that enhances grip for shorter stopping distances on icy and snowy roads. Built with a special winter tread compound that helps the tire to remain flexible at lower temperatures, the Blizzak WS80 is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for extra traction and grip in severe winter weather conditions.
When it comes to winter weather traction, the Blizzak WS80 is slightly above Altimax Arctic 12 because of its increased traction.
ADVANTAGE: Blizzak WS80
Passenger cars might face handling issues if they use all-season tires year-round. Lucky enough, General and Bridgestone know about this issue and have worked factors to offer strong handling in their winter tires.
The Altimax Arctic 12 has a great SimpleScore of 8.6 for handling, which is largely driven by the tire’s innovative tread design. Additionally, the Altimax Arctic 12’s reinforced construction further boosts load carrying capacity while, also, helping to prevent irregular wear.
On the flip side, the Blizzak WS80 is a little ahead of the Altimax Arctic 12 for handling as the tire comes in with a SimpleScore of 9.2. Featuring even wear construction materials, the tire is more than capable of providing longer tire life for season after season performance. While excellent, the handling of the Blizzak WS80 is way ahead of the Altimax Arctic 12.
ADVANTAGE: Blizzak WS80
The longevity aspect is equally important to traction and handling while purchasing a tire. Based on SimpleScore, this was the biggest gap between the two tires. Starting with the Altimax Arctic 12, the tire offers a solid SimpleScore of 8.6 out of 10 on the longevity front. The tire’s tough, rugged rubber compound and reinforced construction work together to increase durability which allows for a longer tread life. Outside of that, the tire’s optimized design and tied shoulders put more rubber on the road which prevents irregular wear by evenly distributing road forces (in addition to boosting handling). Conversely, the Blizzak WS80’s 8.2 SimpleScore in longevity shows that it is the lesser long-lasting of the two tires. Like the Altimax Arctic 12, the Blizzak WS80 features a reinforced construction, but the winter tread design that can feature studs makes General tire ensure performance in the toughest winter conditions. The Bridgestone winter tire is better in traction and handling, but when it comes to longevity, the Altimax Arctic 12 is the stronger of the two tires.
ADVANTAGE: Altimax Arctic 12
Winter tires come with limited temperature usage, and both the Altimax Arctic 12 and Blizzak WS80 are not intended for use when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The reason for this is that winter tires use a flexible rubber compound that will quickly wear when temperatures are above that threshold. You can use the Altimax Arctic 12 in places that allow tires to be pinned with studs, but make sure you are well aware of the laws before installing them on your tire. As a reminder, studs can only be used in certain locations and/or during certain months. If you are at a place where traction is important, you can have excellent traction even in ice or snow thanks to the Anti-hydroplane safety technology of Blizzak WS80.
So, which winter tire is the right option for you? When looking at SimpleScore, the General Altimax Arctic 12 actually comes at par with the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 with an overall score of 8.7 versus 8.7. As noted above, there are key differences between the two tires and these need to be weighed against each other to determine what’s best for you. Finally (and maybe, most importantly), pricing on these two tires is close as Altimax Arctic 12 tires cost at least $99.99 per tire while Blizzak WS80 tires cost a little extra at $153 per tire. That means a set of four General Altimax Arctic 12 snow tires will cost you at least $396 for a set of four, while a set of four Blizzak WS80 tires will cost you at least $612.
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the General Altimax Arctic 12 if you:
Conversely, you should choose the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 if you:
Altimax Arctic 12 vs Blizzak WS80 tires might not seem a close comparison on the surface, but the above clearly shows that either is a great option. Remember, both of the tire brands individually have performed way better and are some of the best tire manufacturers on the market, and that tradition continues with the Altimax Arctic 12 and Blizzak WS80. At the end of the day, the decision to buy one or the other depends on your vehicle, where (and how) you drive, and what you care more about in terms of traction, handling, longevity, and price.
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.
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