Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs General Altimax Winter 3: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 and General Altimax Winter 3 appear in 22 tests, 2 of which put both tires on the same track on the same day. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.
How the Firestone Winterhawk 4 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 17 tests.
How the General Altimax Winter 3 performs. It takes the win in efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 5 tests.
What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.
Verdict
The General Altimax Winter 3 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in efficiency and Tire Lab Score. The Firestone Winterhawk 4 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Choose General Altimax Winter 3 if
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | General Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 17 | 5 |
| Best rank | #1 | #4 |
| Avg rank | 10.0 | 18.8 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2022 |
| Tire Lab Score | 88.7 | 89.6 |
Tire Lab Score
Firestone Winterhawk 4
General Altimax Winter 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Firestone Winterhawk 4 | General Altimax Winter 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 7.6 138 | Avg rank 26.0 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 14.3 1 | Avg rank 17.0 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 9.2 224 | Avg rank 9.4 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 6.7 | No data | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.2 31 | Avg rank 10.5 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 10.8 21 | Avg rank 16.0 | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 9.5 1 | Avg rank 7.0 | General Altimax Winter 3 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 2 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs General Altimax Winter 3
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 7.6, compared to 26.0 for the General Altimax Winter 3.
☀️ Dry: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs General Altimax Winter 3
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 14.3, compared to 17.0 for the General Altimax Winter 3.
❄️ Snow: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs General Altimax Winter 3
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 9.4 for the General Altimax Winter 3.
🧊 Ice: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs General Altimax Winter 3
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 6.7, compared to no data for the General Altimax Winter 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs General Altimax Winter 3
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 9.2, compared to 10.5 for the General Altimax Winter 3.
📏 Mileage: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs General Altimax Winter 3
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 wins this category with an average rank of 10.8, compared to 16.0 for the General Altimax Winter 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs General Altimax Winter 3
The General Altimax Winter 3 wins this category with an average rank of 7.0, compared to 9.5 for the Firestone Winterhawk 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Firestone Winterhawk 4 or General Altimax Winter 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 ranks higher on average than the General Altimax Winter 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 averages a better dry-braking rank than the General Altimax Winter 3 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 ranks better than the General Altimax Winter 3.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Firestone Winterhawk 4 shows better mileage performance than the General Altimax Winter 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Firestone Winterhawk 4 appears in 17 independent tests, General Altimax Winter 3 in 5, with 2 head-to-head tests where both were measured.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →