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Last updated 6/06/2024 - Originally published 5/23/2024
Written by SimpleTire
All-weather tires are most suitable either in areas with light to moderate winters or in situations where customers do not wish to purchase winter tires. The best part about them is that they offer characteristics from both winter and all-season tires. More often than not, they are available with Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for confident use in moderate to severe snow conditions.
The tires that we will compare here are the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive and the General Altimax 365AW. Both are available with the same warranties and the same tread depths. However, while the Scorpion WeatherActive showcases a directional tread pattern, the Altimax 365AW comes with a symmetric pattern. The differences between the two tread patterns shall be explained below, and you should be able to select the tire that best suits your requirements at the end of this Scorpion WeatherActive vs Altimax 365AW tires comparison.
Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive tires
Tires like the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive tires are meant for vehicles primarily driven on paved roads. If you’re driving a Lincoln MKT in a region with moderate to severe snow, slush, and ice conditions, you can use these tires for confident year-round traction that does not sacrifice performance. What’s more, a Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake certification is also available here. A special design enables the tire to decrease uneven wear and enhance tread life, and the tire composition is suitable for extra traction. Pirelli’s has always maintained an upper hand in terms of handling prowess on its tires, and the Scorpion WeatherActive is no different. With these features and capabilities, the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive receives a staggering average SimpleScore of 9.5.
General Altimax 365AW tires
The General Altimax 365AW is an excellent tire for consumers who live in areas with mild to severe winters, whether for a few or several months. These all-weather tires have an average SimpleScore of 8.7 and are highly recommended due to their even tread wear and outstanding mileage. This Altimax 365AW has a symmetric tread pattern and can offer trustworthy traction in many climates. Expect it to be suitable for several categories of vehicles, including CUVs, coupes, sedans, SUVs, and minivans. The symmetric tread pattern, regular rotation in any direction, and strong warranty all help extend the lifespan of this tire. You can expect balanced performance in wet and dry conditions from this tire. It also offers a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification like the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive but offers a lower speed rating.
Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive vs General Altimax 365AW tires on traction
We were able to grant a phenomenal average traction SimpleScore of 9.8 to the Scorpion WeatherActive due to the tire composition and deep, continuous sipes, which produce outstanding dry, wet, and moderate to severe winter traction. Tunnel-shaped grooves and zigzag center grooves further improve traction and performance. The high tread depth and directional tread pattern ably support the claim that wet traction is superior to dry traction here. There’s an innovative tread compound here that helps enhance performance in dry, wet, and winter weather.
On the other hand, the General Altimax 365AW displays a symmetric tread pattern and is able to provide reliable traction in various weather conditions, with slanted tread blocks and open shoulders getting rid of water, slush, and melting snow. Dense siping is responsible for additional biting edges that enhance grip year-round, and lateral grooves extend into the tire's outer layer to drain water, preventing hydroplaning for confident wet traction. Additionally, a high silica compound is responsible for boosting wet traction. As per the above, we found this tire to be suitable for an average traction SimpleScore of 8.7.
ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive
Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive vs General Altimax 365AW tires on handling
Over time, the tire produces the same handling performance that is associated with Pirelli's racing history, and wear does not compromise its performance thanks to the unique rubber compound. With a W-speed rating on the higher side in select sizes, the Scorpion WeatherActive deserves an amazing 9.6 as its average handling SimpleScore. What’s more, drivers will also feel confident about its shorter braking distances.
Compared to the above, the Altimax 365AW’s dry handling on highways scores high due to dense sipes. A rapid V-speed rating in select sizes allows a vehicle like the Porsche Macan to handle well in all types of weather conditions, including moderate snow. The high tread depth, similar to the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive, will help improve the handling further. Based on the above information, we feel this tire is suitable for an 8.7 as its average handling SimpleScore.
ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive
Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive vs General Altimax 365AW tires on longevity
The Scorpion WeatherActive comes with a 3-rib tread block design that promotes tread rigidity to reduce the chances of uneven wear and extend tread life. Apart from the above, a high tread depth and a robust 60,000-mile limited manufacturer warranty prompt us to award this tire with a remarkable average longevity SimpleScore of 9.2.
While the Scorpion WeatherActive features a directional tread pattern, the Altimax 365AW offers a symmetric tread that helps increase tread life, as does rotation to different positions. The limited manufacturer warranty, at 60,000 miles, is the same as the Scorpion WeatherActive.
Additionally, the Altimax 365AW also features Visual Alignment Indicators to determine whether or not the tires have lost alignment. For all the features mentioned above, this tire receives an average longevity SimpleScore of 9.0.
ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive
When to use each
Both, the Scorpion tires and the Altimax tires are designed and engineered for use in dry, wet, and moderate to severe winter conditions. These tires offer year-round usability, allowing the drivers to achieve traction in all weather conditions. Additionally, the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification provides an official authenticity to the drivers that these tires can be used on snow and ice in moderate to severe wintry conditions, in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Which one should you choose?
As is visible above, the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive has a higher score than the General Altimax 365AW on all parameters, making it the better all-round tire. However, one area where the Pirelli tires lose out is in terms of price, where the Altimax 365AW starts at a significantly lower rate. Here we have the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive, which is available for at least $220.49 per tire (881.96 for a set of 4). In comparison, the General Altimax 365AW can be bought for as low as $112.99 per tire ($451.96 for a set of 4).
You must choose the Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive tires if:
- You want better handling performance
- You want longer tread life
- You want better dry and wet traction
Compared to the above, you should purchase the General Altimax 365AW tires if:
- You want an affordable tire
- You have the same warranty as the Scorpion WeatherActive at a lesser price
- You want better dry handling
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, and our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.