Pirelli Cinturato Winter vs Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ finished ahead 3 times and the Cinturato Winter not once, with one level. The UltraGrip 9+ was stronger in wet, snow and value.
Performance profile
6 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Cinturato Winter
UltraGrip 9+
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 9 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Cinturato Winter
Not ahead in any category
UltraGrip 9+
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Cinturato Winter
UltraGrip 9+
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Cinturato Winter 78% from 7 reviews and the UltraGrip 9+ 88% from 6. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.
| Measurement | Cinturato Winter | Gap | UltraGrip 9+ | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Level | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 153 | 2% | 156 | 2-0 |
| Dry Handling mph | 69.1 | 1.3% | 70 | 0-1 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 100% | scored | 0-1 |
| Wet UltraGrip 9+ ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 141 | 3.8% | 136 | 0-3 |
| Wet Handling mph | 43.1 | 3.2% | 44.4 | 0-1 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 25% | scored | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 52.7 | 2.8% | 51.3 | 1-1 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 10.7 | 3.2% | 10.3 | 1-0 |
| Snow UltraGrip 9+ ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 97 | 1.9% | 95 | 1-2 |
| Snow Traction lbf | 244 | 0.5% | 247 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling mph | 32.6 | 0.4% | 32.7 | 0-1 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | 12.5% | scored | 0-1 |
| Comfort Level | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 100% | scored | 0-1 |
| Noise dB | 71 | 2 dB | 73 | 1-0 |
| Value UltraGrip 9+ ahead | ||||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.89 | 6.9% | 8.28 | 0-2 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared.
Head to head in 4 tests, 2020 to 2021
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Cinturato Winter | Field | UltraGrip 9+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 AMS Winter Tire Test | P6 of 10 | P6 of 10 | |
| 2021 Winter Tire Market Overview | P27 of 50 | P6 of 50 | |
| 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test | P7 of 14 | P3 of 14 | |
| 2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 | P11 of 15 | P8 of 15 |
Cinturato Winter vs UltraGrip 9+: your questions
Is the Pirelli Cinturato Winter or the Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ the better tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ finished ahead 3 times and the Cinturato Winter not once, with one level. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Cinturato Winter scores 7.7 and the UltraGrip 9+ 9.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Cinturato Winter or the UltraGrip 9+?
The UltraGrip 9+ led 6 of the 8 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.8% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the Cinturato Winter and the UltraGrip 9+.
Which is better in snow?
The UltraGrip 9+ led 5 of the 7 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.9% shorter on snow across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The UltraGrip 9+ had 6.9% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.2/10 for the Cinturato Winter and 9.7/10 for the UltraGrip 9+.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.1/10 for the Cinturato Winter and 8.5/10 for the UltraGrip 9+.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Cinturato Winter 78% from 7 reviews and the UltraGrip 9+ 88% from 6. 83% of Cinturato Winter owners would buy it again, against 100% for the UltraGrip 9+.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Cinturato Winter was the dearer tire in 1 of them, by 12.3% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Cinturato Winter is made in 33 sizes (14 to 17 inch) and the UltraGrip 9+ in 19 (14 to 16 inch). 18 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Cinturato Winter is graded B for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the UltraGrip 9+ B and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The UltraGrip 9+ is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Cinturato Winter in 2015. The Cinturato Winter replaced the Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3. The UltraGrip 9+ replaced the Goodyear UltraGrip 9.
More comparisons with these tires
Every Pirelli vs Goodyear test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tires →
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Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.