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Pirelli Ice Zero 2 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2

In the 6 independent tests that ran both tires, the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 finished ahead 4 times and the Ice Zero 2 twice. The Ice Zero 2 was stronger in dry, wet, comfort and value, the UltraGrip Arctic 2 in snow and ice.

Performance profile

17 measurements from the 6 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.

Dry BrakingSubj. Dry HandlingWet BrakingWet HandlingSubj. Wet HandlingStraight AquaSnow BrakingSnow TractionSnow HandlingSubj. Snow HandlingIce BrakingIce TractionIce HandlingSubj. Ice HandlingSubj. ComfortSubj. NoiseFuel Consumption

Where each is furthest ahead

Ice Zero 2

UltraGrip Arctic 2

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 85%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 3 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.

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 Ice Zero 2 Gap UltraGrip Arctic 2 Wins
Dry Ice Zero 2 ahead
Dry Braking ft 123 2.1% 126 2-1
Subj. Dry Handling pts scored 12.5% scored 1-0
Subj. Road Score pts scored 40% scored 1-0
Dry Lane Change mph 43.5 1.4% 42.9 1-0
Wet Ice Zero 2 ahead
Wet Braking ft 133 3.5% 138 3-0
Wet Handling s 38.96 0.3% 38.83 1-2
Subj. Wet Handling pts scored 14.7% scored 2-1
Straight Aqua mph 42.3 4.3% 40.5 3-0
Snow UltraGrip Arctic 2 ahead
Snow Braking ft 126 0.4% 126 2-1
Snow Traction s 5.51 0.6% 5.54 1-0
Snow Handling s 62.03 1.3% 61.18 0-2
Subj. Snow Handling pts scored 5.6% scored 0-1
Ice UltraGrip Arctic 2 ahead
Ice Braking ft 108 13% 95 0-3
Ice Traction s 7.39 0.7% 7.51 1-1
Ice Handling s 73.44 9.4% 66.8 0-2
Subj. Ice Handling pts scored 31% scored 0-2
Comfort Ice Zero 2 ahead
Subj. Comfort pts scored 20% scored 2-0
Subj. Noise pts scored = scored 0-0
Noise dB 70.9 0.1 dB 70.8 0-1
Value Ice Zero 2 ahead
Fuel Consumption l/100km 6.16 0.9% 6.22 2-1

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 6 tests, 2021 to 2026

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 Ice Zero 2 Field UltraGrip Arctic 2
2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test Teknikens Varld · 2026 · 235/45 R18 · Volvo V60 (petrol)Studded Winter Tires P1 of 7 P2 of 7
2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tire Test Vi Bilagare · 2026 · 215/65 R17 · VW Tiguan 1.5 TSI (ice and snow), VW Tiguan R and Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 4x4 (asphalt) P4 of 8 P2 of 8
2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test Teknikens Varld · 2025 · 235/45 R18Studded Winter Tires P4 of 8 P1 of 8
2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test Tekniikan Maailma · 2025 · 205/55 R16 · VW GolfStudded Winter Tires P6 of 7 P3 of 7
The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 Teknikens Varld · 2024 · 225/50 R17Studded Winter Tires P1 of 6 P5 of 6
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test Teknikens Varld · 2021 · 205/55 R16Studded Winter Tires P4 of 9 P2 of 9

Ice Zero 2 vs UltraGrip Arctic 2: your questions

Is the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 or the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 the better tire?

In the 6 independent tests that ran both tires, the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 finished ahead 4 times and the Ice Zero 2 twice. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ice Zero 2 scores 8.4 and the UltraGrip Arctic 2 9.2 out of 10.

Which is better in the wet, the Ice Zero 2 or the UltraGrip Arctic 2?

The Ice Zero 2 led 9 of the 12 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.5% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.

Which is better in the dry?

The Ice Zero 2 led 5 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.1% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.

Which is better in snow?

The UltraGrip Arctic 2 led 4 of the 10 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it lapped the snow handling course 1.3% faster across 2 tests.

Which lasts longer and costs less to run?

The Ice Zero 2 used 0.9% less fuel (3 tests).

Which is quieter and more comfortable?

Owners rate comfort 5.7/10 for the Ice Zero 2 and 9/10 for the UltraGrip Arctic 2.

What do owners say?

Owners rate the Ice Zero 2 64% from 3 reviews and the UltraGrip Arctic 2 91% from 1.

Which is more expensive?

In the 4 tests that listed prices, the UltraGrip Arctic 2 was the dearer tire in 1 of them, by 2.7% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.

Run either of these?

Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.

Review the Ice Zero 2 Review the UltraGrip Arctic 2

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.

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