Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 vs Pirelli Ice Zero FR
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 finished ahead 1 times and the Ice Zero FR not once, with one level. The UltraGrip Ice 2 was stronger in dry, wet, ice and value, the Ice Zero FR in snow and comfort.
Performance profile
9 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
UltraGrip Ice 2
Ice Zero FR
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. 7 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
UltraGrip Ice 2
Ice Zero FR
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
UltraGrip Ice 2
Ice Zero FR
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the UltraGrip Ice 2 83% from 9 reviews and the Ice Zero FR 93% from 4. 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 | UltraGrip Ice 2 | Gap | Ice Zero FR | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry UltraGrip Ice 2 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 99 | 0.4% | 99 | 1-1 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 7.1% | scored | 1-0 |
| Wet UltraGrip Ice 2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 116 | 8.1% | 127 | 2-0 |
| Wet Handling s | 38.61 | 2.2% | 39.47 | 2-0 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 28.6% | scored | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 45.5 | 15.8% | 39.3 | 1-0 |
| Snow Ice Zero FR ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 102 | 0.1% | 103 | 1-1 |
| Snow Traction s | 6.1 | 1.6% | 6 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling s | 61.7 | 0.7% | 61.25 | 0-2 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | 14.3% | scored | 0-1 |
| Ice UltraGrip Ice 2 ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 76 | 2.1% | 78 | 2-0 |
| Ice Traction s | 5.5 | 1.8% | 5.6 | 1-0 |
| Ice Handling s | 58.38 | 5.8% | 55.07 | 0-2 |
| Subj. Ice Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Comfort Ice Zero FR ahead | ||||
| Subj. Noise pts | scored | 6.3% | scored | 0-1 |
| Value UltraGrip Ice 2 ahead | ||||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 5.94 | 2.8% | 6.11 | 1-0 |
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 2 tests in 2020
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 | UltraGrip Ice 2 | Field | Ice Zero FR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test | P3 of 8 | P4 of 8 | |
| 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test | P4 of 12 | P4 of 12 |
UltraGrip Ice 2 vs Ice Zero FR: your questions
Is the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 or the Pirelli Ice Zero FR the better tire?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 finished ahead 1 times and the Ice Zero FR not once, with one level. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the UltraGrip Ice 2 scores 8.1 and the Ice Zero FR 7.7 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the UltraGrip Ice 2 or the Ice Zero FR?
The UltraGrip Ice 2 led 6 of the 6 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.1% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The UltraGrip Ice 2 led 2 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The Ice Zero FR led 5 of the 6 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it lapped the snow handling course 0.7% faster across 2 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.9/10 for the UltraGrip Ice 2 and 8.8/10 for the Ice Zero FR.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the UltraGrip Ice 2 83% from 9 reviews and the Ice Zero FR 93% from 4.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The UltraGrip Ice 2 is made in 42 sizes (13 to 19 inch) and the Ice Zero FR in 54 (14 to 20 inch). 23 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the UltraGrip Ice 2 is graded D for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ice Zero FR D and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The UltraGrip Ice 2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Ice Zero FR in 2015. The UltraGrip Ice 2 replaced the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+.
More comparisons with these tires
Every Goodyear vs Pirelli test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tires →
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.
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.