Continental VikingContact 7 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental VikingContact 7 finished ahead 4 times and the UltraGrip Ice 2 once. The VikingContact 7 was stronger in snow, ice and comfort, the UltraGrip Ice 2 in dry, wet and value.
Performance profile
13 measurements from the 5 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
VikingContact 7
UltraGrip Ice 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 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 4 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
VikingContact 7
UltraGrip Ice 2
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
VikingContact 7
UltraGrip Ice 2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the VikingContact 7 74% from 25 reviews and the UltraGrip Ice 2 83% from 9. 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 | VikingContact 7 | Gap | UltraGrip Ice 2 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry UltraGrip Ice 2 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 103 | 0.1% | 103 | 1-2 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 21.4% | scored | 0-3 |
| Wet UltraGrip Ice 2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 123 | 5.8% | 116 | 0-4 |
| Wet Handling s | 39.34 | 1.7% | 38.62 | 0-4 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 12.5% | scored | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 41 | 8.8% | 44.6 | 0-2 |
| Snow VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 102 | 0.5% | 103 | 3-1 |
| Snow Traction s | 4.85 | 0.2% | 4.87 | 1-2 |
| Snow Handling s | 61.82 | 1.2% | 62.49 | 3-1 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | 28.6% | scored | 1-0 |
| Ice VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 87 | 2.4% | 88 | 2-1 |
| Ice Traction s | 4.58 | 2% | 4.69 | 2-0 |
| Ice Handling s | 53.92 | 4.2% | 56.26 | 4-0 |
| Subj. Ice Handling pts | scored | 14.3% | scored | 1-0 |
| Comfort VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Noise pts | scored | 16.2% | scored | 3-0 |
| Noise dB | 75.6 | 2.1 dB | 73.5 | 0-1 |
| Value UltraGrip Ice 2 ahead | ||||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 5.88 | 0.9% | 5.83 | 0-1 |
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 5 tests, 2020 to 2024
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 | VikingContact 7 | Field | UltraGrip Ice 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 | P3 of 6 | P6 of 6 | |
| 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tire Test | P3 of 8 | P2 of 8 | |
| 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test | P1 of 6 | P2 of 6 | |
| 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test | P1 of 8 | P3 of 8 | |
| 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test | P2 of 12 | P4 of 12 |
VikingContact 7 vs UltraGrip Ice 2: your questions
Is the Continental VikingContact 7 or the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 the better tire?
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental VikingContact 7 finished ahead 4 times and the UltraGrip Ice 2 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the VikingContact 7 scores 8.6 and the UltraGrip Ice 2 8.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the VikingContact 7 or the UltraGrip Ice 2?
The UltraGrip Ice 2 led 11 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.8% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The UltraGrip Ice 2 led 5 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The VikingContact 7 led 8 of the 12 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it lapped the snow handling course 1.2% faster across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The UltraGrip Ice 2 had 0.9% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 6.1/10 for the VikingContact 7 and 9.5/10 for the UltraGrip Ice 2.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.5/10 for the VikingContact 7 and 8.9/10 for the UltraGrip Ice 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the VikingContact 7 74% from 25 reviews and the UltraGrip Ice 2 83% from 9. 64% of VikingContact 7 owners would buy it again, against 75% for the UltraGrip Ice 2.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the VikingContact 7 was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 14.9% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The VikingContact 7 is made in 134 sizes (14 to 22 inch) and the UltraGrip Ice 2 in 42 (13 to 19 inch). 40 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the VikingContact 7 is graded D for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the UltraGrip Ice 2 D and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The UltraGrip Ice 2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the VikingContact 7 in 2018. The VikingContact 7 replaced the Continental VikingContact 6. The UltraGrip Ice 2 replaced the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+.
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.