Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
In the 8 independent tests that ran both tires, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ finished ahead 8 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 not once. The Winter Sottozero 3 was stronger in dry, the UltraGrip Performance+ in wet, snow, comfort and value.
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 8 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter Sottozero 3
UltraGrip Performance+
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. 5 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Winter Sottozero 3
UltraGrip Performance+
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
Winter Sottozero 3
UltraGrip Performance+
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59 reviews and the UltraGrip Performance+ 86% from 20. 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 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Gap | UltraGrip Performance+ | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Winter Sottozero 3 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 145 | 0.8% | 146 | 2-1 |
| Dry Handling mph | 63.3 | 0.2% | 63.4 | 2-1 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Wet UltraGrip Performance+ ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 123 | 2.9% | 119 | 0-5 |
| Wet Handling mph | 44.1 | 3.4% | 45.6 | 0-3 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 42.9% | scored | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 46.8 | 6.8% | 49.9 | 0-3 |
| Snow UltraGrip Performance+ ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 87 | 6.1% | 81 | 0-5 |
| Snow Traction lbf | 635 | 9.7% | 696 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling mph | 37.9 | 2.7% | 38.9 | 0-3 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | 25% | scored | 0-1 |
| Comfort UltraGrip Performance+ ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Noise dB | 71.47 | 0.4 dB | 71.07 | 1-2 |
| Value UltraGrip Performance+ ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 23,566 | 10.4% | 25,930 | 0-2 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 7.86 | 3% | 8.09 | 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 8 tests, 2019 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 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Field | UltraGrip Performance+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 ADAC 17 Inch Winter Tire Test | P12 of 18 | P3 of 18 | |
| 2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 235/55 R17 | P9 of 13 | P3 of 13 | |
| 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test | P19 of 20 | P3 of 20 | |
| 2020 Winter Tire Market Overview - 52 Tire Braking Test | P20 of 51 | P9 of 51 | |
| 2019 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P8 of 12 | P1 of 12 | |
| 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tire Test | P18 of 20 | P2 of 20 | |
| 2019 Winter Tire Test Market Overview | P16 of 53 | P2 of 53 | |
| 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tire Test | P9 of 11 | P1 of 11 |
Winter Sottozero 3 vs UltraGrip Performance+: your questions
Is the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 or the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ the better tire?
In the 8 independent tests that ran both tires, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ finished ahead 8 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter Sottozero 3 scores 7.9 and the UltraGrip Performance+ 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter Sottozero 3 or the UltraGrip Performance+?
The UltraGrip Performance+ led 12 of the 12 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.9% shorter in the wet across 5 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter Sottozero 3 led 4 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.8% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The UltraGrip Performance+ led 10 of the 10 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.1% shorter on snow across 5 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winter Sottozero 3 had 3% lower rolling resistance (3 tests); the UltraGrip Performance+ lasted 10.4% longer in the wear tests (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Winter Sottozero 3 and 8.9/10 for the UltraGrip Performance+.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.6/10 for the Winter Sottozero 3 and 8.9/10 for the UltraGrip Performance+.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59 reviews and the UltraGrip Performance+ 86% from 20. 81% of Winter Sottozero 3 owners would buy it again, against 95% for the UltraGrip Performance+.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the UltraGrip Performance+ was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 9.1% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter Sottozero 3 is made in 98 sizes (16 to 21 inch) and the UltraGrip Performance+ in 93 (15 to 22 inch). 65 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter Sottozero 3 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the UltraGrip Performance+ B and C.
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 Winter Sottozero 3 Review the UltraGrip Performance+
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.