Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
In the 12 independent tests that ran both tires, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 finished ahead 11 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 once. The Winter Sottozero 3 was stronger in dry, the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 in wet, snow and comfort.
Performance profile
9 measurements from the 12 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 Gen 1
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 97%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 1 measurement recorded in only one shared test is left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Winter Sottozero 3
UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
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 Gen 1
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59 reviews and the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 88% from 32. 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 Gen 1 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Winter Sottozero 3 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 144 | 1.1% | 146 | 3-1 |
| Dry Handling mph | 66 | 0.3% | 65.8 | 2-2 |
| Wet UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 146 | 1.4% | 143 | 1-3 |
| Wet Handling mph | 45.5 | 0.1% | 45.5 | 1-3 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 52 | 0.6% | 51.6 | 2-1 |
| Snow UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 92 | 4.7% | 88 | 0-4 |
| Snow Handling mph | 34.1 | 2.1% | 34.9 | 0-4 |
| Comfort UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 72.83 | 0.1 dB | 72.9 | 1-2 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Wear miles | 18,408 | 8.9% | 20,039 | 0-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.48 | 0.5% | 8.53 | 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 12 tests, 2015 to 2018
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 Gen 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tire Test | P7 of 10 | P5 of 10 | |
| 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test | P6 of 10 | P1 of 10 | |
| 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test | P4 of 10 | P1 of 10 | |
| 2017 50 Winter Tire Shoot Out | P8 of 50 | P3 of 50 | |
| 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P18 of 20 | P4 of 20 | |
| 2017 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P6 of 8 | P4 of 8 | |
| 2016 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test | P4 of 6 | P2 of 6 | |
| 2016 AutoBild Winter UHP Tire Test | P4 of 8 | P1 of 8 | |
| 2016 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/45 R17 | P2 of 13 | P4 of 13 | |
| 2015 AMS UHP Winter Tire Test | P2 of 10 | P1 of 10 | |
| 2015 ACE 17 Inch Winter Tire Test | P6 of 8 | P2 of 8 | |
| 2015 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P6 of 8 | P1 of 8 |
Winter Sottozero 3 vs UltraGrip Performance Gen 1: your questions
Is the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 or the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 the better tire?
In the 12 independent tests that ran both tires, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 finished ahead 11 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 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 Gen 1 8.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter Sottozero 3 or the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1?
The UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 led 7 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.4% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter Sottozero 3 led 5 of the 8 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.1% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 led 8 of the 8 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.7% shorter on snow across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winter Sottozero 3 had 0.5% lower rolling resistance (3 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Winter Sottozero 3 and 8.8/10 for the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.6/10 for the Winter Sottozero 3 and 8.7/10 for the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59 reviews and the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 88% from 32. 81% of Winter Sottozero 3 owners would buy it again, against 94% for the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the two were priced within 1% of each other on average.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter Sottozero 3 is made in 98 sizes (16 to 21 inch) and the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 in 27 (16 to 21 inch). 18 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 Gen 1 B and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Winter Sottozero 3 in 2013. The UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 replaced the Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 2.
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 Gen 1
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.