Nokian Powerproof 1 vs Vredestein Ultrac Pro
- TR Score
- 8.4/10
- Owners say
- 86% · 4
- TR Score
- 9.0/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 7
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Vredestein Ultrac Pro finished ahead 2 times and the Powerproof 1 once. The Powerproof 1 stopped 1.2% shorter in the wet.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Vredestein Ultrac Pro for drivers prioritizing crisp handling and balanced safety across conditions. Choose Nokian Powerproof 1 if you want strong wet braking, lower running costs, and better value without paying for top-tier handling finesse.
Where the Powerproof 1 is stronger
- Consistently strong wet braking and wet lap performance
- Lower rolling resistance and better fuel consumption
- Stronger value: lower €/1,000 km and competitive wear/abrasion
Where the Ultrac Pro is stronger
- Higher overall test placements (ADAC P5/18; Auto Bild P13/21)
- Stable, precise dry handling with excellent braking in ADAC
- Good comfort and secure all-round feel
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Powerproof 1 vs Ultrac Pro at a glance
| Category | Powerproof 1 | Gap | Ultrac Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won3 shared tests | 1 | 2 | |
| Dry4 measurements | 2 | Level between the two. | 2 |
| Wet10 measurements | 5 | The Powerproof 1 stopped 1.2% shorter in the wet (3 tests) | 4 |
| Comfort3 measurements | 1 | 2 | |
| Value5 measurements | 4 | 1 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.4/10 | The Ultrac Pro by 0.6 | 9.0/10 |
| Owner rating4 and 7 reviews | 86% | The Powerproof 1 by 3 points | 83% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Ultrac Pro was dearer in 2 of 2 | +16.7% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 54 | 35 sizes made in both | 98 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 3 tests in 2025
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 | Powerproof 1 | Field | Ultrac Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tire Test | P17 of 20 | P13 of 20 | |
| 2025 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P14 of 18 | P5 of 18 | |
| 2025 Summer Tire Test Shootout | P13 of 52 | P18 of 52 |
Performance profile
6 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Powerproof 1
Ultrac Pro
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 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 8 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Powerproof 1
Ultrac Pro
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
Powerproof 1
Ultrac Pro
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Powerproof 1 86% from 4 reviews and the Ultrac Pro 83% from 7. 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Powerproof 1 | Gap | Ultrac Pro | Wins | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | 0.7% | 117 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 72.8 | 0.3% | 72.9 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 120 | 1.2% | 121 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 128 | 3.8% | 123 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 44.6 | 0.7% | 44.3 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 14.99 | 1.6% | 15.24 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 49.6 | 0.1% | 49.6 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 9.9 | 5.6% | 10.4 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 16.3% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 72.55 | 0.1 dB | 72.65 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 23,090 | 1.2% | 22,689 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 8.93 | 2.8% | 9.19 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 5.5 | 3.5% | 5.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 67.7 | 10.3% | 75.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Powerproof 1 scores 8.4 and the Ultrac Pro 9 out of 10.
| Powerproof 1 | Category | Ultrac Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | Dry | 86 | ||
| 78 | Wet | 82 | ||
| 52 | Comfort | 80 | ||
| 43 | Value | 27 | ||
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.
What owners say
| Powerproof 1 | Category | Ultrac Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 9.1 | ||
| 9.3 | Wet Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 8.5 | Road Feedback | 8.3 | ||
| 8.5 | Handling | 9 | ||
| 8 | Wear | 6 | ||
| 8.8 | Comfort | 8.1 | ||
Owners rate the Powerproof 1 86% from 4 reviews and the Ultrac Pro 83% from 7. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Nokian Powerproof 1
- 86%from 4 reviews
- 47,641 milesdriven by reviewers
All 4 Powerproof 1 reviewsBought them because of the price, 70 euro/tire size 225/50/17. Mine are made in china, idk if this is a disadvantage or is a lower quality than the ones that are made in other country.
Personally, pretty good tires overall, good grip in both dry and wet conditions and good stability. Tires are a little noisy, but it's not that bad. Not that confortable as expected, but very decent for their price.
Vredestein Ultrac Pro
- 83%from 7 reviews
- 71%would buy again
- 34,100 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers largely praise the Vredestein Ultrac Pro for strong dry and wet grip, confident handling, and notably good ride comfort, with several noting premium feel and value. High-scoring reviews highlight short braking distances, stability, and decent wear for aggressive or heavy vehicles. A minority report concerns include poor performance in very cold (sub-5°C) conditions and one case of premature wear/delamination. Overall, the Ultrac Pro delivers balanced performance with comfort-focused tuning and attractive design.
- dry grip
- wet grip
- handling/steering feel
- ride comfort
- reduced grip in very cold temperatures
Summarised by AI from 6 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 7 Ultrac Pro reviewsI've had them for two summers and about 10k kms on a Ford Focus ST250. When I was buying them I was looking for good tires at a fair price and these were the newest model available at the time.
Dry: In the dry they have good traction, predictable handlings and good comfort for a UHP tire. Breakaway is communicated well and they don't surprise you out of nowhere. Lift of oversteer is easily achieved and controlled. They do wheelspin a bit in first gear if you are a bit more enthusiastic with the throttle but that's expected on a more powerful fwd car.
Wet: They have good and predictable grip in the wet, good aquaplaning resistance and stop quite well.
Others: Rim guard is somewhere in the middle, not as big as Bridgestone but better than Hankook. Sidewall design is good, comfort and noise are good for a uhp tire. Wear has also been good for me, I expect to change them due to age and not wear but then again I don't do that many miles a year.
It's a tire I like and would recommend. Price to performance is good. Would consider buying. I got their Wintrac Pro Plus to try this winter so I've been satisfied with Vredesteins as a whole.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 54 sizes of the Powerproof 1 and 98 of the Ultrac Pro, 35 of them made in both.
| Category | Powerproof 1 | Ultrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 54 sizes, 17 to 20 inch | 98 sizes, 18 to 24 inch |
| Made in both | 35 sizes 225/40 R18225/45 R18235/40 R18235/45 R18245/40 R18245/45 R18255/40 R18255/45 R18225/35 R19225/40 R19225/45 R19235/35 R19and 23 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A100% | A97%B3% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C80%B20% | C73%D18%B6%A3% |
| EU label noise | 69-73 dB B74%A26% | 69-73 dB B97%A3% |
| On the market since | 2023 | 2024 |
| Replaced | Nokian PowerProof (2018) | Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+ (2020) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Ultrac Pro was the dearer tire in 2 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 16.7% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This head-to-head pits two fresh max-performance summer tires in the popular 225/40 R18 size: Nokian Powerproof 1 and Vredestein Ultrac Pro. Across three 2025 tests, the Vredestein generally places higher overall, while the Nokian quietly stacks strong value and efficiency metrics with competitive stopping distances.
Drill down and the picture is nuanced: Nokian repeatedly excels in wet braking and wet circuit pace, pairs low rolling resistance with lower fuel use, and often undercuts on cost. Vredestein counters with more composed dry handling, stronger subjective comfort, and consistently short braking-especially in ADAC-though its price tempers value.
Conclusion
If you prioritize balanced driving dynamics and confidence at the limit, the Vredestein Ultrac Pro is the safer all-rounder, reflected in its higher overall rankings in Auto Bild and ADAC and its precise dry-road behavior. Its downsides are a higher purchase price and only middling wear/value scores.
The Nokian Powerproof 1 is the pragmatic pick for cost-conscious drivers who still want real wet stopping performance. It repeatedly posts shorter wet and dry braking in two of three shared braking checks, delivers better fuel economy and abrasion, and costs notably less per 1,000 km-albeit with less precise dry feedback and some wet understeer near the limit. In short: Vredestein for dynamics and polish; Nokian for wet braking value and efficiency.
Powerproof 1 vs Ultrac Pro: your questions
Is the Nokian Powerproof 1 or the Vredestein Ultrac Pro the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Vredestein Ultrac Pro finished ahead 2 times and the Powerproof 1 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Powerproof 1 scores 8.4 and the Ultrac Pro 9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Powerproof 1 or the Ultrac Pro?
The Powerproof 1 led 5 of the 10 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.2% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the Powerproof 1 and the Ultrac Pro.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.8/10 for the Powerproof 1 and 8.1/10 for the Ultrac Pro.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Powerproof 1 86% from 4 reviews and the Ultrac Pro 83% from 7.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Ultrac Pro was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 16.7% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Powerproof 1 is made in 54 sizes (17 to 20 inch) and the Ultrac Pro in 98 (18 to 24 inch). 35 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Powerproof 1 is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ultrac Pro A and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The Ultrac Pro is the newer design: it reached the market in 2024, the Powerproof 1 in 2023. The Powerproof 1 replaced the Nokian PowerProof. The Ultrac Pro replaced the Vredestein Ultrac Vorti+.
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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.
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