Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 90% · 15
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 77% · 5
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 finished ahead 5 times and the UltraGrip Performance 3 twice. The UltraGrip Performance 3 lasted 23.5% longer in the wear tests; the Cinturato Winter 3 stopped 3.2% shorter in the wet.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 if you mostly drive on cold wet roads (Atlantic climates, motorway commuting, frequent heavy rain) and want the strongest wet braking and aquaplaning margins. Choose the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 if your winters regularly involve snow/untreated roads and you also care about long tread life and lower running costs; it's the better 'snow + ownership' package even if it's usually not the wet-braking benchmark.
Where the UltraGrip Performance 3 is stronger
- Stronger snow performance balance across tests (wins in snow traction/handling and often slalom; e.g., Auto Bild Sportscars snow handling 66.2 vs 64.6 km/h)
- Excellent projected tread life and value where measured (ADAC 55,800 km vs 43,100 km; AvD 51,899 km vs 44,171 km; better €/value indexes)
- Comfort/ride refinement is a recurring highlight (e.g., Auto Bild Sportscars comfort 9.6 vs 8.8; Auto Bild Allrad comfort 9.4 vs 9.0)
Where the Cinturato Winter 3 is stronger
- Class-leading wet braking across the majority of shared tests (wins 6/7; often with clear margins like 44.4 m vs 48.1 m in Auto Bild Allrad)
- Very strong aquaplaning resistance in multiple major tests (e.g., ADAC straight 85.0 vs 79.3 km/h; curved 3.2 vs 2.8 m/s²)
- Consistently high overall rankings and multiple test wins (AvD 1/15, ADAC 1/16, Auto Express 2/11, Auto Bild Allrad 2/10)
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.
UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Cinturato Winter 3 at a glance
| Category | UltraGrip Performance 3 | Gap | Cinturato Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won7 shared tests | 2 | 5 | |
| Dry11 measurements | 3 | 8 | |
| Wet25 measurements | 5 | The Cinturato Winter 3 stopped 3.2% shorter in the wet (7 tests) | 20 |
| Snow21 measurements | 15 | The UltraGrip Performance 3 averaged a 2% higher speed on the snow handling course (2 tests) | 5 |
| Ice1 measurement | 0 | 1 | |
| Comfort9 measurements | 4 | 2 | |
| Value10 measurements | 5 | Level between the two. | 5 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.5/10 | The UltraGrip Performance 3 by 0.3 | 9.2/10 |
| Owner rating15 and 5 reviews | 90% | The UltraGrip Performance 3 by 13 points | 77% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 100% | The UltraGrip Performance 3 by 40 points | 60% |
| Pricein the 6 tests that listed prices | +1.5% | The UltraGrip Performance 3 was dearer in 3 of 6 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 175 | 26 sizes made in both | 36 |
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 7 tests, 2025 to 2026
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 Performance 3 | Field | Cinturato Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test | P3 of 12 | P4 of 12 | |
| 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Winter Tire Test | P4 of 10 | P2 of 10 | |
| The BEST Winter Tires for 2026/27 | P1 of 9 | P3 of 9 | |
| 2026 AvD Winter Tire Test | P3 of 15 | P1 of 15 | |
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 | P3 of 16 | P1 of 16 | |
| 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P6 of 11 | P2 of 11 | |
| 2025 TUV Test of Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 vs Rivals | P3 of 5 | P1 of 5 |
Performance profile
18 measurements from the 7 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
UltraGrip Performance 3
Cinturato Winter 3
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
UltraGrip Performance 3
Cinturato Winter 3
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 Performance 3
Cinturato Winter 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 3 77% from 5. 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 | UltraGrip Performance 3 | Gap | Cinturato Winter 3 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 139 | 0.4% | 138 | 2-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 58.11 | 0.4% | 57.88 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 65.2 | 0.2% | 65.1 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 3.5% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 133 | 3.2% | 128 | 1-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 130 | 2.5% | 126 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 94.28 | 0.9% | 93.42 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 47.9 | 0.3% | 48.1 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 14.27 | 0.8% | 14.14 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 50.5 | 2.6% | 51.8 | 1-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 9.6 | 5.4% | 10.1 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 65 | 0.2% | 66 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4.79 | 0.5% | 4.8 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 672 | = | 671 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 81.78 | 0.4% | 81.41 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 33.8 | 2% | 33.1 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 4.9% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13.8 | 4% | 13.3 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 61 | 3.2% | 59 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 4.5% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 67.34 | 0.1 dB | 67.41 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 33,461 | 23.5% | 27,114 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.07 | 0.4% | 8.09 | 2-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.6 | 1.8% | 5.5 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 62 | 22.5% | 80 | 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 UltraGrip Performance 3 scores 9.5 and the Cinturato Winter 3 9.2 out of 10.
| UltraGrip Performance 3 | Category | Cinturato Winter 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | Dry | 90 | ||
| 95 | Wet | 100 | ||
| 85 | Comfort | 69 | ||
| 70 | Value | 44 | ||
| 87 | Snow | 72 | ||
| 22 | Ice | 40 | ||
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
| UltraGrip Performance 3 | Category | Cinturato Winter 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | Dry Grip | 8.6 | ||
| 8.8 | Wet Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 8.6 | Road Feedback | 7 | ||
| 8.1 | Handling | 7.6 | ||
| 9 | Wear | 8.5 | ||
| 8.8 | Comfort | 6.4 | ||
| 9.5 | Snow Grip | 9.5 | ||
| 8.1 | Ice Grip | 9 | ||
Owners rate the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 3 77% from 5. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
- 90%from 15 reviews
- 100%would buy again
- 62,800 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers rate the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 very highly, praising its excellent grip and braking on dry and wet roads, strong traction in snow, and a quiet, comfortable, and predictable ride. Handling is often described as stable and confidence-inspiring, with several noting good highway manners. A minority mention weaker performance on pure ice and a softer, less sporty steering feel at the limit. Overall sentiment is strongly positive with only a few caveats.
- strong dry grip and braking
- excellent wet grip and braking
- very good snow traction
- quiet and comfortable ride
- limited grip on pure ice compared to some rivals
- softer steering feel and less sporty lateral grip at high speeds
Summarised by AI from 12 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 15 UltraGrip Performance 3 reviewsThis is exceptional tire in winter i swapped it now with Michelin PA 5 which is even better on snow but lucks a bit on wet. But you cant go wrong with niether of those. I cant wait Michelin s to worn out so i can try pirelli.
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
- 77%from 5 reviews
- 60%would buy again
- 11,000 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally rate the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 positively, highlighting strong winter capability and a confident, planted feel in snow/ice as well as reassuring grip in wet conditions. Several also note good overall handling and comfort, with some reporting impressive quietness at lower speeds (especially with PNCS). The most consistent drawback is increased road noise as speeds rise (around 100-110 km/h and above), and a couple of users report higher energy consumption on EVs versus summer tires.
- Strong snow and ice traction
- Confident grip and stability in wet conditions
- Good dry-road handling for a winter tire
- Comfortable ride and generally refined feel (noted by multiple users)
- Noticeable road noise at higher speeds (around 100-110 km/h and above)
- Higher energy consumption/rolling resistance versus summer tires (reported on EVs)
Summarised by AI from 5 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 5 Cinturato Winter 3 reviewsCompared to the previous tire (Michelin Alpin 6), the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 offers more grip on snow.
I haven’t yet reached the limit in dry or wet conditions to provide an objective evaluation in those scenarios, but I notice that as lateral forces increase, the steering loses precision, accompanied by a clearly noticeable noise, typical of a winter tire “working”.
I believe this is due to the relatively narrow tread blocks. The car has also become more sensitive to crosswinds, as well as to road camber.
It is a safe tire, but not a particularly fun or precise one.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 175 sizes of the UltraGrip Performance 3 and 36 of the Cinturato Winter 3, 26 of them made in both.
| Category | UltraGrip Performance 3 | Cinturato Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 175 sizes, 14 to 23 inch | 36 sizes, 16 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 26 sizes 195/55 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16215/60 R16215/65 R16205/50 R17205/55 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17215/60 R17215/65 R17225/45 R17and 14 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B60%C39%D0%A0% | A58%B42% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C74%B16%D9%A1%E0% | C61%B39% |
| EU label noise | 69-74 dB B87%A13% | 72 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 415 of 415 | 36 of 36 |
| On the market since | - | 2025 |
| Replaced | - | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 (2021) |
| Awards | Commended: Best Winter Tire (DriverReviews, 2025/26) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The UltraGrip Performance 3 was the dearer tire in 3 of the 6 tests that listed prices, by 1.5% 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.
Previous generation: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 (16 shared tests)
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.
Goodyear's UltraGrip Performance 3 and Pirelli's Cinturato Winter 3 are both modern premium winter tires, but they come at the job from slightly different angles: the Goodyear is positioned as an ultra-high-performance winter option, while the Pirelli leans more premium-touring. Across seven shared tests in popular sizes (from 205/55 R16 to 225/55 R18), that difference shows up as a recurring split between outright wet-road security versus stronger snow-biased capability and running costs.
In the data, Pirelli wins the head-to-head overall in 5 of the 7 shared tests, including three high-profile group tests where it takes the outright #1 (AvD 1/15, ADAC 1/16) or near-the-top finishes (Auto Express 2/11; Auto Bild Allrad 2/10). Goodyear still has a clear counterpunch: it repeatedly looks stronger when winter becomes “real winter” (snow handling/traction/slalom), and it tends to deliver notably better longevity and value where those metrics are measured (e.g., +29.5% projected tread life in ADAC).
Conclusion
Across the shared testing, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 is the more consistently top-scoring tire in the conditions most drivers actually spend the most time in during winter: cold wet roads, standing water, and mixed damp-to-dry commuting. It dominates wet braking (wins 6/7 comparisons), and the gaps are often meaningful rather than marginal-e.g., Auto Bild Sportscars wet braking 49.3 m vs 52.1 m (~5.4%), Auto Bild Allrad 44.4 m vs 48.1 m (~7.7%), and ADAC 34.7 m vs 36.1 m (~3.9%). It also repeatedly leads aquaplaning (ADAC straight aquaplaning 85.0 km/h vs 79.3 km/h, +7.2%; Auto Bild Allrad curved 3.2 vs 2.8 m/s², +14.3%), which is a practical safety advantage on motorways and heavy-rain days.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3's strongest argument is its winter-surface confidence and ownership case. In multiple tests it's the more convincing snow tire-often quicker and more controllable in snow handling and slalom (e.g., Auto Bild Sportscars snow handling 66.2 vs 64.6 km/h; snow slalom 4.20 vs 3.99 m/s²), and it frequently edges snow braking/traction in the shared comparisons (4 wins each for snow braking and snow traction; 4 wins for snow handling). Where wear is measured, Goodyear is clearly the longer-lasting, better-cost tire (ADAC 55,800 km vs 43,100 km; AvD 51,899 km vs 44,171 km) and it therefore tends to look like the smarter high-mileage buy-even when its wet braking isn't class-leading.
Practical takeaway: if your winter is predominantly wet, mild-to-cold, and you prioritize emergency stopping and hydroplaning safety, the Pirelli is the more confidence-inspiring “default” choice. If your winter includes frequent snow days, steep untreated roads, or you want a winter tire that's strong on snow while also delivering standout longevity/value, the Goodyear is the more compelling ownership proposition-even if it usually gives away a bit of wet-braking performance to the Pirelli.
UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Cinturato Winter 3: your questions
Is the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 or the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 the better tire?
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 finished ahead 5 times and the UltraGrip Performance 3 twice. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the UltraGrip Performance 3 scores 9.5 and the Cinturato Winter 3 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the UltraGrip Performance 3 or the Cinturato Winter 3?
The Cinturato Winter 3 led 20 of the 25 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.2% shorter in the wet across 7 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Cinturato Winter 3 led 8 of the 11 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The UltraGrip Performance 3 led 15 of the 21 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 2% higher speed on the snow handling course across 2 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The UltraGrip Performance 3 lasted 23.5% longer in the wear tests (2 tests). Owners rate wear 9/10 for the UltraGrip Performance 3 and 8.5/10 for the Cinturato Winter 3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.8/10 for the UltraGrip Performance 3 and 6.4/10 for the Cinturato Winter 3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 3 77% from 5. 100% of UltraGrip Performance 3 owners would buy it again, against 60% for the Cinturato Winter 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 6 tests that listed prices, the UltraGrip Performance 3 was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 1.5% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The UltraGrip Performance 3 is made in 175 sizes (14 to 23 inch) and the Cinturato Winter 3 in 36 (16 to 20 inch). 26 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the UltraGrip Performance 3 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Cinturato Winter 3 A and C.
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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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