Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
Goodyear consistently converts performance into results, winning 7 of the 8 comparisons and leading most safety-critical metrics, especially on wet and snow. Kumho counters with sharp pricing, decent dry manners in some sizes, and competitive wet braking in selected tests-enough to tempt budget-minded buyers who drive mainly in milder winter conditions.
Test Results
Independent comparison tire tests are the best source of data to get tire information from, and the good news is there have been eight tests which compare both tires directly!
| Tire | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 | seven | |
| Kumho Winter Craft WP52 | one |
While it might look like the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is better than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tires are very complicated objects which means where one tire is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tires compare across multiple tire test categories.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding wet grip and aquaplaning safety (e.g., +22-82% advantage in curved aqua across tests)
- Consistently strong snow braking, traction, and handling (wins majority of snow metrics)
- Excellent longevity and low abrasion (circa +25% wear advantage; lower mg/km/t)
- Competitive comfort and noise with generally low rolling resistance for the segment
- Compelling price/value and often quieter on-road
- Occasional wins in dry braking/handling depending on size
- Selective standout wet braking results in smaller sizes (e.g., 205/55 R16 −6.4%)
- Good snow and ice competence for the money (notably good ice braking in ADAC)
Dry Braking
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during three dry braking tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 stopped the vehicle in 0.37% less distance than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Dry Braking: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was 0.85% faster around a lap than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was 0.24% faster around a lap than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 scored 5% more points than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from eight tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during six wet braking tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 stopped the vehicle in 1.58% less distance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Wet Braking: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 stopped the vehicle in 1.73% less distance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was 3.62% faster around a wet lap than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during two wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was 2.87% faster around a wet lap than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 and Kumho Winter Craft WP52 performed equally well in subj. wet handling tests.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Both tires performed equally well
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during two wet circle tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was 2.89% faster around a wet circle than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Wet Circle: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during five straight aqua tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 floated at a 5.8% higher speed than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Straight Aqua: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during four curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 slipped out at a 24.04% higher speed than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from eight tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during seven snow braking tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 stopped the vehicle in 2.96% less distance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Braking: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one snow traction tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 accelerated 4.18% faster than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Traction: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during four snow traction tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 had 3.95% better snow traction than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Traction: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one snow handling [s] tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was 2.27% faster around a lap than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during three snow handling [km/h] tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was 1.41% faster around a lap than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Handling [Km/H]: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one subj. snow handling tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 scored 3.16% more points than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during two snow slalom tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was 2.31% faster through a slalom than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Snow Slalom: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during one ice braking tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 stopped the vehicle 2.84% shorter than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Ice Braking: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 scored 10% more points than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during two noise tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 measured 1.33% quieter than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Noise: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during two wear tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is predicted to cover 20.52% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Wear: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during one value tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 proved to have a 7.45% better value based on price/1000km than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Value: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Price
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 was better during one price tests. On average the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 cost 28.52% less than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Best In Price: Kumho Winter Craft WP52
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during three rolling resistance tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 had a 4.59% lower rolling resistance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 was better during one abrasion tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 emitted 22.54% less particle wear matter than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Best In Abrasion: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 Driver Reviews
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.
Based on 13 reviews with an average rating of 87%
Kumho Winter Craft WP52 Driver Reviews
Drivers find the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 to deliver strong dry grip and handling with generally good snow traction, making it a solid value purchase. Wet performance is adequate but not standout, with several users noting longer wet braking distances or a vague feel. Noise can be higher than average for some, though overall comfort is acceptable. Overall sentiment is moderately positive with a few recurring caveats in the wet.
Based on 8 reviews with an average rating of 69%
Conclusion
The WinterCraft WP52 offers solid all-round behaviour for the money, with occasional wins in dry and isolated wet-braking results (notably 205/55 R16 in 2024, −6.4% vs Goodyear) and generally low noise. However, its recurring weakness in aquaplaning and wet handling, plus lower mileage, limit its safety margin and long-term value in harsher, wetter winters. Choose Goodyear for the most secure four-season winter coverage and longevity; pick Kumho if price is paramount and your winter is mostly cold/dry with infrequent heavy rain.
Key Differences
- Result consistency: Goodyear wins 7/8 tests; Kumho 1/8
- Wet safety margin: Goodyear leads wet handling and aquaplaning in most sizes; Kumho shows recurring aquaplaning weakness
- Snow performance: Goodyear leads snow braking/traction/handling across the board
- Wear and sustainability: Goodyear shows longer mileage and lower abrasion
- Price/value: Kumho is significantly cheaper and often rates better on upfront value
- Dry behavior: Kumho can edge dry braking/handling in select sizes; Goodyear remains more balanced and precise overall
Overall Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
Based on the tire test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tire has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tire buying choice.Similar Comparisons
Looking for more tire comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tires:
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 Top Comparisons
No other comparisons available for this tire.
Kumho Winter Craft WP52 Top Comparisons
No other comparisons available for this tire.
Footnote
This page has been developed using tire industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tires in the same test.
Why is this important? Tire testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tire test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tire tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tire Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tire comparison, Tire Reviews doesn't.