Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 4
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 90% · 15
- TR Score
- 9.6/10
- Owners say
- 95% · 3
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Winter I*cept Evo 4 finished ahead 3 times and the UltraGrip Performance 3 not once. The UltraGrip Performance 3 averaged a 1.5% higher speed on the snow handling course; the Winter I*cept Evo 4 stopped 4.8% shorter in the wet.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 4 for its repeated wet-braking and aquaplaning advantages, plus quicker dry handling. Choose the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 if snow handling is the greater priority, particularly in light of its Allrad SUV test result.
Where the UltraGrip Performance 3 is stronger
- Quicker snow handling in both full 2026 tests
- Strong snow traction and slalom grip in Auto Bild Allrad's SUV test
- Slightly longer estimated wear in Auto Bild's Winter Tire Test
Where the Winter I*cept Evo 4 is stronger
- Shorter wet braking in all three shared tests
- Better aquaplaning results in both full 2026 tests
- Quicker dry handling in both full 2026 tests
Conclusion
Hankook finished ahead in all three shared 2026 tests, but the braking test covers only wet and snow stops. Its advantage is most convincing on wet braking, where it stopped about 4% shorter in Auto Bild's Winter Tire Test and 50-set braking test, and about 6% shorter in Auto Bild Allrad's SUV test. It also recorded better curved aquaplaning results in both full tests. That gap was particularly large in the SUV test, where Hankook also had a clear straight-line aquaplaning lead. Dry handling favored Hankook twice, although dry braking split between the tires.
Goodyear's strongest case is snow handling. It was about 2% quicker on the snow course in Auto Bild's Winter Tire Test and narrowly quicker in the Allrad SUV test. In that SUV test it also had about 3% more measured snow traction and held more grip in the slalom, making it one of the test's best snow performers. Its small snow-braking lead there should not be treated as a consistent advantage: Hankook stopped fractionally shorter in the two 245/45 R19 tests. Goodyear was also quicker in wet handling in Auto Bild's Winter Tire Test, but the tires were effectively level on that measure in the SUV test. Its wet braking and aquaplaning results are what held it back overall.
Comfort ratings were high for both tires. Noise and rolling resistance changed direction between the two full tests, so neither has a consistent lead on those measures. Auto Bild's Winter Tire Test estimated slightly longer wear for Goodyear, but a lower cost per 1,000 km for Hankook. Choose Hankook if wet stopping, aquaplaning resistance and dry handling matter most. Goodyear makes a stronger case for drivers who give particular weight to snow handling, especially on the evidence of the Allrad SUV test, while accepting its weaker wet braking results.
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 Winter I*cept Evo 4 at a glance
| Category | UltraGrip Performance 3 | Gap | Winter I*cept Evo 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won3 shared tests | 0 | 3 | |
| Dry4 measurements | 1 | The Winter I*cept Evo 4 averaged a 1.4% higher speed on the dry handling course (2 tests) | 3 |
| Wet11 measurements | 3 | The Winter I*cept Evo 4 stopped 4.8% shorter in the wet (3 tests) | 8 |
| Snow9 measurements | 6 | The UltraGrip Performance 3 averaged a 1.5% higher speed on the snow handling course (2 tests) | 3 |
| Comfort4 measurements | 1 | 2 | |
| Value3 measurements | 2 | 1 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.5/10 | The Winter I*cept Evo 4 by 0.1 | 9.6/10 |
| Owner rating15 and 3 reviews | 90% | The Winter I*cept Evo 4 by 5 points | 95% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | +23.2% | The UltraGrip Performance 3 was dearer in 2 of 2 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 175 | 60 sizes made in both | 87 |
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 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 | Winter I*cept Evo 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P5 of 20 | P3 of 20 | |
| 2026 Winter Tire Braking Test - 50 Sets | P9 of 50 | P4 of 50 | |
| 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Winter Tire Test | P4 of 10 | P1 of 10 |
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
UltraGrip Performance 3
Winter I*cept Evo 4
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 95%: 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
UltraGrip Performance 3
Winter I*cept Evo 4
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
Not ahead in any category
Winter I*cept Evo 4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15 reviews and the Winter I*cept Evo 4 95% from 3. 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 | Winter I*cept Evo 4 | Wins | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 140 | 0.6% | 141 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 69.1 | 1.4% | 70.1 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 159 | 4.8% | 151 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||
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| 51.6 | 1.5% | 50.9 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 14.36 | 0.7% | 14.46 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 52.3 | 3.4% | 54 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 8.7 | 18.7% | 10.4 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 95 | 0.1% | 95 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 1,012 | 1.3% | 1,002 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 31.1 | 1.5% | 30.6 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 12.6 | 2.3% | 12.3 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 1.1% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 71.4 | 0.1 dB | 71.5 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 34,983 | 1.4% | 34,517 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 7.28 | 5.6% | 7.72 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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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 Winter I*cept Evo 4 9.6 out of 10.
| UltraGrip Performance 3 | Category | Winter I*cept Evo 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | Dry | 100 | ||
| 95 | Wet | 96 | ||
| 85 | Comfort | 87 | ||
| 70 | Value | 65 | ||
| 87 | Snow | 68 | ||
| 22 | Ice | - | ||
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 | Winter I*cept Evo 4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | Dry Grip | 9.7 | ||
| 8.8 | Wet Grip | 9.5 | ||
| 8.6 | Road Feedback | 9.3 | ||
| 8.1 | Handling | 10 | ||
| 9 | Wear | 10 | ||
| 8.8 | Comfort | 10 | ||
| 9.5 | Snow Grip | - | ||
| 8.1 | Ice Grip | - | ||
Owners rate the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15 reviews and the Winter I*cept Evo 4 95% from 3. 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.
Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 4
- 95%from 3 reviews
- 520 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 Winter I*cept Evo 4 reviewsA very responsive tire !
The Winter I*cept Evo 4 in size 245/40 R20 is very comfortable, which was quite surprising to me.
Its handling is incredible, as is its grip and steering precision.
I still need to see how it performs when the first signs of frost appear on the roads, as well as in snow, but so far, it's excellent.My only complaint is that it starts getting noisy at speeds above 100 km/h. That's its biggest downside so far.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 175 sizes of the UltraGrip Performance 3 and 87 of the Winter I*cept Evo 4, 60 of them made in both.
| Category | UltraGrip Performance 3 | Winter I*cept Evo 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 175 sizes, 14 to 23 inch | 87 sizes, 17 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 60 sizes 235/45 R17235/55 R17215/40 R18215/45 R18215/50 R18225/40 R18225/45 R18225/50 R18225/55 R18235/40 R18235/45 R18235/50 R18and 48 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B60%C39%D0%A0% | B100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C74%B16%D9%A1%E0% | C70%B30% |
| EU label noise | 69-74 dB B87%A13% | 69-75 dB B99%A1% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 416 of 416 | 117 of 119 |
| On the market since | - | 2025 |
| Awards | Commended: Best Winter Tire (DriverReviews, 2025/26) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The UltraGrip Performance 3 was the dearer tire in 2 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 23.2% 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.
Three independent 2026 tests put the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 and Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 4 side by side: Auto Bild's Winter Tire Test, its 50-set Winter Tire Braking Test and Auto Bild Allrad's SUV Winter Tire Test. Hankook finished ahead in all three, placing third against fifth, fourth against ninth, and first against fourth respectively.
Hankook's clearest repeat advantage is wet braking: it stopped about 4% shorter in both Auto Bild tests and 6% shorter in the Allrad SUV test. It also handled dry roads more quickly in both full tests and resisted aquaplaning better. Goodyear was quicker on snow handling courses in both full tests, with its strongest snow showing in the Allrad SUV test. Wet handling was less clear-cut: Goodyear led in Auto Bild's Winter Tire Test, while the two were almost level in the SUV test.
UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Winter I*cept Evo 4: your questions
Is the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 or the Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 4 the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 4 finished ahead 3 times and the UltraGrip Performance 3 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the UltraGrip Performance 3 scores 9.5 and the Winter I*cept Evo 4 9.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the UltraGrip Performance 3 or the Winter I*cept Evo 4?
The Winter I*cept Evo 4 led 8 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.8% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter I*cept Evo 4 led 3 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 1.4% higher speed on the dry handling course across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The UltraGrip Performance 3 led 6 of the 9 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 1.5% higher speed on the snow handling course across 2 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.8/10 for the UltraGrip Performance 3 and 10/10 for the Winter I*cept Evo 4.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15 reviews and the Winter I*cept Evo 4 95% from 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the UltraGrip Performance 3 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 23.2% 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 Winter I*cept Evo 4 in 87 (17 to 22 inch). 60 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 Winter I*cept Evo 4 B and C.
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Review the UltraGrip Performance 3 Review the Winter I*cept Evo 4
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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