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Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 - Test Results

Test Statistics

8

Tests Completed

2nd

Average Position

1st

Best Result

3rd

Worst Result

Performance Analysis

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 - Official Image

Across eight Nordic friction winter tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 shows a consistently high level, averaging 2nd overall with multiple test wins and one Highly Recommended award. Its defining strengths are wet and snow performance, supported by frequent first places in wet handling and snow disciplines, plus excellent aquaplaning resistance and low noise/rolling economy. Ice handling can be good to excellent, but objective ice braking/traction fluctuate more, and dry braking is usually mid-pack despite strong subjective dry dynamics. Overall, it delivers a very balanced winter package with standout wet/snow security and comfort/efficiency, with only occasional ice braking and dry braking softness preventing domination in every metric.

Performance Strengths
  • Wet Weather Performance Strong
    • 1st wet handling in 2025 Vi Bilägare (61.6 s), 2025 Tekniikan Maailma (39.9 s) and 2023 Vi Bilägare (41 s)
    • 1st wet braking in 2023 Vi Bilägare (37.55 m) and strong aquaplaning: 2nd straight aqua in 2025 Vi Bilägare (+3.8%) and 2024 Vi Bilägare (+20.3%)
  • Snow Performance Strong
    • 1st snow braking/traction/handling sweep in 2024 Vi Bilägare (SB 12.43 m, ST 4.04 s, SH 79.6 s)
    • 1st snow braking and handling in 2025 Tire Reviews (SB 16.44 m, SH 79.64 s); 1st snow braking in 2023 Testirengas (11.28 m)
  • Ice Handling Control Moderate
    • 1st ice handling in 2025 Tire Reviews (54.53 s)
    • 1st ice braking and handling in 2023 Testirengas (IB 14.75 m, IH 69.76 s) and 2nd ice handling in 2025 Vi Bilägare (+3%)
  • Comfort, Noise and Efficiency Strong
    • Lowest noise in 2025 Vi Bilägare (68.6 dB) and 2024 Vi Bilägare (71.5 dB)
    • Best fuel/rolling: 1st fuel in 2025 Teknikens Värld (5.726 l/100km) and 2024 Vi Bilägare (5.25 l/100km); 3rd rolling resistance in 2025 Tire Reviews (+4.1%)
  • Subjective Handling Balance Strong
    • 1st subjective dry handling in 2025 and 2024 Vi Bilägare; 2nd subjective dry in 2025 Tire Reviews
    • 1st subjective wet handling in 2025 Tekniikan Maailma (9 pts)
Performance Weaknesses
  • Dry Braking Moderate
    • 6th/8 in 2025 Vi Bilägare (+4.9% from best)
    • 5th/6 in 2025 Tire Reviews (+11.8% from best)
  • Objective Ice Braking/Traction Consistency Strong
    • 12th/14 ice braking (+55.4%) and 11th/14 ice traction (+56.5%) in 2025 Tekniikan Maailma
    • Mid-pack ice metrics in 2025 Vi Bilägare (IB 6/9 +2.5%, IT 4/8 +1.1%) and 2024 Vi Bilägare (IB 4/8 +19.3%, IT 4/8 +19.4%)
  • Aquaplaning Variability Minor
    • 9th/20 straight aquaplaning in 2025 Teknikens Värld (+15.9% from best)
    • Otherwise strong results (e.g., 2nd in 2025 Vi Bilägare, 2nd in 2024 Vi Bilägare) indicate inconsistency across tests
Performance Over Time

Test History

3
of 8
2025 Friction Winter Tire Test

2025
Winner: Continental VikingContact 8

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3, last year's winner, continues to show excellent performance in this larger tire size for SUVs. It's primarily in the dry pavement rounds where Goodyear scores points o...
Strong:
Noise, Subj. Dry Handling, Ice Handling, Straight Aqua, Wet Handling
View Test
2
of 20
2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test

2025
Winner: Continental VikingContact 8

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 shares second place in the test, impressing with its ability to combine strong performance with excellent fuel efficiency. While ice braking performance is mediocre com...
Strong:
Subj. Comfort, Subj. Snow Handling, Fuel Consumption
View Test
2
of 7
The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 Highly Rec.

2025
Winner: Continental VikingContact 8

As always, Goodyear has developed a solid all round tire. It's only real weakness was wet braking where it was 14% off the best, however it was solid in the dry, good in wet handling, it had the be...
Strong:
Noise, Subj. Comfort, Subj. Dry Handling, Ice Handling, Snow Braking, Snow Handling, Subj. Snow Handling, Curved Aquaplaning, Straight Aqua
Weak:
Dry Braking
View Test
3
of 14
2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test

2025
Winner: Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 provides good grip on ice and behaves calmly and predictably, with a precise steering feel. It also steers precisely on snow, though the front tires can lose grip at la...
Strong:
Subj. Wet Handling, Wet Handling
View Test
1
of 8
2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test

2024

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 claimed victory with impressive overall performance. It showed class-leading wet road handling and aquaplaning resistance while maintaining high levels of snow grip. De...
Strong:
Noise, Subj. Dry Handling, Snow Braking, Snow Handling, Snow Traction, Fuel Consumption, Straight Aqua, Wet Braking, Wet Handling
View Test
2
of 17
The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024

2024
Winner: Pirelli Ice Zero 2

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3, a Nordic non-studded tire, surprised with its well-rounded performance. While it didn't stand out exceptionally in winter conditions, with mediocre ice performance, it...
View Test
2
of 8
2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test

2023
Winner: Continental VikingContact 7

This season's big news is the third generation of UltraGrip Ice from Goodyear. The predecessors have distinguished themselves as Nordic friction tires that perform well on wet roads. The new model ...
Strong:
Subj. Dry Handling, Snow Braking, Snow Traction, Fuel Consumption, Straight Aqua, Wet Braking, Wet Handling
View Test
1
of 8
2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tire Test

2023

Ice and Snow: Best control, excellent grip on ice, excellent grip on snow; Wet Conditions: Summer tire-like steering, safe and easy to drive in wet conditions, extreme situation behavior not as go...
Strong:
Ice Braking, Ice Handling, Ice Traction, Snow Braking, Snow Handling, Snow Traction, Wet Handling
View Test