Tested 9 times by independent publications, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 has taken 2 test wins with an average finish of 2nd. Its strongest discipline is Straight Aqua, beating 89% of the field across 6 tests; its weakest is Dry Braking, at 35% across 6 tests.
2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test P2 of 5Nordic Friction Winter Tires
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 finished second of the five Nordic friction tires, behind the VikingContact 8. It is a well-rounded friction tire that pairs good ice and snow grip with the lowest rolling resistance in the test.
Where the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tires. Field beaten is the share of the other tires it outranked in that measurement.
| Discipline | Tests | Avg finish | Field beaten | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | ||||
| Dry Braking Weak | 6 | P5.2 of 7.5 | 35% | - |
| Dry Handling | 1 | P3 of 6 | 60% | - |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 5 | P1.6 of 7.4 | 89% | 3 |
| Subj. Road Score | 1 | P1 of 5 | 100% | 1 |
| Dry Lane Change | 1 | P2 of 5 | 75% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 6 | P3 of 7.5 | 68% | 1 |
| Wet Handling | 6 | P1.7 of 7.5 | 88% | 4 |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 4 | P1.5 of 6.3 | 90% | 3 |
| Wet Circle | 1 | P4 of 6 | 40% | - |
| Straight Aqua Strong | 6 | P1.7 of 7 | 89% | 2 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 1 | P2 of 6 | 80% | - |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking | 6 | P2.2 of 7.7 | 83% | 4 |
| Snow Traction | 6 | P2.2 of 7.7 | 82% | 2 |
| Snow Handling | 5 | P2 of 7.8 | 86% | 2 |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 3 | P1.3 of 6.3 | 92% | 2 |
| Snow Slalom | 1 | P3 of 7 | 67% | - |
| Ice | ||||
| Ice Braking | 6 | P3.8 of 7.7 | 57% | 1 |
| Ice Traction | 6 | P3.8 of 7.7 | 57% | - |
| Ice Handling | 5 | P2.4 of 7.8 | 80% | 2 |
| Subj. Ice Handling | 3 | P3 of 6.3 | 64% | - |
| Comfort | ||||
| Subj. Comfort | 3 | P1.7 of 5.7 | 86% | 1 |
| Subj. Noise | 1 | P3 of 7 | 67% | - |
| Noise | 4 | P1.8 of 7.5 | 88% | 2 |
| Value | ||||
| Rolling Resistance | 1 | P3 of 6 | 60% | - |
| Fuel Consumption | 5 | P1.6 of 7.2 | 91% | 3 |
Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
8 shared: 7 ahead, 1 behind
Compare with Hakkapeliitta R5 |
8 | 7 | 1 | - | 88% |
 Michelin X Ice Snow
7 shared: 7 ahead, 0 behind
Compare with X Ice Snow |
7 | 7 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Continental VikingContact 8
7 shared: 1 ahead, 6 behind
Compare with VikingContact 8 |
7 | 1 | 6 | - | 14% |
 Pirelli Ice Friction
3 shared: 1 ahead, 1 behind
Compare with Ice Friction |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.
| Tire | Tests | Wins | Avg finish | Field beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 Predecessor | 5 | 0 | 3rd | 60% |
| Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 This tire | 9 | 2 | 2nd | 80% |
Drawn from 9 tests. Updated October 28, 2026.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 has a strong record among Nordic friction tires, with an average placing of second across nine tests. It won Vi Bilägare's 2024 test and finished second of five in the 2025 Tire Reviews test, earning a Highly recommended award. Snow performance is a recurring strength: it led snow handling in the 2024 Vi Bilägare test and the 2025 Tire Reviews test, where the tester called it the best overall in snow. Wet handling and aquaplaning resistance are also strong for the type, while fuel consumption is consistently low. Teknikens Värld recorded the lowest consumption in its Nordic class in both 2025 and 2026, and praised the tire's stability and comfort.
Braking is less consistent. Dry braking was sixth of eight in Vi Bilägare's 2023 and 2025 tests, although the tire shared the best dry handling rating in both. Wet braking was first of eight in the 2023 test, but Tire Reviews noted an extended distance in 2025, 14% behind the best Nordic tire. Ice grip is often good in corners but less convincing for braking and traction: in the 2025 Tekniikan Maailma test it was fifth of seven Nordic tires for ice braking, 10.1% behind the class best. Its first-place ice braking and handling in the 2023 TESTIRENKAAT test were unusual against that wider pattern.
maintains high winter grip, particularly impressive in snow cornering- 2025 Friction Winter Tire Test (2025)
best overall in the snow- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
steers precisely on snow- 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test (2025)
Best control- 2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tire Test (2023)
shows good cornering ability- 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test (2023)
Its aquaplaning resistance was better than most of the Nordic tires- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
best aquaplaning resistance- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
performing much better at aquaplaning than competitors- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
The same goes for aquaplaning resistance and the stopping distance on wet roads- 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test (2023)
used the least fuel of any tire in the test- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
low rolling resistance- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
low rolling resistance- 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test (2024)
relatively low rolling resistance- The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 (2024)
the tire was the best friction tire on wet asphalt, where its control remains easy in extreme situations- 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test (2025)
very good in wet handling- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
class-leading wet road handling- 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test (2024)
safe and easy to drive in wet conditions- 2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tire Test (2023)
strong on snow, with full marks for snow braking,- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
performs at the top in terms of starting and braking on snow- 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test (2023)
excellent on ice- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
provides good grip on ice and behaves calmly and predictably- 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test (2025)
handles icy curves well- 2025 Friction Winter Tire Test (2025)
excellent grip on ice- 2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tire Test (2023)
The ice grip is also at a high level, though slightly behind the very best- 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test (2023)
crisp steering and stable behavior under pressure- 2025 Friction Winter Tire Test (2025)
with a precise steering feel- 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test (2025)
The tire provides good response and well-balanced behavior- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
The steering sensitivity and stability in evasive maneuvers are the best in the group- 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test (2023)
Summer tire-like steering- 2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tire Test (2023)
one of the best rated for stability and comfort- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
it combines this with fine stability- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
showed good stability in the moose test- The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 (2024)
The steering sensitivity and stability in evasive maneuvers are the best in the group- 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test (2023)
one of the best rated for stability and comfort- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
best comfort levels- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
It also offered good comfort and relatively low rolling resistance- The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 (2024)
ice braking performance is mediocre compared to the best studded tires- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
mediocre ice performance- The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 (2024)
its ice performance fell slightly behind the best- 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test (2024)
its wet braking was among the weaker results in the Nordic group- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
Extended wet braking distance- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 finished second of the five Nordic friction tires, behind the VikingContact 8. It is a well-rounded friction tire that pairs good ice and snow grip with the lowest rolling resistance in the test.
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 over competitors, with only Pirelli able to match its crisp steering and stable behavior under pressure, though braking distances are slightly longer than the best competitors. Despite clear focus on asphalt performance, Goodyear also maintains high winter grip, particularly impressive in snow cornering, and handles icy curves well. At the grip limit, it becomes somewhat understeering without any tendency to slide. The test's lowest noise level confirms the image of an almost complete winter tire, earning it third place, not far from victory. The tire offers high winter grip combined with low noise and excellent cornering grip on dry pavement, though braking performance is generally slightly weaker than the best.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 finished joint second of the seven Nordic friction tires, level with Pirelli, impressing with its ability to combine strong performance with excellent fuel efficiency. While its ice braking cannot match the best studded tires, as expected of a friction tire, it otherwise delivers convincing results across the board. The grip level is genuinely good in most situations, and like Continental, it combines this with fine stability and good fuel efficiency. Notably, Goodyear breaks from the typical Nordic friction tire pattern by performing much better at aquaplaning than competitors like Continental and Nokian - a significant difference that sets it apart. The tire provides good response and well-balanced behavior, making the test vehicle easy to drive even in difficult situations. Unlike some competitors, it avoids the tendency towards rear-end instability that was noted in last year's test with the smaller 225/50 R17 dimension.
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 best aquaplaning resistance which could be important in wet winters, was the best overall in the snow and 2nd best overall on ice. Add that to the joint best comfort scores and a reasonable rolling resistance, the UltraGrip Ice 3 is a very impressive tire.
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 large steering angles. The tire was the best friction tire on wet asphalt, where its control remains easy in extreme situations. On dry asphalt, it steers logically and handles evasions smoothly despite a slightly imprecise reaction to inputs.
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. Despite prioritizing tarmac performance, it still delivered strong winter capabilities, though its ice performance fell slightly behind the best. Combined with low rolling resistance and good noise levels, it proved to be the best choice for drivers who spend more time on clear roads but still need reliable winter performance.
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 ice grip a step behind the Continental ContiVikingContact 8, it showed no significant weaknesses either. The tire performed well in wet conditions and showed good stability in the moose test. It also offered good comfort and relatively low rolling resistance. The balanced nature of its performance across all test categories made it a strong contender, despite not being the absolute best in any single category.
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 retains this market position but has also strengthened its winter grip. It performs at the top in terms of starting and braking on snow and shows good cornering ability. The ice grip is also at a high level, though slightly behind the very best. The tire is most impressive on asphalt rounds, especially in wet conditions. The steering sensitivity and stability in evasive maneuvers are the best in the group. The same goes for aquaplaning resistance and the stopping distance on wet roads. Goodyear is the best choice if you drive mostly on bare ground but still want good ice and snow grip.
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 good as the best..
Owner reviews, sizes and EU label data, comparisons and the Tire Reviews score. All Goodyear tires