Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 Test Results

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 shares fifth place with a 'good' verdict. It is a long-lasting, quiet and comfortable tire with good wet handling, but it does not lead any of the snow, wet or dry driving tests.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finished third and was rated exemplary. It is one of the strongest tires on snow and competitive in the wet, with its dry handling a step behind the Michelin and Bridgestone.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 missed the win by a tenth of a point and was the strongest tire on snow by some distance. Its wet-weather results are more mixed: good braking and a competitive lap, but the weakest resistance to aquaplaning in the test. For drivers who see a lot of snow it is the obvious choice; on wet roads the Pirelli and Nokian have more in hand.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finished fourth overall with a good verdict. It is a top-tier snow tire with excellent dry braking and low rolling resistance, held back from the leaders by its aquaplaning and wet braking.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is the winner of this test, and a deserved one. It dominated the snow, which is exactly what you want from a winter tire, and it did so without any major sacrifice elsewhere: it was a strong all-rounder in the wet and one of the quietest in the cabin, with only wet braking a little short of the best. The Continental ran it very close, so the weighting matters here, but if you want the best all-round winter touring tire in this size, especially if your winters include real snow, this is the one to buy.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finished third overall and won the snow chapter outright, ahead of the tire that took the overall victory. sport auto rated it very good and called it the clear all-round recommendation. If you genuinely see snow, this is the tire in this test that deals with it best, and the price you pay is a longer stop on wet tarmac.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finished third, rated very good and only just behind the two newer premium tires above it. It is a consistent all-rounder with no weak area on snow or in the wet and excellent tread life.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finished third of the six Central European tires. It is a well-balanced tire with the best snow ability and the lowest rolling resistance in its class, but like the rest of its class it is not suited to icy roads.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finished third overall. It is a safe, precise tire on dry and wet roads, and its long tread life and low wear gave it one of the best environmental scores in the test. Winter grip was the weaker area, keeping its safety rating just short of the top two.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finishes sixth. It is strong in the wet and on snow, but its dry handling in this size keeps it well below its usual form.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 took sixth with its priorities in the right places, being at its best in the snow and the deep water. Weak dry handling and mid-field wet braking are what separate it from the top five.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 delivers a driving-focused experience, performing particularly well on wet and dry asphalt. Despite somewhat weaker deceleration and lateral grip, testers found it offered safely understeering, easy-to-control handling on snow. The tire provides very good cornering grip and proves demanding yet dynamic to drive on both wet and dry surfaces. Some criticisms included slightly longer braking distances but easy handling on snow, very neutral yet rather load-change sensitive behavior in wet and dry corners, and limited self-damping. Overall, it represents a solid choice for drivers who prioritize asphalt performance while still needing winter capability.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 follows the same trend as the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2, delivering good snow grip but poor ice grip alongside genuinely good bare pavement performance. Both tires provide similar behavior with good grip levels on asphalt, though their respective levels differ - and their approach to building that grip also varies. Goodyear often excels on wet surfaces in tire tests, and this tire is no exception, delivering outstanding wet performance. The stability and precision make the test vehicle easy to handle even at higher speeds, with small reactions even during mild cornering. Aquaplaning resistance is excellent, matching the best in the test. However, when real winter grip is needed on ice, this tire falls short dramatically. Snow performance is reasonable for this category, and the comfort is good. It represents the classic Central European friction compromise perfectly executed - superb for motorway driving in wet conditions, adequate for snow, but genuinely inadequate when encountering ice.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 delivers a masterclass in balanced winter tire performance, earning the test victory with consistently excellent results across all conditions. On snow, it demonstrates short braking distances, strong traction, and exceptional lateral grip of 3.88 m/s², while its driving safety scores of 23/30 make it both sporty-responsive and stoically stable. The tire transitions seamlessly to wet conditions where it leads the field alongside Pirelli, offering very good grip reserves and superb handling characteristics that inspire confidence. In dry conditions, the Goodyear continues to impress with neutral, predictable behavior and strong stability, though comfort is rated slightly lower at 7/10. Its environmental credentials are strong as the second-best tire for sustainability factors including wear, longevity, rolling resistance and noise. The tire's ability to maintain composure and precision regardless of weather conditions makes it the most complete package in this test.

Praised as the "king of the snow," the GOODYEAR UltraGrip Performance 3 delivers particularly strong and reliable winter driving characteristics, excelling in tests for handling, traction, and side grip on snow-covered roads. This focus on winter capability does result in some compromises. While testers noted it was "richtig schnell" (really fast) during the wet handling circuit, it showed comparative weakness in other wet disciplines, specifically in its resistance to aquaplaning and its braking distances on wet surfaces.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 establishes itself as the rain specialist of the test, excelling particularly in wet conditions across all disciplines. It delivers the shortest wet braking distances and most confident wet handling, making it the safest choice for regions with frequent winter rainfall rather than consistent snow. The tire also achieves the joint-highest mileage projection in the test, promising excellent long-term value through extended wear life. However, this wet-weather optimization comes with a tradeoff in dry performance, where handling and braking aren't quite as sharp as the most performance-focused competitors. On snow, it provides solid if not exceptional performance. At around €580, it's positioned in the premium segment but justifies the cost through its outstanding wet weather safety and longevity, making it ideal for drivers in milder, wetter winter climates.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is the recommended choice for snow-rich regions, combining winter strength with excellent all-around capability. It demonstrates dynamic, neutral, and very confident cornering on both snow and wet asphalt, with very good aquaplaning protection. The tire is easily controllable in dry conditions with ample reserves and offers the best rolling comfort in the test. Testers praised its stable handling characteristics and excellent noise suppression. The only marginal deficits noted were slightly longer braking distances on snow and wet surfaces compared to the very best, but overall it delivers a remarkably balanced and confidence-inspiring winter driving experience with outstanding comfort levels.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 receives a good overall rating due to its combination of solid driving safety and environmental performance. In terms of driving safety, the tire provides good handling on dry roads with effective braking distances, though it could be slightly less prone to oversteering during evasive maneuvers. On wet roads, it achieves the best test score with the shortest braking distances, excellent aquaplaning resistance, and superior grip that makes the vehicle easy to control on wet handling courses. For winter conditions, the tire performs well across all criteria including snow traction, braking on snow and ice, and snow handling, offering good reserves and precise maneuverability. Regarding environmental impact, this German-manufactured tire earns high marks with very good ratings for predicted mileage and low tire wear, while also demonstrating low weight and fuel consumption, contributing to its good overall environmental score.

Goodyear’s Ultra Grip Performance 3 lives up to its name on snow; no other tire in the test accelerates, handles and brakes so well on snowy surfaces. This clear focus on winter traction means it is less impressive on wet and dry roads, where it only reaches the second tier. It is therefore the ideal choice for drivers who frequently encounter deep snow; this focus still earned it a strong second place overall.

Described as “consistently excellent” and “highly recommended”, this tire performs well in every test area. Reviewers highlight its secure feel in snow, wet and dry conditions, and note that it is enjoyable to drive.

Excellent.

The Goodyear secured second place in the winter tire test through consistent performance, taking multiple second-place finishes and never falling below third in any test. The tire recorded the best scores for both rolling resistance and cabin noise. On snow, it missed the fastest lap by just a tenth of a second and showed similar close results in braking and traction tests. Snow handling revealed good cornering grip and quick slide recovery. In the wet, the tire finished second in braking - just half a meter behind the leader - while taking second and third places in curved and straight aquaplaning tests respectively. The Goodyear matched this with second-best results in both dry braking and handling circuit times.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 proves to be a well-rounded winter tire, delivering excellent performance in all weather conditions. It offers safe driving characteristics and impressive mileage. Despite its higher price, it stands out as a reliable choice for those prioritizing safety and performance in winter conditions.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 offers strong braking, good comfort, and efficient rolling in dry conditions. It maintains stability in corners but can be a bit slow to respond to steering changes. In wet conditions, it demonstrates stability and a tendency to understeer, making it predictable but slightly less agile. On snow, it performs nearly on par with the Pirelli, providing slightly better traction and lateral grip. The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 secures a strong position with its excellent snow grip and an overall well-balanced performance without any significant weaknesses.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 delivers strong performance on dry, wet, and snowy roads, achieving a good overall result in driving safety. It offers precise steering, short braking distances, and reliable grip, particularly in wet and snowy conditions. It also performs above average on ice. Furthermore, the tire boasts excellent environmental credentials: long lifespan, low abrasion, and a weight significantly lower than the average of the test field make it an environmentally friendly choice.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3, a Central European non-studded tire, showed strong performance in wet and dry conditions. It excelled in aquaplaning resistance and performed well in the moose test. However, like others in its category, it struggled on ice and snow. The tire offered good comfort and stability but had average rolling resistance. While it performed well overall, it couldn't match the top performers in its category.

Securing a solid third place, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 distinguished itself as the wet grip specialist. It offered the best braking performance in wet conditions at both tested temperatures and excelled in wet handling. The tire also demonstrated good dry performance and had low rolling resistance. Its main weakness was slightly reduced performance on ice compared to the top two contenders. The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is an excellent choice for regions with predominantly wet winter conditions.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 tire demonstrates varied capabilities across different road conditions. While it performs adequately on dry surfaces with good steering feel but some weaknesses in borderline situations, it excels on wet roads with above-average braking, aquaplaning resistance, and handling. In winter conditions, it shows strong handling performance and slightly above-average braking, but struggles on ice. The tire's environmental impact is positive, with good projected mileage, wear ratings, and fuel efficiency. Overall, the UltraGrip Performance 3 is most impressive on wet and general winter roads, with room for improvement on dry surfaces and icy conditions, making it a well-rounded option with particular strengths in challenging weather.

Very balanced tire; strong performance under all conditions.

Excellent/Test Winner.

The new Goodyear Ultragrip performance 3 followed the usual Goodyear DNA of minimal compromises, scoring well in every category other than, unusually for goodyear, rolling resistance, but the tire did have one of the best subjective noise and comfort levels on test.

Very versatile. The new Goodyear excels in all weather conditions."Very Good"