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Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 Test Results

Tested 2015 to 2018 8 publications

Tested 15 times by independent publications, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 has taken 5 test wins with an average finish of 3rd.

  • 15Independent tests
  • 5Test wins
  • 9Podium finishes
  • 3rdAverage finish
  • 82%Field beaten on average
  • 8Publications
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1

15 tests, 2015 to 2018

0%50%100%2015201620172018Average 82%2015 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2015): P1 of 8, Beat 100% of the field2015 ACE 17 Inch Winter Tire Test (2015): P2 of 8, Beat 86% of the field2015 AMS UHP Winter Tire Test (2015): P1 of 10, Beat 100% of the field2016 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/45 R17 (2016): P4 of 13, Beat 75% of the field2016 AutoBild Winter UHP Tire Test (2016): P1 of 8, Beat 100% of the field2016 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2016): P4 of 8, Beat 57% of the field2016 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2016): P2 of 6, Beat 80% of the field2017 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2017): P4 of 8, Beat 57% of the field2017 ADAC SUV Winter Tire Test - 215/65 R16 (2017): P3 of 16, Beat 87% of the field2017 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (2017): P4 of 20, Beat 84% of the field2017 50 Winter Tire Shoot Out (2017): P3 of 50, Beat 95% of the field2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test (2017): P1 of 10, Beat 100% of the field2017 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2017): P1 of 10, Beat 89% of the field2018 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2018): P4 of 9, Beat 63% of the field2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tire Test (2018): P5 of 10, Beat 56% of the field
Share of the field beaten in each test, oldest to newest. Hover or tap a point for the test.
  • Test win
  • Second
  • Third
  • Average 82%
The latest test

2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tire Test P5 of 10

Weak: Dry Handling Winner: Vredestein Wintrac Pro

Record by discipline

Where the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 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 4 P5.3 of 13.3 66% -
Dry Handling 4 P9.3 of 13.3 31% -
Wet
Wet Braking 4 P3 of 13.3 85% 1
Wet Handling 4 P3.8 of 13.3 79% -
Straight Aqua 3 P5.3 of 14.3 70% -
Snow
Snow Braking 4 P5 of 13.3 68% -
Snow Handling 4 P4 of 13 74% -
Comfort
Noise 3 P7.3 of 14.3 48% -
Value
Wear 1 P18 of 20 11% -
Value 1 P19 of 20 5% -
Rolling Resistance 3 P7 of 14.3 57% -

Head-to-head record

Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.

Rival Shared tests Ahead Behind Level Finished ahead
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 13 shared: 8 ahead, 5 behind 13 8 5 - 62%
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 12 shared: 11 ahead, 1 behind 12 11 1 - 92%
Nokian WR D4 9 shared: 8 ahead, 1 behind 9 8 1 - 89%
Michelin Alpin 5 8 shared: 7 ahead, 1 behind 8 7 1 - 88%
Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S 7 shared: 7 ahead, 0 behind 7 7 0 - 100%
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 5 shared: 5 ahead, 0 behind 5 5 0 - 100%
Yokohama W drive V905 5 shared: 5 ahead, 0 behind 5 5 0 - 100%
Hankook Winter i cept evo2 5 shared: 5 ahead, 0 behind 5 5 0 - 100%
Hankook Winter i cept RS2 5 shared: 3 ahead, 2 behind 5 3 2 - 60%
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P 5 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind 5 2 2 1 50%
Continental WinterContact TS 860 5 shared: 0 ahead, 5 behind 5 0 5 - 0%
Uniroyal MS+ 77 4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind 4 4 0 - 100%
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Sava Eskimo HP2 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Fulda Kristall Control HP2 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Kumho WinterCraft WP71 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Kleber Krisalp HP3 3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind 3 2 1 - 67%
Continental WinterContact TS 850 3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind 3 2 1 - 67%
Firestone Winterhawk 3 3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind 3 2 1 - 67%

Against its own line

The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.

Tire Tests Wins Avg finish Field beaten
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 2 Predecessor 9 0 4th 56%
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 This tire 15 5 3rd 82%
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ Successor 20 4 3rd 80%

Performance Analysis

Drawn from 15 tests. Updated September 21, 2025.

Goodyear's UltraGrip Performance Gen-1 shows consistently high winter-test performance with an average position of 2.7 across 15 tests, including multiple overall wins (2015 AMS, 2015 Auto Express, 2016 AutoBild UHP, 2017 Auto Bild SUV) and frequent top-three finishes. Its hallmark is wet-road capability and balanced winter traction, repeatedly placing near the top in wet braking/handling and delivering stable snow performance.

Weaknesses are limited to dry performance and operating costs: dry braking/handling results trend mid-pack to weak in several large-UHP sizes, and pricing/wear/value scores are often uncompetitive. Despite these trade-offs, the tire's broad winter capability and strong award profile make it a reliable premium choice for cold, mixed conditions.

Performance Strengths

Performance Weaknesses

  • Dry Performance Strong
    Details
    • 11th/11 dry handling (+6.3%) and 6th/11 dry braking (+12.6%) in 2018 AutoBild UHP (245/45 R18)
    • 13th/21 dry handling (+3.9%) and 8th/21 dry braking (+18.5%) in 2017 Auto Bild (225/50 R17)
    • Mid-pack dry in 2017 Sport Auto (6th/10 dry handling; 3rd/10 dry braking)
  • Operating Costs (Price/Wear/Value/Rolling Resistance) Moderate
    Details
    • High price: 8th/10 (+130.8% from best) in 2017 Auto Bild SUV
    • Poor value and wear: 19th/20 value (+119.7%) and 18th/20 wear (−33.3% vs best) in 2017 Auto Bild (225/50 R17)
    • Rolling resistance mid-pack to weak: 11th/21 (+13.4%) in 2017 Auto Bild; 6th/11 (+11.1%) in 2017 Auto Bild SUV
  • Noise/Comfort Minor
    Details
    • Noise 8th/11 (+2.7%) in 2018 AutoBild UHP
    • Noise 6th/11 (+2.1%) in 2017 Auto Bild SUV
    • Noise 8th/21 (+2.1%) in 2017 Auto Bild (225/50 R17)
  • Dry handling Moderate in 2 of 11 tests
    Details
  • Road noise Moderate in 2 of 11 tests
    Details

Do owners agree with the tests?

Every tester write-up on the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 (11 tests) and 25 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.

Where owners and testers agree

  • Wet grip strength in 4 of 11 tests 9 praise, 1 criticise of 25 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Snow traction strength in 4 of 11 tests 9 praise, 0 criticise of 25 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Ride comfort strength in 1 of 11 tests 6 praise, 1 criticise of 25 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Ice grip strength in 1 of 11 tests 3 praise, 0 criticise of 25 reviews · Read those reviews

Where they disagree

  • Tread life weakness in 1 of 11 tests 4 praise, 1 criticise of 25 reviews · Read those reviews

Raised by owners, not by any test of this tire

  • Warm-weather behavior no test mentions it 0 praise, 3 criticise of 25 reviews · Read those reviews

Flagged by testers, not mentioned by owners

  • Aquaplaning resistance strength in 3 of 11 tests no owner mentions it

Every test, newest first 15

Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.

2018 2 tests
2017 6 tests
P1 of 10 Beat 100% of the field

2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test

Auto Bild Allrad 225/55 R17

Test winner

StrongWet BrakingWet HandlingStraight AquaSnow BrakingSnow Handling

P4 of 8 Beat 57% of the field

2017 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

Auto Express 225/45 R17

A previous test winner, the Goodyear Ultragrip Performance Gen-1 has to now settle for fourth place overall. A good overall performance, particularly strong in the snow and dry, but let down a little by its wet performance.

WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 860

2016 4 tests
P4 of 8 Beat 57% of the field

2016 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

Auto Express 205/55 R16

Like the top three tires, the Goodyear proved to be an extremely balanced winter tire, only narrowly being beaten by the new patterns for 2016. Second in both the snow and wet braking tests, it struggled a little on the wet circle test, and finished last in the dry handling test, albeit only 1.9% behind the winning Continental. Unlike the Nokian and Pirelli, the Goodyear had an excellent rolling resistance score, placing third.

WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 860

2015 3 tests

Back to the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 overview

Owner reviews, sizes and EU label data, comparisons and the Tire Reviews score. All Goodyear tires

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