Menu

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1

SUV drivers have an extra reason to feel safer: Goodyear's UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen-1 winter tire delivers shorter braking distances on dry, wet and icy roads.

Continuously improving its top-notch winter tire technologies, Goodyear launches a new tire aimed at SUVs: the UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen-1. The youngest member of the UltraGrip winter tire family is available from May 2016.

SUV drivers often feel safer in their bigger vehicle, particularly when equipped with four-wheel drive, hence tending to think they don't need winter tires. It is however even more important for these vehicles to be equipped with appropriate tires in winter conditions.

The quick answer

Owners say 92% from 3 owner reviews Read the reviews
Tests say 3rd average finish across 5 independent tests · 2 wins Latest: P6 of 10 · 2021 See every test
Strengths & weaknesses Wet, Dry Value, Comfort Relative to its rivals across every test we hold

Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated January 2025.

  • 3owner reviews
  • 31,500miles driven
  • 5professional tests
  • 63sizes available

Tire Reviews Score

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1

8.5/10

Better than 85% of winter tires

  • Medium Confidence
  • 2 tests
  • 3 owner reviews
Scores of the 278 winter tires we have tested

How this score is built

Source Better than Weight
Independent tests2 tests · 2 publications · 2018-2021 85% 100%
Owner reviewsFewer than 5 reviews, so they do not count yet – 0%
Combined 85% 8.5

A fixed curve turns the combined figure into the 0 to 10 score, so roughly the top 10% of a group score 9 or more.

Held at 8.5: a tire needs 3 independent tests to score higher.

Category by category

How it compares with other winter tires in each area, and how much each area counts. 50 is the middle of the group.

Category Better than Weight Tests
WetBraking, handling and aquaplaning in the wet 91% 30% 2
SnowBraking, traction and handling on snow 47% 23% 2
IceBraking, traction and handling on ice Not tested, counted as average 18% –
DryBraking and handling on dry roads 72% 17% 2
ValueWear, efficiency and cost 45% 6% 2
ComfortNoise and ride comfort 27% 5% 2

Faded bars rest on one or two tests.

By discipline

The same results grouped by what the tire was doing. They are not counted a second time.

HandlingEvery handling test, on any surface 89% 2
BrakingEvery braking test, on any surface 87% 2
TractionEvery traction test, on any surface 49% 1

Confidence

  1. Limited
  2. Medium
  3. High

Its own test results decide 85% of the test figure. The other 15% is the average for its group, and it shrinks as more tests arrive.

High needs at least 3 tests, with its own results deciding 90% or more. Medium needs 2 tests and 70%. Anything less is Limited: expect the number to move as tests arrive.

The tests behind it

Only measured results count. A test that published its placings alone is listed, but not scored.

  1. 2021 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tire Test Auto Zeitung · 235/55 R18 P6 / 10
  2. 2018 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tire Test Auto Bild Allrad · 235/60 R18 P1 / 10
  3. 2017 2017 235/55 R17 SUV Winter Tire Test ACE · 235/55 R17 P2 / 8 Placing only
  4. 2016 2016 AMS Winter SUV Tire Test Auto Motor Und Sport · 215/60 R17 P3 / 10 Placing only
  5. 2016 2016 AutoBild 4x4 Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Allrad · 255/55 R18 P1 / 8 Placing only

Tested 5 times by independent publications, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 has taken 2 test wins with an average finish of 3rd.

5 Tests
2 Test Wins
3rd Average
1st Best
6th Worst
Finishing position in each test1stLast20162021

Finishing position in each test

The latest test

2021 AZ SUV Winter Tire Test P6 of 10

The Goodyear was only middle in all three conditions however as it is a rounded performance it's still worth recommending.

Strong: Wet Circle Weak: Snow Braking Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

Every independent test of the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1, newest first
YearTestResultAward
20212021 AZ SUV Winter Tire TestAuto Zeitung · 235/55 R18P6 / 10
20182018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tire TestAuto Bild Allrad · 235/60 R18P1 / 10
20172017 235/55 R17 SUV Winter Tire TestACE · 235/55 R17P2 / 8
20162016 AMS Winter SUV Tire TestAuto Motor Und Sport · 215/60 R17P3 / 10
20162016 AutoBild 4x4 Winter Tire TestAuto Bild Allrad · 255/55 R18P1 / 8

On the full record: Record by disciplineHead-to-head recordEvery published verdict

Dimensions & Label Scores
View All

Size Range36 sizes available

215-285Width35-70Profile16-22Rim99-116 H-VLoad/Speed Index2021First On Market

EU LabelAcross 36 sizes - the grade depends on the size you buy.

Noise

70-74dB B

3PMSF on every size

Frequently Asked Questions
How good is the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 in the wet?
Across the 2 wet-braking tests it has featured in, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 stops 0.4% shorter than premium rivals, 2.4% shorter than mid-range rivals and 0.3% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews wet score of 91/100, and owners rate it 9.5/10 in the wet from 3 reviews.
How good is the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 in the dry?
Across the 2 dry-braking tests it has featured in, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 stops 0.6% shorter than premium rivals, 1.5% shorter than mid-range rivals and 10.2% longer than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews dry score of 72/100, and owners rate it 9/10 in the dry from 3 reviews.
How good is the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 in the snow?
Across the 2 snow-braking tests it has featured in, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 stops 0.5% longer than premium rivals, 0.3% shorter than mid-range rivals and 50.1% shorter than budget rivals. Across the 1 snow-traction test, it is 0.8% worse than premium rivals and 0.2% better than mid-range rivals. It has a Tire Reviews snow score of 47/100, and owners rate it 9.5/10 in the snow from 3 reviews.
How fuel efficient is the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1?
Across the 2 tests measuring rolling resistance, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1's rolling resistance is 1.8% higher than premium rivals, 0.7% lower than mid-range rivals and 0.7% higher than budget rivals.
What is the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1's EU tire label rating?
Across its range, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 most commonly carries EU label ratings of C for fuel efficiency, B for wet grip and 72 dB for noise.
More questions about the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 (1)
What sizes does the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 come in?
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 is available in 63 sizes, ranging from 215-285/35-70 R16-22.
Owner Questions
Ask a question

Questions and Answers for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1

Sorry, we don't currently have any questions and answers for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1. Why not submit a question to our tire experts using the form below!

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 Owner Reviews

Review this tire

What owners say

Across 3 owner ratings the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 averages 92%. Owners rate Wet Grip highest at 9.5 out of 10 and Ice Grip lowest at 8. 1 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles.

Owner ratings averaged from 3 ratings

  • Owner score 92%
  • Wet Grip 95%
  • Wear 95%
  • Comfort 95%
  • Snow Grip 95%
  • Dry Grip 90%
  • Road Feedback 90%
  • Handling 85%
  • Ice Grip 80%

All 3 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1 reviews

Score spread across 2 written reviews
91%
Member
Had these on for 2 winters, now on the third. I like going on various mild trails so I was looking for a tire that can handle some snow and mud. I am very pleased about the performance in these conditions. The 4x4 system on the car is not excellent but combined with these tires it handles snow and mud very well. There have been some situations where to climb a hill I needed some momentum, but keep in mind that I'm talking about a very bad road and a steep incline with a combination of snow and mud. I think the next step would only be with more aggressive offroad tires. In regards to ice, I haven't had the chance to test them too much, but with a bit of attention, they handled it very well. Lots of other cars were going for chains (which I didn't have) or struggled on this icy road that I could climb without much drama. Regarding the dry and wet performance, I don't have that much time to swap these when the first snow comes, so I have them on my car for about 4-6 months each year in temperatures ranging from +15C to -20C. On both dry and wet asphalt I can feel a bit less traction than on the summer tires (Continental PremiumContact 5), but only in spirited driving. I don't have any problems with aquaplaning and in regular use or for someone that doesn't know which tires are fitted you don't notice any difference from the summer ones. The car is about 1600kgs empty or somewhere around 1800kgs loaded and handling is more than adequate. In terms of wear, I think I have somewhere around 20-30k km on them and they are in good shape. I don't notice any dropoff in performance yet. I think they can go 30-50k km more, but can't say for sure right now. I didn't notice any excessive noise and they are precise even at highway speeds. Overall I find them as a very good option for offroad performance in mud and snow, while trading off very little performance on asphalt that for most people won't even be noticeable.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 9
  • Road Feedback 9
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 9
  • Buy again 10
  • Snow Grip 10
  • Ice Grip 8
Helpful 1,113
92%
Member
This are nice tires. Exceptional good grip on wet roads and very good on snow too. On Ice road is controllable not perfect but probably only studded tires are. They are bit noisier on dry pavement but not too much. the only complain is they are bit too soft when temperature is above 7C
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 9
  • Handling 9
  • Wear 9
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 10
  • Snow Grip 9
  • Ice Grip 8
Helpful 991
Member
  • Mazda cx5
  • 225/65 R17 H
  • 1,500 miles
  • Mostly Motorways
  • Average
I have these tires on my Mazda CX-5 SUV, 225/65R17 102H. This is not a full review as I didn't test these tires under every condition yet. Anyway, after 1500 miles a would like to report my opinion on their performance on wet conditions. One word: aquaplaning! On straight road they simply can't handle it. Aquaplaning begins as I approach 60 mph. As a comparison, on the same road and conditions with my 2001 Audi A3 with Nokian WR D4 205/65R15 I can safely travel at 75 mph with no signs of aquaplaning. Really disappointing.

Which tires do you drive?

Researching the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.

Own the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen 1?
Find your next tire
All tire tests
Rate your tires

My tires

Saved in this browser on this site. No account needed. Clearing browser data removes your choices.

Vehicle and size

Check the size, load and speed ratings on your vehicle. Saving a size does not confirm fitment.

Saved tires

Save tires from a tire page, test or comparison to keep them here.

Select 2–8 saved tires. Ranked comparisons require at least two shared tests.