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Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is a highly accomplished winter tire that combines confident real-world road manners with consistently strong independent test results. It stands out most in wet conditions, delivering secure braking, balanced handling and reassuring stability, while also providing dependable traction and dynamics in snow. Drivers also highlight its quiet, comfortable and predictable feel, making it an easy tire to live with through the winter months.

9.9
Tire Reviews Score Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews
High Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
86%
Wet Grip
86%
Road Feedback
86%
Handling
80%
Wear
88%
Comfort
86%
Buy again
96%
Snow Grip
95%
Ice Grip
77%
13 Reviews
87% Average
43,800 miles driven
27 Tests (avg: 3rd)
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

Winter Premium
BETA
9.9 / 10
Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews · High Confidence · Updated 23 Feb 2026

The Tire Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tire scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Comfort
88
0.32x / 25 tests
Wet
87.4
1.93x / 101 tests
Snow
82.9
1.5x / 78 tests
Dry
82.4
1.13x / 42 tests
Value
76.2
0.42x / 39 tests
Ice
61
1.2x / 6 tests

Cross-category scores are derived metrics that combine data from multiple test disciplines to evaluate real-world performance characteristics.

Handling
86.3
68 tests
Traction
84.8
21 tests
Braking
83
77 tests
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 28
Publications: 12
Period: 2023 - 2025
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 13
Avg Rating: 86.8%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 0.39
History Points: 10
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tire tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.9 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 12 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.75 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
combined_penalty_floor 0.2
Data Sources
TestPublicationDateSizePositionMetrics
2025 High Performance Winter Tire Test Sport Auto 2025 275/35 R19 3/7 13 metrics
2025 TUV Test of Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 vs Rivals TUV 2025 3/5 8 metrics
2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test Teknikens Varld 2025 235/45 R18 2/20 6 metrics
2025 AZ Performance Winter Tire Test Auto Zeitung 2025 245/45 R19 1/10 19 metrics
2025 Autobild SUV Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Sportscars 2025 235/50 R19 4/13 12 metrics
2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test Auto Bild 2025 225/40 R18 5/22 16 metrics
2025 Winter Tire Braking Test - 52 Sets! Auto Bild 2025 225/40 R18 3/52 2 metrics
2025 AMS Winter Tire Test Auto Motor Und Sport 2025 215/55 R17 2/10 16 metrics
2025 ADAC Winter Tire Test ADAC 2025 225/40 R18 1/31 12 metrics
2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tire Test Die Reifentester 2025 215/55 R17 2/8 12 metrics
2025 Auto Express Winter Tire Test Auto Express 2025 225/45 R17 2/8 11 metrics
2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Allrad 2024 245/45 R18 2/13 12 metrics
2024 Sport Auto All Season Tire Test Sport Auto 2024 215/40 R18 7/8 11 metrics
2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test Auto Express 2024 205/55 R16 2/7 0 metrics
2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Sportscars 2024 235/35 R19 2/11 12 metrics
2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test Auto Bild 2024 205/55 R16 2/23 15 metrics
2024 All Season and Winter Tire Test Auto Zeitung 2024 215/55 R17 2/10 13 metrics
2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire Test ADAC 2024 215/55 R17 1/16 10 metrics
The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 Teknikens Varld 2024 225/50 R17 4/17 0 metrics
The BEST Performance Winter Tires for 2024 / 2025 Tire Reviews 2024 235/35 R19 3/9 18 metrics
2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tire Test ADAC 2024 205/55 R16 2/12 12 metrics
2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test Auto Bild 2024 205/55 R16 9/55 2 metrics
2023 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test Sport Auto 2023 225/40 R18 2/9 14 metrics
2023 Sports Cars Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Sportscars 2023 225/40 R18 1/12 12 metrics
2023 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test Auto Bild 2023 225/45 R18 2/22 15 metrics
2023 Winter Tire Test 54 Set Braking Test Auto Bild 2023 225/45 R18 3/54 2 metrics
2023 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test Tire Reviews 2023 225/45 R18 4/13 14 metrics
2023 AMS SUV Winter Tire Test Auto Motor Und Sport 2023 255/45 R20 2/7 13 metrics

Videos

The BEST Winter Tires for 2024/25 - Michelin vs Goodyear vs Pirelli & More!

The BEST Winter Tires for 2024/25 - Michelin vs Goodyear vs Pirelli & More!

Best 11 Winter Tires for 2023/24 - Tested and Rated

Best 11 Winter Tires for 2023/24 - Tested and Rated

Awards
Highly Recommended
The BEST Performance Winter Tires for 2024 / 2025
2024 · 235/35 R19
27
Tests
3rd
Average
1st
Best
9th
Worst
Latest Tire Test Results
4th/13
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.
2025 AMS Winter Tire Test
215/55 R17 • 2025
2nd/10
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.
Size Fuel Wet Noise
14 inch
175/65R14 82 T D C 70
175/65R14 86 T XL C C 70
15 inch
185/65R15 88 T D B 71
185/65R15 92 T XL C B 71
195/65R15 91 H C B 70
195/65R15 91 T C B 70
195/65R15 95 T XL C B 70
16 inch
205/55R16 91 H C B 70
205/55R16 91 T C B 70
205/55R16 94 H XL C B 70
205/55R16 94 V XL C B 70
205/60R16 92 T C B 71
205/60R16 96 H XL C C 71
215/60R16 99 H XL C B 71
215/60R16 95 H C B 70
215/60R16 95 H C B 70
205/60R16 96 V XL C C 71
215/60R16 95 H C B 70
205/60R16 92 H C C 71
215/60R16 95 H C B 70
205/60R16 96 H XL C C 71
205/60R16 92 H C B 71
17 inch
205/50R17 93 H XL D C 72
205/50R17 93 V XL D C 72
215/45R17 91 V XL D B 71
215/55R17 98 V XL C C 71
225/45R17 91 H D B 71
225/45R17 94 H XL C B 71
225/45R17 94 V XL C B 71
225/50R17 94 H D B 71
225/50R17 98 H XL C C 71
225/50R17 98 V XL C C 71
215/55R17 94 H C B 70
215/55R17 94 H C B 70
215/55R17 98 H XL C C 70
225/50R17 98 H XL B C 71
215/55R17 94 H C B 70
215/55R17 98 H XL C C 70
215/55R17 94 H C B 70
225/50R17 98 H XL B C 71
18 inch
225/40R18 92 V XL D B 71
225/40R18 92 W XL D B 71
245/40R18 97 V XL C C 71
245/40R18 97 W XL C C 71
245/45R18 100 V XL C C 71
235/60R18 107 H XL C B 72
19 inch
235/35R19 91 W XL C B 72
20 inch
255/45R20 105 V XL B B 72
255/45R20 105 V XL C B 72
255/45R20 105 V XL C B 72
255/45R20 105 H XL B C 71
255/45R20 105 H XL B C 71
245/35R20 95 V XL D C 72
245/35R20 95 V XL D C 72
245/35R20 95 V XL E C 72
245/35R20 95 V XL E C 72
245/35R20 95 V XL D C 72
245/35R20 95 V XL D C 72
255/45R20 105 V XL B C 72
255/45R20 105 H XL B C 72
255/45R20 101 T C B 71
255/45R20 105 V XL B C 72
View All Sizes and EU Label Scores for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 >>

Questions and Answers for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

Ask a question
October 25, 2023

Will a Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 in a different size than the one you tested perform the same? I am looking at the 205/60 r16.

Generally yes, when a tire is good it should be good in all its sizes.
September 17, 2025

Hi, I am looking for a premium touring 17" winter tire for my BMW 320d (F31). I enjoy driving, like comfort biased on a longer dive and performance biased on normal everyday driving. I have shortlisted 3 of the best premium winter tires and couldn't decide which one to pick ! Could you please help me decide between Goodyear Ultragrip Performance 3, Michelin Alpin 7 (newer model) and Dunlop Winter Sport 5. Thankyou in advance

As there are currently no tests or reviews of the Alpin 7 it is hard to recommend it, so Goodyear would be my choice.
October 5, 2025

Hi, I am looking for a premium touring 17" winter tire for my Volkswagen Golf. The tire size is 205/55 R16. My everyday driving is mostly inside the city and rarely going outside and the driving is done almost on highway. I live in Romania, so mostly the winters are dry and wet, but sometimes we can get some snow, but in the last years this happened quite rarely and if so it didn't last very long. I am keen on choosing a tire that performs best in these conditions and if possible to be more comfortable. I can't decide between Goodyear Ultragrip Performance 3, Continental Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Michelin Alpin 5. Some tests recommend one some the other. I've also checked the tests from other independent source such as ADAC. I'm a bit confused. What would be your recommendation? Thank you in advance!

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is consistently an excellent tire so would be my choice.
November 23, 2025

Just received set of these tires. And question is why they have thread depth 6.5mm not 8mm like other winter tires. And these is no information nowhere about thread depth. And worst part thei are premium tires and will last maximum 1 seasson.

6.5mm seems low for that tire, it could be that it's an OE marked tire, check the sidewall or ask the supplier to confirm if it's intended for a specific vehicle.
February 3, 2026

I’m currently running Goodyear UGP Gen-1 (*) RFT on my BMW G20 in 225/50 R17. The steering feel and grip are great, but ride comfort is terrible. I previously tried Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 (non-RFT); it was very comfortable but felt light and vague on the steering. I definitely want to move away from RFTs, but I don’t want to lose that sense of steering connection. I assume the stiff steering feel comes from stiff sidewalls. Are UHP winter tires generally stiffer than Touring ones, or does it vary too much by brand? I also know that tires with the BMW (*) marking tend to feel firmer in the steering, so I’m planning to get the Hankook Ventus s1 evo3 (*) K127 for summer. I’m just not sure whether I should choose this tire for winter. BMW (*) marked Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 is not recommended.

You're in quite a common interesting conundrum that a lot of people struggle with, and there isn't any good test data out there to really tell you what your best option is. Your assumption is correct that a UHP winter tire will generally be stiffer than a touring one. The Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 and Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 are the best currently available, but I'm not sure either will be available in your size. Run flat certainly does add a bit of torsional stiffness, but a lot of it on winter tires comes from tread pattern, which is why OE winter tires generally have reduced tread depth or less siping. My gut feel says check out the Bridgestone winter offer in your size, even if it's run flat. Their run flat technology is very good in terms of comfort.
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Review Summary

Based on 12 user reviews

Drivers rate the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 very highly, praising its excellent grip and braking on dry and wet roads, strong traction in snow, and a quiet, comfortable, and predictable ride. Handling is often described as stable and confidence-inspiring, with several noting good highway manners. A minority mention weaker performance on pure ice and a softer, less sporty steering feel at the limit. Overall sentiment is strongly positive with only a few caveats.

Strengths
  • Strong dry grip and braking
  • Excellent wet grip and braking
  • Very good snow traction
  • Quiet and comfortable ride
  • Predictable
  • Stable handling
Areas for Improvement
  • Limited grip on pure ice compared to some rivals
  • Softer steering feel and less sporty lateral grip at high speeds

Top 3 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 Reviews

Given 89% while driving a Ford Mustang gt (285/40 R19) on mostly motorways for 100 average miles
I used 255/40R19 front and 285/40R19 rear, both on 9" rim width. They perform well and handle aquaplaning really good.
July 31, 2025
Given 100% while driving a BMW 320 d (205/60 R16) on a combination of roads for 10,000 average miles
Just wanted to share my thoughts about this nice tire. Drove it for around 15.000km, and Im really satisfied because my car is RWD and I live in hills. We’ve had a lot of snow and in not cleaned roads I’ve managed to drive with disabling traction and little bit of “drifting”. Noise level and comfort are really good and driving on AutoBahn is really nice. I do not regret buying it and I would do it again because i’ve seen many FWD vehicles that couldn’t drive where I drove.
February 4, 2025
Given 78% while driving a Kia Motors Pro ceed (225/40 R18) on mostly country roads for 6,000 spirited miles
Generally good tires. They feel sporty and truly shine in dry conditions. They keep progressive composure at the limit and have a fun tendency to oversteer slightly rather than understeer (although this was quite new and surprising to me in comparision with my past winter tire experiences). It's a thrill to drive these at the limit when conditions are decent. Launch traction was also good which is important to me - it's often hard to put 204HP down in my fwd car from a stopped start. There were merely a couple days of snow so far but the tires were rather good in piercing through it (better than my previous tires).

They have a rather considerable drawback though. That is ice grip. For me these feel unsafe and miserable on ice compared to my previous Hankook Winter i*cept evo'3's. It's similar but less noticeable when it comes to slushy conditions and deep water grooves. I wouldn't recommend these to a novice driver, based on my experience the Hankooks were safer and more predictable (also much less fun though). Personally I've found noise to be unpleasant and tiresome while driving on motorways with very high speeds - in my experience the Hankooks were more pleasant but it is largely subjective.
March 7, 2025

How would you rate the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3?

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Latest Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 Reviews

Initial Impressions Review
Given 88% while driving a Mazda Mazda 3 BP 2.0 (205/60 R16) on a combination of roads for 2,000 spirited miles
Good points:

As far as grip on dry asphalt is concerned, this tire behaves quite well. The driving feeling is good. When driving more sharply in corners, it tends to twist, but nothing dramatic. The final impression is that they hold very well in curves. Braking on dry surfaces is also excellent.

Handling on wet asphalt is outstanding. Braking is excellent. The cornering behavior during sharper driving is excellent, it gives the impression of a reliable tire. The combination of low temperatures and wet asphalt leaves an even better impression...

A few days ago I also had snowy conditions, with a lot of deep snow and slush, the tire behaves predictably and reliably and I could say with excellent grip when moving through the snow continuously.

On good road surfaces they are really quiet.

Cons:

At speeds higher than 120 km/h, vibrations are felt in the car, but it is not terrible.

When driving more sharply in curves, they tend to twist, but they hold excellently in both dry and wet conditions.

Aquaplaning is quite pronounced above 70 km/h. If I remember correctly, with the old Falken Eurowinter HS01 in a similar dimension, that was the feeling at higher speeds.

Comfort and subjective driving feeling could be a little better.

The rolling resistance is a little higher, but it's still a winter tire, so it's not a drawback.

I cannot evaluate the behavior on ice, since I have not tested it under those conditions.

Conclusion:
Absolute recommendation for this tire. It behaves well in almost all conditions (no ice), predictably and reliably.
I just hope that it will be able to cover a lot of kilometers without reducing its performance.
January 6, 2026
Given 93% while driving a Opel Combo Life (205/60 R16) on a combination of roads for 200 average miles
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 tire is absolutely top-notch
October 16, 2025
Given 100% while driving a Mercedes Benz C200 w205 (225/50 R17) on a combination of roads for 10,000 average miles
Top grip on dry, wet, snow, top comfort and quiet tires.
Cannot find any flaws...
October 18, 2024
Given 81% while driving a Volvo XC60 T6 AWD (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 4,000 average miles
Was a new model on the market at the time of purchase, so I wasn't sure, as there were little to no reviews.

Overall I'm impressed by this tire, was worried about ice/cold temp but didn't have any issues.
I live in Ukraine, so winter can be cold/icy/snowy as well as temp can get up to +10 Celsius after a few days.
I didn't experience any issues be it -20 or +15, tire stands up to any challenge.

Where it could give up a bit is an ice road uphill, but that's 1% of my driving, so not important at all.

I'd highly recommend this tire to anyone who wants a great grip but doesn't want to sacrifice the performance and handling.
My score is 9/10.
March 27, 2024
Given 91% while driving a BMW 320i (225/50 R17) on a combination of roads for 1,000 spirited miles
Very good tire for winter. I had them on different roads, motorway, city and countryside and I like them a lot. I had also in the past Michelin and Continental but from couple of years I stay with Goodyear because I consider the best mix for price, performance and comfort. Michelin is also very good tire but much more expensive, Continental is also good but noisier and not with a good comfort. For me Goodyear do best from each category.
On dry road are soft and quite. When it's wet you can brake easily in many conditions of speed and cornering. I catched a few days with snow, 5-10 cm and had a good grip, no worries even if my car has only rear well drive.
I will buy them again for sure.
January 15, 2024
Given 96% while driving a Mercedes Benz (225/50 R17) on a combination of roads for 500 average miles
Initial impressions, great tire, drove only on dry and wet roads. Great comfort, silent and the car feels very stable. I'm sure they do great in snow also... now let s see how they hold on with wear. Will come back with mid review.
December 22, 2023
Given 80% while driving a SEAT Leon 5F1 1.4 TSI (205/55 R16) on a combination of roads for 2,000 spirited miles
I bought this tire as a replacement for a Semperit Speed Grip 3 and can so far only say positive things about it.
In live in Austria, so we have a good chance of snowy conditions and in fact that what happened right now. In snow and sow muddy conditions this tire is really excellent and I have all levels of grip I expect. It is also very nice to drive and - very important - predictable. This is also the biggest difference to the Semperit, which often left me uncomfortable in the snow as the car would slide and loose grip randomly. So the Goodyear is really great in those circumstances.
In the wet and dry I experience it more close to the Semperit, which is also not a bad thing as it was a good tire in those conditions. I was only hoping for it to be a little more sporty.
Can't tell about wear so far.
Comfort levels are OK ... again in the range of the Semperit.
So in a nutshell it feels like the Semperit with much better levels of grip in the snow and slightly better grip in the wet. I was still hoping for a little more separation between the two given the Semperit is considerably cheaper and 5 years older, but the Goodyear is definitely an upgrade and I consider it a.good buy.
December 5, 2023
Given 100% while driving a Audi A6 3.0 TDI Quattro (245/45 R18) on a combination of roads for 2,000 average miles
So far, amazing tire. One of the best ever made. It grips and it handles so much better than the eagle f1 asymmetric6, the previously fitted on this car, and the wintercontact ts 850 p on another. And the comfort, its like the car is floating. Not cheap though.
December 4, 2023
Given 86% while driving a (225/40 R18) on mostly country roads for 0 spirited miles
Nice tire for initial review. Comparing them to fulda kristall Control HP2 at first GY is much more comfortable and quiet. Drove on bridgestone turanza t005 to change to GY, must say you feel the difference when you switch to winter tire (16 C outside). Winter tire on this conditions is much more softer and has less feedback on steering. I was driving quite fast and can say lateral grip is not for fast driving i will need to do review again when true winter is at the doors. But for now i highly recommend it for initial review. Comfort and noise level is top notch.
November 14, 2023
Rate the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3