Please don't buy these tires! I'm a mechanic and I lost count of how many cupped Ultragrip8's and Ultragrip8 Performance I've seen! I know the UG8 and UG8P are old tires, but if you find them new or used, stay away from them!

Top tire for snow!

So I bought my first set of Winter Tires back in November 2012 when I was taking my UK registered Fiat Grande Punto out to the French Alps to work a ski season. I wanted to buy a 'premium' set of Winter Tires as I was going to be driving in true alpine conditions.
In my first winter 2012/13 the French Alps got soooo much snow. These Tires performed exceptionally in heavy snow conditions. My car is a small car with a small light petrol engine so a decent car to drive in the Alps but these Tires gave it unbelievable grip during a very harsh winter. I was living in a village up a twisty steep road at an altitude of 1250m and I did not need to fit my snow chains once during that winter, In deep snow they were epic.
I don't know the exact mileage that I have covered on them as I also have a set of summer tires on alloy wheels and these winter tires on a spare set of steel rims that I swop out in the Summer/Winter and have not noted the exact mileage done on each set.
I have run them now for 4 x winters out in the Alps and the levels of grip are diminishing as they age and the tread wear expires.
I've been mega happy with them, I drive quite sensibly so have preserved the tires well and only really used them for driving in the village I lived in with the occasional trip on the Motorway to Geneva airport to collect friends.
It is now evident that the exceptional level of grip first offered when new is now not the same. (Hardly surprising as it was beyond belief how much grip they gave when new).
I could probably squeeze 1 x last winter out of them as they still do have a decent tread but they are 5 x years old so will probably invest in a new pair for next winter.

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Have only had these tires on for a couple of days so far but in the snow they perform Great sure grip thru slush snow water wet roads no problems so far impressed

Great tire with great overall experience. I was really impressed by wear and how progressive the ture was at the limit.

I had Dunlop winter sport 3D's on the older car 520D E60 model but decided to give these Goodyears a try on the newer car.
In a word these are "fantastic" tires in terms of grip, wet or dry, refinement, and road noise suspression which is so low to be a non issue.
Had Bridgestone run flat summer tires on the car, these were so noisy I changed the fronts to Dunlop Sport Max GT's, slight improvement, but not great.
Steering was heavyish, and the car seemed reluctant to turn into a bend.
For winter tires and non run flats, the Goodyears are a revelation.
If you really want to experience how refined these new fives are, fit a set of these. In comparison the noise, vibration, and harshness, of the run flats totally destroy the refinement of these cars.
To drive it now is an absolute pleasure, quite, smooth, and relaxed.
Great handling, much better steering response, the nose now tucks into a corner, and you don't have to resist the stronger self centering action the other tires caused.
Mine are the 225-55-17 101v extra load versions and they are sooooo good the run flats will never go back on the car again.
If you have a f10 beemer do yourself and your car a favour and buy a set of these, you will be amazed.
Not had any snow yet, so can't comment on this, but I suspect I won't be disapointed.

Surprisingly very noisy on wet. In dry noise level is as a summer tire. I had no problems on wet/dry snow. Tires behave as expected, nothing more or less. Braking distances are acceptable. Fuel economy is perfect.

Living in a place where no matter where you want to go, you have to go up a hill, winter can be a pain. Last night in my UltraGrip8s I sailed past struggling cars, including 4x4s, in my 2009 1.8 Vectra Estate, with ease. Comfortable, and the feel very safe. And they are longer wearing than I expected.

Very good tire. It is the third season i am using them.

Very good in dry but i was really impressed drivint them in wet conditions. They are even better than dry. They have good grip in snowy and ticy conditions and the wear is above average. I conclude this since they seem in very good condition and two days ago i had to drive under snowy conditions and most of it was a downhill route. Very good grip.

I will surely use them for 1 season and i believe might use for a total of 5 seasons. Great buy! Worth every euro they cost!

I have been using the UG8 for two winters now on my Doblo and they have completely sold me on winter tires. They are quiet in the dry have compliant side walls and ride more comfortably than my summer tires which are admittedly more focussed. I have driven in snow up to 6 inch's deep miles from anywhere in the North Pennines, N.Yorks, Scotland and deepest Essex and they have never let me down or got me stuck. Their hill climbing ability is amazing even on a 2wd. On snowy and icy hills I just set the throttle and hold it in position and let the traction control work out the rest. I realised just how good they were once I had overtaken the fourth stranded 4wd on summers that I saw stuck on hills. I even towed a stranded 4wd Mitsubishi up a snow covered hill last year near Alston. The driver was both grateful and embarrassed. Great tire and will buy this or the new UG9 at the end of this winter when these will be getting low.

I am very satisfied with GY UG8. Confort is excelent, you feel like you've changed suspension. Ride quality is excelent, very good feedback and handling, no noise when running on highway. Traction in snow might not be the best as V shaped profile is good for confort and wet as opposed to big blocks that are good for griping in snow. Though I drove in snow and they felt ok. Braking on snow and ice is unconclusive as all tires would slip a little. I think best winter tires for driving on dry and wet roads at lower temperatures. Very good tires for drinving on highways. Also seems they last very well. Maybe not the best tire for heavy snow and ice. Would buy them again and recommend them.

Tires were mostly driven in town and I can say only positive things.
Excellent wet, dry grip and wear.

What can I say, put these on all 4 corners last week and instant improvement, wet grip at 2c etc is fantastic, dry grip great, shorter braking distance than my summers, defo worth the investment for winter, not sure about snow yet not had any

Very very good grip. Wasn't expecting anything different from an expensive premium tire.

I bought these when the price was right so I'd be ready for winter.
I've driven in snow with new summer tires and later with some good quality all seasons on the front so have a little to compare to.
First thing, my cars manual advises upping the pressure by 0.2 bar when using winter tires, I have tried it and agree.. The result, better mpg than my summer tires and even tire wear upto now (I've been too lazy and busy to swap back).
To summarise my thoughts on winter driving with these tires..
Going down country roads, the motorway and uncleared city streets to help some friends get home one night.. And doing it fine :)
Or following a modern 4wd while it slides everywhere before overtaking up a hill..
They've been pretty good for setting off, but.. for cornering and particuly stopping quick enough to feel the g force.

In the summer, they're alright but aside from rain they're nothing more than decent - compared to summer tires.. a little soft.

They aren't noisy. The wear rate is pretty decent considering my habit of aggressive starts and the temperature