Tests 79 · 13 tests Owners 65 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (ice handling)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental IceContact 3 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 13 + 11 road tests and 3 + 18 owner reviews. How we score
UltraGrip Performance+ is ahead, 79–72
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Tests 78 · 11 tests Owners 81 · 18 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
73
Dry
Level73Why this score
Source IceContact 3 UltraGrip Performance+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 8 tests 76 71 Reviews found online 68 76 IceContact 3: 60% × 76 + 40% × 67.9 = 73
UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 70.9 + 40% × 76.1 = 73
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73
Wet
UltraGrip Performance+ +1386Why this score
Source IceContact 3 UltraGrip Performance+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 11 tests 74 87 Reviews found online 70 85 IceContact 3: 60% × 74.4 + 40% × 69.9 = 73
UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 87.1 + 40% × 85.1 = 86
-
79
Snow
UltraGrip Performance+ +584Why this score
Source IceContact 3 UltraGrip Performance+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 11 tests 84 87 Reviews found online 71 80 IceContact 3: 60% × 84 + 40% × 71 = 79
UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 86.7 + 40% × 79.8 = 84
-
76
Comfort
UltraGrip Performance+ +278Why this score
Source IceContact 3 UltraGrip Performance+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests 98 72 Reviews found online 62 81 IceContact 3: 40% × 98.1 + 60% × 62.1 = 76
UltraGrip Performance+: 40% × 72.3 + 60% × 81.1 = 78
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70
Noise
IceContact 3 +1060Why this score
Source IceContact 3 UltraGrip Performance+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 8 tests 72 55 Reviews found online ≈ 67 (est.) ≈ 67 (est.) IceContact 3: 60% × 72.1 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 70
UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 55.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 60
No owner ratings of noise for IceContact 3 or UltraGrip Performance+. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
-
57
Treadwear
UltraGrip Performance+ +2077Why this score
Source IceContact 3 UltraGrip Performance+ Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests ≈ 61 (est.) 74 Reviews found online 51 81 IceContact 3: 60% × 60.9 (est.) + 40% × 51.1 = 57
UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 73.8 + 40% × 80.8 = 77
No road tests of treadwear for IceContact 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
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67
Handling (owners)
UltraGrip Performance+ +1683Why this score
Source IceContact 3 UltraGrip Performance+ Reviews found online 67 83 -
67
Efficiency
UltraGrip Performance+ +976Why this score
Source IceContact 3 UltraGrip Performance+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 8 tests 67 76
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental IceContact 3 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 79 |
| Dry | 73 | 73 |
| Wet | 73 | 86 |
| Snow | 79 | 84 |
| Comfort | 76 | 78 |
| Noise | 70 | 60 |
| Treadwear | 57 | 77 |
| Handling (owners) | 67 | 83 |
| Efficiency | 67 | 76 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
72
/ 100
IceContact 3
79
/ 100
UltraGrip Performance+
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
| Discipline | Category | IceContact 3 | UltraGrip Performance+ | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 97% #3/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 95% #11/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 100% #1/8 · The BEST Studded Tyres for 2025 | 80% #9/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 92% #5/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 91% #8/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% #2/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 84% #13/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #3/8 · The BEST Studded Tyres for 2025 | 99% #6/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 89% #10/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #4/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 70% #6/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 97% #7/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #2/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 98% #5/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #2/8 · The BEST Studded Tyres for 2025 | 98% #5/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling (tester's mark) | Snow | 90% #6/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 95% #4/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 97% #6/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 100% #1/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 90% #7/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 99% #2/8 · The BEST Studded Tyres for 2025 | 97% #10/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 100% #1/8 · The BEST Studded Tyres for 2025 | 98% #4/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 81% #6/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 79% #6/8 · 2022 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 72% #12/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #5/10 2025 UTAC Ivalo Studded Winter Tire Test R16 | #6/10 2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test R18 | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A IceContact 3
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance on packed snow and ice
- Predictable handling in severe winter conditions
- Strong performance on lake ice tracks
Cons
- Premature stud wear or loss reported after moderate mileage
- Potential for reduced stability in deeper snow (4-5 cm) depending on tire width
- Unpredictable handling characteristics when paired with certain electronic stability control systems
Tire B UltraGrip Performance+
Pros
- Exceptional wet grip and low risk of aquaplaning
- Outstanding traction and lateral grip on snow
- Comfortable ride quality with manageable noise levels
Cons
- Mixed feedback regarding noise, with some users reporting a noticeable roar or sizzling sound on fast curves
- Average performance on pure ice compared to specialized ice tires
- Faster rear-axle tread wear reported on high-powered rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicles
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental IceContact 3 | B · Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 88 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 22″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Continental IceContact 3
79
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ — better treadwear, handling and wet. Pick the Continental IceContact 3 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ scores 77 vs 57 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ scores 83 vs 67 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ scores 86 vs 73 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental IceContact 3 scores 70 vs 60 on noise.
Tire A · Continental IceContact 3
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
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IceContact 3 or UltraGrip Performance+?
Which is better in the wet, IceContact 3 or UltraGrip Performance+?
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+, 86 vs 73 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, IceContact 3 or UltraGrip Performance+?
Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 73 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is better in snow, IceContact 3 or UltraGrip Performance+?
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+, 84 vs 79 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, IceContact 3 or UltraGrip Performance+?
Continental IceContact 3, 70 vs 60 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, IceContact 3 or UltraGrip Performance+?
Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 78 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, IceContact 3 or UltraGrip Performance+?
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+, 77 vs 57 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, IceContact 3 or UltraGrip Performance+?
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+, 76 vs 67 on our efficiency score.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology