Tests 82 · 1 test Owners 81 · 10 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 51 in 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! (wet braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop Winter Response 2 vs Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter Response 2 leads, 78–76 Narrow edge
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 75 · 5 tests Owners 77 · 6 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 16 in 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
75
Dry
Winter Response 2 +768Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) – 61 Reviews found online 79 78 -
85
Wet
Winter Response 2 +184Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) 87 86 Reviews found online 84 81 Wet Braking (% of best) 98% 95% -
80
Snow
Winter Response 2 +179Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) 78 83 Reviews found online 83 72 Snow Braking (% of best) 99% 98% -
76
Comfort
Level76Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) – 77 Reviews found online 82 76 -
–
Noise
No comparison64Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) – 63 -
71
Treadwear
UltraGrip 9+ +374Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) – 71 Reviews found online 75 79 -
82
Handling
Winter Response 2 +874Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 UltraGrip 9+ Reviews found online 82 74
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Winter Response 2 | Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 78 | 76 |
| Dry | 75 | 68 |
| Wet | 85 | 84 |
| Snow | 80 | 79 |
| Comfort | 76 | 76 |
| Noise | – | 64 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 74 |
| Handling | 82 | 74 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
78
/ 100
Winter Response 2
76
/ 100
UltraGrip 9+
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Winter Response 2 | UltraGrip 9+ | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 11% #9/15 · 2016 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 33% #3/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | −22.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #3/31 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 98% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +0.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 98% #3/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 95% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | +2.5 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Winter Response 2
Pros
- Outstanding grip and confidence in snow and ice
- Excellent wet weather performance and braking
- High level of cabin comfort and low noise levels
Cons
- Faster tread wear reported by some users
- Slightly noticeable tire roll in fast corners above 50 mph
Tire B UltraGrip 9+
Pros
- Excellent wet and cold weather grip
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise
- Strong value proposition compared to premium competitors
Cons
- Performance on deep snow and ice may lag slightly behind specialized winter-focused brands like Nokian
- Limited feedback on long-term tread wear due to low mileage in current reviews
- Increased noise levels specifically on concrete road surfaces
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Winter Response 2 | B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 15 | 19 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 16″ | 14″ – 16″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
78
/ 100
Dunlop Winter Response 2
76
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Winner: Dunlop Winter Response 2 — better handling and dry. Pick the Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 82 vs 74 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 75 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 74 vs 71 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop Winter Response 2
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.