Tests 74 · 25 tests Owners 75 · 44 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 6 in 2019 L’Argus Winter Tire Test R16 (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Goodyear UltraGrip 8 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter Sport 5 leads, 76–75 Narrow edge
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Tests – · none yet Owners 78 · 59 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 14 in 2011 Auto Zeitung Winter 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.
-
68
Dry
UltraGrip 8 +674Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 66 – Reviews found online 71 78 -
82
Wet
Winter Sport 5 +280Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 85 – Reviews found online 78 84 -
82
Snow
Winter Sport 5 +973Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 86 – Reviews found online 77 75 -
75
Comfort
Winter Sport 5 +174Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 75 – Reviews found online 74 78 -
34
Noise
No comparison–Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 12 – -
75
Treadwear
Winter Sport 5 +471Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 – Reviews found online 74 74 -
74
Handling
UltraGrip 8 +579Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 8 Reviews found online 74 79
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | Goodyear UltraGrip 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 75 |
| Dry | 68 | 74 |
| Wet | 82 | 80 |
| Snow | 82 | 73 |
| Comfort | 75 | 74 |
| Noise | 34 | – |
| Treadwear | 75 | 71 |
| Handling | 74 | 79 |
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
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Important
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Important
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Less important
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Less important
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
76
/ 100
Winter Sport 5
75
/ 100
UltraGrip 8
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 Sport 5 | UltraGrip 8 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 60% #3/6 · 2019 L’Argus Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #1/14 · 2011 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | −40.0 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Winter Sport 5
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance in snow, slush, and heavy winter conditions
- Strong wet weather handling and reliable water clearance to prevent hydroplaning
- Impressive tread wear and long-term durability across multiple seasons
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can lead to a mushy or floating steering response and unstable cornering when temperatures rise above 5-10°C
- Reduced dry handling precision and longer braking distances in warmer ambient conditions
- Inadequate or missing effective rim protection despite manufacturer claims
Tire B UltraGrip 8
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in wet, slushy, and snowy conditions
- High level of ride comfort and refinement
- Low road noise compared to many winter tire competitors
Cons
- Reports of excessive road noise for some specific vehicle applications
- Tread wear can be faster than average under heavy usage or high-speed driving
- Occasional reports of 'snappy' handling characteristics when pushed to the absolute limit
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | B · Goodyear UltraGrip 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 46 | 14 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 21″ | 13″ – 16″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
75
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip 8
Too close to call: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 and Goodyear UltraGrip 8 are within 2 points overall. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 is stronger on snow and treadwear. Goodyear UltraGrip 8 is stronger on dry and handling.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 82 vs 73 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 scores 74 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 scores 79 vs 74 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 75 vs 71 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip 8
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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.