Tests 75 · 25 tests Owners 78 · 44 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ — 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 25 + 5 road tests and 44 + 6 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: Winter Sport 5 and UltraGrip 9+ are level at 76.
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Tests 75 · 5 tests Owners 79 · 6 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test (ice braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
Key facts
- In 4 tests that measured wet braking for both, Winter Sport 5 won 2 and UltraGrip 9+ won 2 (average 94% vs 92% of the best).
- In 4 tests that measured snow braking for both, Winter Sport 5 won 3 and UltraGrip 9+ won 1 (average 100% vs 99% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured dry braking for both, Winter Sport 5 won 1 and UltraGrip 9+ won 2 (average 94% vs 94% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, Winter Sport 5 won 0 and UltraGrip 9+ won 3 (average 90% vs 97% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured snow traction for both, Winter Sport 5 won 1 and UltraGrip 9+ won 2 (average 98% vs 98% of the best).
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69
Dry
Winter Sport 5 +168Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 19 / 4 tests 66 60 Reviews found online 73 79 Dry Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–2 94% 94% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 98% Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 70% 80% Winter Sport 5: 60% × 66.1 + 40% × 73.3 = 69
UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 60.1 + 40% × 79.3 = 68
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84
Wet
UltraGrip 9+ +185Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 5 tests 86 87 Reviews found online 81 83 Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 92% 97% Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–3 90% 97% Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 50% 50% Wet Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 2–2 94% 92% Wet Braking (concrete) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 92% 91% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 99% 98% Winter Sport 5: 60% × 86.5 + 40% × 81.1 = 84
UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 86.6 + 40% × 83.3 = 85
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83
Snow
Winter Sport 5 +380Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 5 tests 87 85 Reviews found online 78 74 Ice Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 95% 100% Snow Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 3–1 100% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 97% Snow Traction (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–2 98% 98% Snow Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 80% 90% Winter Sport 5: 60% × 86.7 + 40% × 78.3 = 83
UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 84.7 + 40% × 74.1 = 80
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76
Comfort
Level76Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests 75 77 Reviews found online 77 75 Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 90% 100% Winter Sport 5: 40% × 75.2 + 60% × 76.5 = 76
UltraGrip 9+: 40% × 76.8 + 60% × 74.7 = 76
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33
Noise
UltraGrip 9+ +3669Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 3 tests 11 71 Reviews found online ≈ 67 (est.) ≈ 67 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–2 97% 98% Winter Sport 5: 60% × 10.8 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 33
UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 70.7 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 69
No owner ratings of noise for Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9+. 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.
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78
Treadwear
Winter Sport 5 +375Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 2 tests 78 71 Reviews found online 79 81 Abrasion (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 74% 69% Wear (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 76% 79% Winter Sport 5: 60% × 77.9 + 40% × 79.3 = 78
UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 71.4 + 40% × 81.3 = 75
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77
Handling (owners)
Winter Sport 5 +374Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 9+ Reviews found online 77 74 -
79
Efficiency
Winter Sport 5 +178Why this score
Source Winter Sport 5 UltraGrip 9+ Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 4 tests 79 78 Fuel Consumption (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 97% 98% Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 92% 93%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 76 |
| Dry | 69 | 68 |
| Wet | 84 | 85 |
| Snow | 83 | 80 |
| Comfort | 76 | 76 |
| Noise | 33 | 69 |
| Treadwear | 78 | 75 |
| Handling (owners) | 77 | 74 |
| Efficiency | 79 | 78 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
76
/ 100
Winter Sport 5
76
/ 100
UltraGrip 9+
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.
In the overall rankings of 7 tests that ran both, Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead 3 times and Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ 4 times.
| Discipline | Category | Winter Sport 5 | UltraGrip 9+ | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 94% | 94% | 0.0 | 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% | 98% | +0.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 70% | 80% | −10.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 92% | 97% | −5.1 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 90% | 97% | −6.3 | 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 94% | 92% | +2.0 | 2–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Wet Braking (concrete) | Wet | 92% | 91% | +1.8 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% | 98% | +1.1 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 50% | 50% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 95% | 100% | −5.1 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% | 99% | +0.4 | 3–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% | 97% | +0.5 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Snow Handling (tester's mark) | Snow | 80% | 90% | −10.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 98% | 98% | −0.7 | 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 90% | 100% | −10.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Noise | Noise | 97% | 98% | −1.6 | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Abrasion | Treadwear | 74% | 69% | +5.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Wear | Treadwear | 76% | 79% | −3.1 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 97% | 98% | −1.7 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 92% | 93% | −0.9 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 72% | 80% | −7.9 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #16/20 | #7/20 | – | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Value | Cost | 60% | 79% | −19.2 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/16 | #3/16 | – | 3–4 in 7 shared tests Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16 |
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 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 Sport 5 | B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 46 | 19 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 21″ | 14″ – 16″ |
| Sizes in common | 5 | 5 |
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
76
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Too close to call: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 and Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ are within 2 points overall. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 is stronger on snow and treadwear. Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ is stronger on noise.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 69 vs 33 on noise.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 83 vs 80 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 78 vs 75 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
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Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9+?
Which is better in the wet, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9+?
Neither, by our numbers: 84 vs 85 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9+?
Neither, by our numbers: 69 vs 68 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is better in snow, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9+?
Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 83 vs 80 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9+?
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 69 vs 33 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9+?
Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 76 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9+?
Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 78 vs 75 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9+?
Neither, by our numbers: 79 vs 78 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.
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