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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 + 3 road tests and 47 + 40 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: Winter Sport 5 and UltraGrip 9 are level at 76.

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Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Tire ADunlop

Winter Sport 5

Winter

± 4

Tests 75 · 25 tests Owners 78 · 47 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)

Goodyear UltraGrip 9
Tire BGoodyear

UltraGrip 9

Winter

± 6

Tests 74 · 3 tests Owners 79 · 40 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (snow braking)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 69

    Dry

    UltraGrip 9 +3
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5UltraGrip 9
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 19 / 3 tests6670
    Reviews found online7475
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–096%95%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–099%99%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 65.7 + 40% × 73.7 = 69

    UltraGrip 9: 60% × 70.4 + 40% × 74.6 = 72

  2. 84

    Wet

    Level
    84
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5UltraGrip 9
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 3 tests8683
    Reviews found online8286
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–191%94%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–099%97%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–099%99%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 86.2 + 40% × 81.6 = 84

    UltraGrip 9: 60% × 83 + 40% × 85.7 = 84

  3. 83

    Snow

    Winter Sport 5 +8
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5UltraGrip 9
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 3 tests8773
    Reviews found online7879
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–196%100%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–198%100%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 86.8 + 40% × 77.8 = 83

    UltraGrip 9: 60% × 73.3 + 40% × 78.7 = 75

  4. 75

    Comfort

    UltraGrip 9 +3
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5UltraGrip 9
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests74≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online7682

    Winter Sport 5: 40% × 74.4 + 60% × 76 = 75

    UltraGrip 9: 40% × 71.3 (est.) + 60% × 81.7 = 78

    No road tests of comfort for UltraGrip 9. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 33

    Noise

    UltraGrip 9 +32
    65
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5UltraGrip 9
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 2 tests1064
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–098%96%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 10.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 33

    UltraGrip 9: 60% × 63.7 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 65

    No owner ratings of noise for Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 79

    Treadwear

    Winter Sport 5 +4
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5UltraGrip 9
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 1 tests7873
    Reviews found online8078
    Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–071%67%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 78.2 + 40% × 79.5 = 79

    UltraGrip 9: 60% × 72.6 + 40% × 77.5 = 75

  7. 76

    Handling (owners)

    UltraGrip 9 +5
    81
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5UltraGrip 9
    Reviews found online7681
  8. 79

    Efficiency

    Winter Sport 5 +4
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5UltraGrip 9
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 3 tests7975
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–185%91%
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop Winter Sport 5Goodyear UltraGrip 9
Relative Score 76 76
Dry 69 72
Wet 84 84
Snow 83 75
Comfort 75 78
Noise 33 65
Treadwear 79 75
Handling (owners) 76 81
Efficiency 79 75

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
± 4

Winter Sport 5

± 6

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 1 times and Goodyear UltraGrip 9 6 times.

DisciplineCategoryWinter Sport 5UltraGrip 9ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 96% 95% +1.5 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Dry Handling Dry 99% 99% +0.1 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 91% 94% −3.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Wet Braking Wet 99% 97% +2.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Wet Handling Wet 99% 99% +0.4 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Snow Braking Snow 96% 100% −3.9 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Snow Handling Snow 98% 100% −2.5 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Noise Noise 98% 96% +1.5 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Wear Treadwear 71% 67% +4.3 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 85% 91% −6.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 69% 71% −2.4 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #4/20 #2/20 – 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Value Cost 73% 71% +2.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15
Overall Ranking Overall #3/6 #2/6 – 1–6 in 7 shared tests Newest: 2019 L’Argus Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

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
All owner themes in the Winter Sport 5 review

Tire B UltraGrip 9

Pros

  • Exceptional snow and ice traction
  • High level of ride comfort and low road noise
  • Excellent wet and dry weather performance in cold temperatures

Cons

  • Reduced performance on dry, warm asphalt (above 12°C)
  • Soft sidewalls can lead to a less sporty or 'wallowy' handling feel
  • Reports of premature tread wear or chunking in specific heavy-use cases
All owner themes in the UltraGrip 9 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available461
Rim diameters15″ – 21″15″

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5

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, treadwear and efficiency. Goodyear UltraGrip 9 is stronger on noise, dry and comfort.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Goodyear UltraGrip 9 scores 65 vs 33 on noise.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 83 vs 75 on snow.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 79 vs 75 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 79 vs 75 on efficiency.

Tire A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9
Check price on Amazon

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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 84 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9, 72 vs 69 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 83 vs 75 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9, 65 vs 33 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9, 78 vs 75 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 79 vs 75 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Winter Sport 5 or UltraGrip 9?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 79 vs 75 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