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Head-to-head Updated

Firestone Winterhawk 3 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 4 + 5 road tests and 8 + 6 owner reviews. How we score

UltraGrip 9+ is ahead, 76–63

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Firestone Winterhawk 3
Tire AFirestone

Winterhawk 3

Winter

± 8

Tests 68 · 4 tests Owners 57 · 8 reviews

Best test result: #5 of 20 in 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (noise)

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Tire BGoodyear

UltraGrip 9+

Winter

± 6

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.

  1. 62

    Dry

    UltraGrip 9+ +5
    67
    Why this score
    SourceWinterhawk 3UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 4 tests6660
    Reviews found online5779

    Winterhawk 3: 60% × 66.1 + 40% × 56.7 = 62

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 59.8 + 40% × 78.8 = 67

  2. 62

    Wet

    UltraGrip 9+ +23
    85
    Why this score
    SourceWinterhawk 3UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 5 tests6486
    Reviews found online6083

    Winterhawk 3: 60% × 64 + 40% × 59.7 = 62

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 86.3 + 40% × 83.1 = 85

  3. 64

    Snow

    UltraGrip 9+ +16
    80
    Why this score
    SourceWinterhawk 3UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 5 tests7185
    Reviews found online5574

    Winterhawk 3: 60% × 70.7 + 40% × 54.6 = 64

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 84.7 + 40% × 73.7 = 80

  4. 60

    Comfort

    UltraGrip 9+ +15
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinterhawk 3UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 66 (est.)76
    Reviews found online5674

    Winterhawk 3: 40% × 66 (est.) + 60% × 55.7 = 60

    UltraGrip 9+: 40% × 75.7 + 60% × 74.1 = 75

    No road tests of comfort for Winterhawk 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 67

    Noise

    UltraGrip 9+ +2
    69
    Why this score
    SourceWinterhawk 3UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 3 tests6771
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Winterhawk 3: 60% × 66.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 67

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 70.5 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 69

    No owner ratings of noise for Winterhawk 3 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. 65

    Treadwear

    UltraGrip 9+ +11
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterhawk 3UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 2 tests7072
    Reviews found online5982

    Winterhawk 3: 60% × 69.6 + 40% × 59.2 = 65

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 71.5 + 40% × 81.6 = 76

  7. 56

    Handling (owners)

    UltraGrip 9+ +18
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterhawk 3UltraGrip 9+
    Reviews found online5674
  8. 62

    Efficiency

    UltraGrip 9+ +16
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinterhawk 3UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 4 tests6278
Scores at a glance
CategoryFirestone Winterhawk 3Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Relative Score 63 76
Dry 62 67
Wet 62 85
Snow 64 80
Comfort 60 75
Noise 67 69
Treadwear 65 76
Handling (owners) 56 74
Efficiency 62 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
± 8

Winterhawk 3

± 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.

DisciplineCategoryWinterhawk 3UltraGrip 9+ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 94% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 92% #13/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 98% #9/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 98% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 80% #32/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test 95% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 93% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 99% #3/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 94% #21/30 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview 100% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 97% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 96% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 99% #5/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 62% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 78% #6/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 80% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 96% #2/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 87% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 77% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #10/20 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test #7/20 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 80% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 79% #10/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #8/8 2020 Wybór Kierowców Winter Tire Test R16 #3/16 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Winterhawk 3

Pros

  • High levels of ride comfort and low noise
  • Good longevity and tread wear resistance
  • Affordable price point

Cons

  • Inconsistent or poor grip on snow and ice
  • Unreliable wet weather performance and braking
  • Pronounced understeering tendencies
All owner themes in the Winterhawk 3 review

Tire B UltraGrip 9+

Pros

  • Strong cold-weather and wet grip, with one owner describing wet grip at 0–10°C as feeling as sure-footed as in the dry
  • Capable snow and ice performance in the conditions reported, including hill climbs past stranded vehicles and handling of icy rural roads
  • Comfortable and quiet on the road, with some noise noted only on concrete surfaces; one reviewer found it quieter than a Nokian WRD4

Cons

  • Long-term durability is largely unproven, as reviewers had covered only about 1,000 to 8,000 km and several said it was too early to judge wear
  • Snow and ice performance was not tested extensively, since mild winters or limited exposure meant some owners could not comment on severe conditions
  • Snow traction was reported as not matching a Nokian WRD4 in one second-hand comparison
All owner themes in the UltraGrip 9+ review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Firestone Winterhawk 3 B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available3919
Rim diameters13″ – 18″14″ – 16″
Sizes in common1616

Which one should you actually buy?

Firestone Winterhawk 3

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ — better wet, handling and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 85 vs 62 on wet.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 74 vs 56 on handling.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 80 vs 64 on snow.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 78 vs 62 on efficiency.

Tire A · Firestone Winterhawk 3
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Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
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Winterhawk 3 or UltraGrip 9+?

Which is better in the wet, Winterhawk 3 or UltraGrip 9+?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 85 vs 62 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Winterhawk 3 or UltraGrip 9+?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 67 vs 62 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Winterhawk 3 or UltraGrip 9+?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 80 vs 64 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Winterhawk 3 or UltraGrip 9+?

Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 69 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Winterhawk 3 or UltraGrip 9+?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 75 vs 60 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Winterhawk 3 or UltraGrip 9+?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 76 vs 65 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Winterhawk 3 or UltraGrip 9+?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 78 vs 62 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