Tests – · none yet Owners 65 · 13 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 6 in 2012 Auto Bild Sports Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Goodyear Ultra Grip 8 Performance vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter Sottozero 3 is ahead, 72–66
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 66 · 10 tests Owners 78 · 66 reviews
Best test result: #10 of 10 in 2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
67
Dry
Winter Sottozero 3 +875Why this score
Source Ultra Grip 8 Performance Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 73 Reviews found online 66 79 -
72
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +981Why this score
Source Ultra Grip 8 Performance Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 80 Reviews found online 73 83 -
59
Snow
Winter Sottozero 3 +665Why this score
Source Ultra Grip 8 Performance Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 57 Reviews found online 51 76 -
69
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +473Why this score
Source Ultra Grip 8 Performance Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 72 Reviews found online 68 74 -
–
Noise
No comparison67Why this score
Source Ultra Grip 8 Performance Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 60 Reviews found online – 78 -
67
Treadwear
Ultra Grip 8 Performance +562Why this score
Source Ultra Grip 8 Performance Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 56 Reviews found online 69 71 -
65
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +1580Why this score
Source Ultra Grip 8 Performance Winter Sottozero 3 Reviews found online 65 80
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear Ultra Grip 8 Performance | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 66 | 72 |
| Dry | 67 | 75 |
| Wet | 72 | 81 |
| Snow | 59 | 65 |
| Comfort | 69 | 73 |
| Noise | – | 67 |
| Treadwear | 67 | 62 |
| Handling | 65 | 80 |
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
66
/ 100
Ultra Grip 8 Performance
72
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
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 | Ultra Grip 8 Performance | Winter Sottozero 3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/6 · 2012 Auto Bild Sports Winter Tyre Test | 18% #10/10 · 2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 | +81.8 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Ultra Grip 8 Performance
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
- Low road noise levels compared to competitors
- Strong dry road stability and handling
Cons
- Inconsistent snow and ice traction reported by some users
- Potential for grip degradation as the tire ages
- Reports of increased fuel consumption
Tire B Winter Sottozero 3
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to hydroplaning.
- Strong dry-road handling and steering precision for a winter tire.
- Excellent traction and stability in snow and slush.
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, particularly if driven in temperatures above 15°C or year-round.
- Susceptibility to sidewall damage and bubbling when encountering road hazards.
- Increased noise levels as the tire ages and tread depth decreases.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear Ultra Grip 8 Performance | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 14 | 98 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 18″ | 16″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | Raised Black Lettering | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
66
/ 100
Goodyear Ultra Grip 8 Performance
72
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Goodyear Ultra Grip 8 Performance if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 65 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 81 vs 72 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 75 vs 67 on dry.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 65 vs 59 on snow.
Tire A · Goodyear Ultra Grip 8 Performance
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
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.