Tests 71 · 4 tests Owners 78 · 31 reviews
Best test result: #4 of 8 in 2016 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 vs Goodyear UltraGrip 8 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
UltraGrip 8 leads, 75–74 Narrow edge
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 – · none yet Owners 78 · 59 reviews
Best test result: #7 of 13 in 2012 European Tyre Test - 165/70 R14 (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
73
Dry
UltraGrip 8 +376Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 – Reviews found online 78 80 -
79
Wet
Level79Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 79 – Reviews found online 80 82 -
76
Snow
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 +373Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 – Reviews found online 76 75 -
74
Comfort
Level74Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 8 Reviews found online 78 78 -
67
Noise
No comparison–Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 67 – -
67
Treadwear
UltraGrip 8 +471Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 8 Professional tests (TWG score) 62 – Reviews found online 76 75 -
79
Handling
Level79Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 8 Reviews found online 79 79
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | Goodyear UltraGrip 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 75 |
| Dry | 73 | 76 |
| Wet | 79 | 79 |
| Snow | 76 | 73 |
| Comfort | 74 | 74 |
| Noise | 67 | – |
| Treadwear | 67 | 71 |
| Handling | 79 | 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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
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
74
/ 100
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
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 | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | UltraGrip 8 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/8 · 2016 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | 14% #7/13 · 2012 European Tyre Test - 165/70 R14 | +10.7 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather and slush performance
- Strong traction and braking capabilities in snow
- High durability and long tread life
Cons
- Increased road noise reported by some users at higher speeds
- Vague steering feedback and sidewall flex during spirited dry-road driving
- Occasional loss of grip in dry conditions or when temperatures exceed 7°C
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 · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | B · Goodyear UltraGrip 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | 9 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Raised Black Lettering | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
75
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip 8
Too close to call: Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 and Goodyear UltraGrip 8 are within 2 points overall. Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 is stronger on snow. Goodyear UltraGrip 8 is stronger on treadwear and dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 scores 71 vs 67 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 scores 76 vs 73 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 scores 76 vs 73 on dry.
Tire A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip 8
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.