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Head-to-head Updated

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 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 32 + 6 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 and UltraGrip 9+ are level at 76.

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Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
Tire AGoodyear

Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1

Winter

± 8

Tests 72 · 4 tests Owners 81 · 32 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test (wet braking)

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. 74

    Dry

    Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 +7
    67
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance Gen-1UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 4 tests6960
    Reviews found online8079

    Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1: 60% × 69.5 + 40% × 80.4 = 74

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

  2. 83

    Wet

    UltraGrip 9+ +2
    85
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance Gen-1UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 5 tests8286
    Reviews found online8683

    Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1: 60% × 81.9 + 40% × 85.7 = 83

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

  3. 77

    Snow

    UltraGrip 9+ +3
    80
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance Gen-1UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 5 tests7685
    Reviews found online7874

    Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1: 60% × 76.1 + 40% × 77.5 = 77

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 84.7 + 40% × 73.8 = 80

  4. 77

    Comfort

    Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 +2
    75
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance Gen-1UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 71 (est.)76
    Reviews found online8074

    Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1: 40% × 71 (est.) + 60% × 80.3 = 77

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

    No road tests of comfort for Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1. 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
    SourceUltra Grip Performance Gen-1UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 3 tests6871
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1: 60% × 67.7 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 67

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

    No owner ratings of noise for Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 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. 71

    Treadwear

    UltraGrip 9+ +5
    76
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance Gen-1UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 2 tests6372
    Reviews found online8282

    Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1: 60% × 63.4 + 40% × 81.7 = 71

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

  7. 83

    Handling (owners)

    Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 +9
    74
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance Gen-1UltraGrip 9+
    Reviews found online8374
  8. 72

    Efficiency

    UltraGrip 9+ +6
    78
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance Gen-1UltraGrip 9+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 4 tests7278
Scores at a glance
CategoryGoodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Relative Score 76 76
Dry 74 67
Wet 83 85
Snow 77 80
Comfort 77 75
Noise 67 69
Treadwear 71 76
Handling (owners) 83 74
Efficiency 72 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

Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1

± 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.

DisciplineCategoryUltra Grip Performance Gen-1UltraGrip 9+ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test 92% #13/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #10/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test 98% #9/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 97% #4/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test 98% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 95% #3/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test 95% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 98% #3/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test 99% #3/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 95% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 99% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test 97% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 97% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test 99% #5/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 67% #18/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 78% #6/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 96% #4/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test 96% #2/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 54% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test 77% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #18/20 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test #7/20 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 46% #19/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 79% #10/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #8/16 2019 Teknikens Värld Large Winter Tire Test R17 #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 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
All owner themes in the Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 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 · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available1719
Rim diameters16″ – 20″14″ – 16″
Tread depth9 - 11/32″—
SidewallRaised Black Lettering—
Max pressure50 psi—
Sizes in common22

Which one should you actually buy?

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

Too close to call: Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 and Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ are within 2 points overall. Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 is stronger on handling and dry. Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ is stronger on efficiency, treadwear and snow.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 scores 83 vs 74 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 scores 74 vs 67 on dry.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 78 vs 72 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 76 vs 71 on treadwear.

Tire A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Check price on Amazon

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Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 or UltraGrip 9+?

Which is better in the wet, Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 or UltraGrip 9+?

Neither, by our numbers: 83 vs 85 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 or UltraGrip 9+?

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1, 74 vs 67 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 or UltraGrip 9+?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 80 vs 77 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 or UltraGrip 9+?

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

Which is more comfortable, Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 or UltraGrip 9+?

Neither, by our numbers: 77 vs 75 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 or UltraGrip 9+?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 76 vs 71 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 or UltraGrip 9+?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 78 vs 72 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