Tests 72 · 4 tests Owners 77 · 31 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 10 in 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 vs Goodyear UltraGrip 9 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Too close to call: Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 and UltraGrip 9 are level at 75.
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Tests 74 · 3 tests Owners 76 · 39 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (straight aqua)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
73
Dry
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 +271Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 9 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 70 Reviews found online 77 72 Dry Braking (% of best) 96% 95% Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 99% -
81
Wet
UltraGrip 9 +182Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 9 Professional tests (TWG score) 81 82 Reviews found online 81 81 Wet Braking (% of best) 96% 99% Wet Handling (% of best) 98% 99% -
76
Snow
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 +175Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 9 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 73 Reviews found online 76 77 Snow Braking (% of best) 94% 93% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 95% -
74
Comfort
Level74Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 9 Reviews found online 78 79 -
67
Noise
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 +265Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 9 Professional tests (TWG score) 68 65 -
68
Treadwear
UltraGrip 9 +472Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 9 Professional tests (TWG score) 63 72 Reviews found online 75 72 -
79
Handling
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 +277Why this score
Source Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 UltraGrip 9 Reviews found online 79 77
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | Goodyear UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 75 |
| Dry | 73 | 71 |
| Wet | 81 | 82 |
| Snow | 76 | 75 |
| Comfort | 74 | 74 |
| Noise | 67 | 65 |
| Treadwear | 68 | 72 |
| Handling | 79 | 77 |
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
75
/ 100
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
75
/ 100
UltraGrip 9
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 9 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 96% #3/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 95% #14/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #10/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | −0.9 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 90% #5/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 91% #6/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | −1.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #7/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | −1.0 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 54% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 71% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −17.7 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 46% #19/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 71% #11/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −25.2 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 67% #18/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 67% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −0.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 67% #4/9 · 2017 ADAC Winter Tire Test R16 | −16.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% #8/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 93% #7/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +0.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #4/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 95% #8/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +4.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #2/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | −3.8 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #18/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 96% #4/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | −2.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #3/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −0.8 | 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 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
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 17 | 1 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 15″ |
| Tread depth | 9 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Raised Black Lettering | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
75
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip 9
Too close to call: Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 and Goodyear UltraGrip 9 are within 2 points overall. Goodyear UltraGrip 9 is stronger on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 scores 72 vs 68 on treadwear.
Tire A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9
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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.