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Head-to-head Updated

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 — 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 2 + 3 road tests and 3 + 28 owner reviews. How we score

Pilot Alpin 4 is ahead, 79–74

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Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
Tire BMichelin

Pilot Alpin 4

Winter

± 7

Tests 71 · 3 tests Owners 89 · 28 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test (snow handling)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 74

    Dry

    Pilot Alpin 4 +3
    77
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1Pilot Alpin 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 3 tests7267
    Reviews found online7892

    Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1: 60% × 71.9 + 40% × 77.8 = 74

    Pilot Alpin 4: 60% × 67.2 + 40% × 91.5 = 77

  2. 78

    Wet

    Pilot Alpin 4 +6
    84
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1Pilot Alpin 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 3 tests7578
    Reviews found online8393

    Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1: 60% × 75 + 40% × 82.9 = 78

    Pilot Alpin 4: 60% × 78.2 + 40% × 93.3 = 84

  3. 73

    Snow

    Pilot Alpin 4 +3
    76
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1Pilot Alpin 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 3 tests7072
    Reviews found online7783

    Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1: 60% × 70.4 + 40% × 77.1 = 73

    Pilot Alpin 4: 60% × 72.3 + 40% × 82.7 = 76

  4. 74

    Comfort

    Pilot Alpin 4 +8
    82
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1Pilot Alpin 4
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 70 (est.)≈ 72 (est.)
    Reviews found online7788

    Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1: 40% × 70.3 (est.) + 60% × 77 = 74

    Pilot Alpin 4: 40% × 72.5 (est.) + 60% × 87.6 = 82

    No road tests of comfort for Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

    No road tests of comfort for Pilot Alpin 4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 66

    Noise

    Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 +5
    61
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1Pilot Alpin 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 2 tests6557
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1: 60% × 65.4 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 66

    Pilot Alpin 4: 60% × 56.7 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 61

    No owner ratings of noise for Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 or Pilot Alpin 4. 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. 73

    Treadwear

    Pilot Alpin 4 +7
    80
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1Pilot Alpin 4
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 75 (est.)
    Reviews found online7889

    Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1: 60% × 70.5 (est.) + 40% × 77.6 = 73

    Pilot Alpin 4: 60% × 74.6 (est.) + 40% × 89 = 80

    No road tests of treadwear for Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

    No road tests of treadwear for Pilot Alpin 4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 77

    Handling (owners)

    Pilot Alpin 4 +14
    91
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1Pilot Alpin 4
    Reviews found online7791
  8. 70

    Efficiency

    Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 +4
    66
    Why this score
    SourceUltra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1Pilot Alpin 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 2 tests7066
Scores at a glance
CategoryGoodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
Relative Score 74 79
Dry 74 77
Wet 78 84
Snow 73 76
Comfort 74 82
Noise 66 61
Treadwear 73 80
Handling (owners) 77 91
Efficiency 70 66

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
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Important
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Less important
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Less important
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Not important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1

± 7

Pilot Alpin 4

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 SUV Gen-1Pilot Alpin 4ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 97% #5/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 95% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #6/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 99% #3/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 92% #5/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 93% #8/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 92% #7/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 97% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 98% #5/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 97% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 94% #10/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 96% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 97% #5/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 96% #9/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 97% #3/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 94% #9/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 91% #5/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 86% #8/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 74% #7/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 54% #11/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #6/10 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test #6/11 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1

Pros

  • Strong traction and grip in deep snow and mud conditions
  • Reliable performance on wet roads
  • Predictable handling on icy surfaces

Cons

  • Susceptibility to aquaplaning at highway speeds
  • Noticeable road noise on dry pavement
  • Soft sidewall feel when ambient temperatures exceed 7°C
All owner themes in the Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 review

Tire B Pilot Alpin 4

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and handling in snow and ice
  • Sporty, responsive handling on dry and wet pavement
  • High level of comfort and low road noise for a winter tire

Cons

  • Higher price point compared to some competitors
  • Above-average noise level reported by a few users due to the aggressive tread pattern
  • Slight initial tread squirm when brand new before settling in
All owner themes in the Pilot Alpin 4 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available30—
Rim diameters16″ – 22″—
Tread depth10/32″—
SidewallRaised Black Lettering—
Max pressure50 psi—

Which one should you actually buy?

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4

Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 — better handling, comfort and treadwear. Pick the Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 if noise and efficiency matter most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 91 vs 77 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 82 vs 74 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 80 vs 73 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 84 vs 78 on wet.

Tire A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1
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Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
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Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 or Pilot Alpin 4?

Which is better in the wet, Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 or Pilot Alpin 4?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4, 84 vs 78 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 or Pilot Alpin 4?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4, 77 vs 74 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 or Pilot Alpin 4?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4, 76 vs 73 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 or Pilot Alpin 4?

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1, 66 vs 61 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 or Pilot Alpin 4?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4, 82 vs 74 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 or Pilot Alpin 4?

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4, 80 vs 73 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 or Pilot Alpin 4?

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1, 70 vs 66 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