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Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ vs Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — 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 5 + 27 road tests and 6 + 31 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 870 P is ahead, 81–76

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Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Tire AGoodyear

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)

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire BContinental

WinterContact TS 870 P

Winter

± 4

Tests 81 · 27 tests Owners 81 · 31 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)

Category by category

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

  1. 68

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 870 P +13
    81
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 22 tests6082
    Reviews found online7979
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–192%97%

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 60.1 + 40% × 79.3 = 68

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 82.4 + 40% × 79 = 81

  2. 85

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 870 P +5
    90
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 27 tests8793
    Reviews found online8386
    Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–097%90%
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–098%93%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–095%92%
    Wet Braking (concrete) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–191%92%

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 86.6 + 40% × 83.4 = 85

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 92.8 + 40% × 86.2 = 90

  3. 80

    Snow

    UltraGrip 9+ +2
    78
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 26 tests8579
    Reviews found online7476
    Ice Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%92%
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%96%
    Snow Traction (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–097%93%

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 84.7 + 40% × 74.1 = 80

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.7 + 40% × 76.2 = 78

  4. 76

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 870 P +6
    82
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests7784
    Reviews found online7581

    UltraGrip 9+: 40% × 76.8 + 60% × 74.7 = 76

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 40% × 83.9 + 60% × 81.1 = 82

  5. 69

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 870 P +5
    74
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 19 tests7178
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–199%99%

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 70.7 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 69

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 74

    No owner ratings of noise for UltraGrip 9+ or WinterContact TS 870 P. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 75

    Treadwear

    UltraGrip 9+ +1
    74
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 7 tests7171
    Reviews found online8180
    Abrasion (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–169%72%
    Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–078%74%

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 71.4 + 40% × 81.4 = 75

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 70.6 + 40% × 79.9 = 74

  7. 74

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 870 P +9
    83
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+WinterContact TS 870 P
    Reviews found online7483
  8. 78

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 870 P +8
    86
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 21 tests7886
    Fuel Consumption (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–098%97%
Scores at a glance
CategoryGoodyear UltraGrip 9+Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Relative Score 76 81
Dry 68 81
Wet 85 90
Snow 80 78
Comfort 76 82
Noise 69 74
Treadwear 75 74
Handling (owners) 74 83
Efficiency 78 86

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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Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

UltraGrip 9+

± 4

WinterContact TS 870 P

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.

In the overall rankings of 1 tests that ran both, Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ finished ahead 1 times and Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 0 times.

DisciplineCategoryUltraGrip 9+WinterContact TS 870 PΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 92% 97% −4.3 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 97% 90% +7.7 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 98% 93% +4.7 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Wet Braking Wet 95% 92% +3.3 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Wet Braking (concrete) Wet 91% 92% −1.8 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Ice Braking Snow 100% 92% +8.4 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Snow Braking Snow 100% 96% +4.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Snow Traction Snow 97% 93% +4.4 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Noise Noise 99% 99% −0.3 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Abrasion Treadwear 69% 72% −2.9 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Wear Treadwear 78% 74% +3.9 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 98% 97% +1.7 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #3/16 #4/16 – 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A UltraGrip 9+

Pros

  • Excellent wet and cold weather grip
  • High levels of ride comfort and low noise
  • Strong value proposition compared to premium competitors

Cons

  • Performance on deep snow and ice may lag slightly behind specialized winter-focused brands like Nokian
  • Limited feedback on long-term tread wear due to low mileage in current reviews
  • Increased noise levels specifically on concrete road surfaces
All owner themes in the UltraGrip 9+ review

Tire B WinterContact TS 870 P

Pros

  • Exceptionally low noise levels and high ride comfort
  • Outstanding wet weather and slush performance, cutting through heavy rain effortlessly
  • Balanced dry and cold-weather handling with impressive cornering stability

Cons

  • Higher price point compared to some competitors
  • Steering response and initial stiffness are slightly softer and less sporty than dedicated summer tires or some rivals
  • Snow and ice traction can feel less exceptional or borderline inadequate for a small subset of users
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 870 P review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available19121
Rim diameters14″ – 16″16″ – 23″
Sizes in common11

Which one should you actually buy?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better dry, handling and efficiency. Where the Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 81 vs 68 on dry.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 83 vs 74 on handling.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 86 vs 78 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 82 vs 76 on comfort.

Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
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Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
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UltraGrip 9+ or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Which is better in the wet, UltraGrip 9+ or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 90 vs 85 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, UltraGrip 9+ or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 81 vs 68 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, UltraGrip 9+ or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Neither, by our numbers: 80 vs 78 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, UltraGrip 9+ or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 74 vs 69 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, UltraGrip 9+ or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 82 vs 76 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, UltraGrip 9+ or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 74 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

Which rolls more easily, UltraGrip 9+ or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 86 vs 78 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