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Head-to-head Updated

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ vs Firestone Winterhawk 3 — 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 + 4 road tests and 6 + 8 owner reviews. How we score

UltraGrip 9+ is ahead, 76–63

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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)

Firestone Winterhawk 3
Tire BFirestone

Winterhawk 3

Winter

± 8

Tests 68 · 4 tests Owners 57 · 8 reviews

Best test result: #5 of 20 in 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (noise)

Category by category

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

  1. 67

    Dry

    UltraGrip 9+ +5
    62
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Winterhawk 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 2 tests6066
    Reviews found online7957

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

    Winterhawk 3: 60% × 66.1 + 40% × 56.7 = 62

  2. 85

    Wet

    UltraGrip 9+ +23
    62
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Winterhawk 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 4 tests8664
    Reviews found online8360

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

    Winterhawk 3: 60% × 64 + 40% × 59.7 = 62

  3. 80

    Snow

    UltraGrip 9+ +16
    64
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Winterhawk 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 3 tests8571
    Reviews found online7455

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 84.7 + 40% × 73.7 = 80

    Winterhawk 3: 60% × 70.7 + 40% × 54.6 = 64

  4. 75

    Comfort

    UltraGrip 9+ +15
    60
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Winterhawk 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests76≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online7456

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

    Winterhawk 3: 40% × 66 (est.) + 60% × 55.7 = 60

    No road tests of comfort for Winterhawk 3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 69

    Noise

    UltraGrip 9+ +2
    67
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Winterhawk 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests7167
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

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

    Winterhawk 3: 60% × 66.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 67

    No owner ratings of noise for UltraGrip 9+ or Winterhawk 3. 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. 76

    Treadwear

    UltraGrip 9+ +11
    65
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Winterhawk 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 2 tests7270
    Reviews found online8259

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

    Winterhawk 3: 60% × 69.6 + 40% × 59.2 = 65

  7. 74

    Handling (owners)

    UltraGrip 9+ +18
    56
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Winterhawk 3
    Reviews found online7456
  8. 78

    Efficiency

    UltraGrip 9+ +16
    62
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Winterhawk 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 2 tests7862
Scores at a glance
CategoryGoodyear UltraGrip 9+Firestone Winterhawk 3
Relative Score 76 63
Dry 67 62
Wet 85 62
Snow 80 64
Comfort 75 60
Noise 69 67
Treadwear 76 65
Handling (owners) 74 56
Efficiency 78 62

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
± 6

UltraGrip 9+

± 8

Winterhawk 3

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.

DisciplineCategoryUltraGrip 9+Winterhawk 3ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 92% #13/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 94% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #9/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 98% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 98% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 90% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 95% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 80% #32/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #3/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 93% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 100% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 94% #21/30 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 97% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 98% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #5/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 96% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 78% #6/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 62% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 96% #2/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 80% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 77% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 87% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #7/20 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test #10/20 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 79% #10/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 80% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #3/16 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test #8/8 2020 Wybór Kierowców Winter Tire Test R16 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A 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

Tire B Winterhawk 3

Pros

  • High levels of ride comfort and low noise
  • Good longevity and tread wear resistance
  • Affordable price point

Cons

  • Inconsistent or poor grip on snow and ice
  • Unreliable wet weather performance and braking
  • Pronounced understeering tendencies
All owner themes in the Winterhawk 3 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ B · Firestone Winterhawk 3
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available1939
Rim diameters14″ – 16″13″ – 18″
Sizes in common1616

Which one should you actually buy?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

Firestone Winterhawk 3

Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ — better wet, handling and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 85 vs 62 on wet.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 74 vs 56 on handling.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 80 vs 64 on snow.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 78 vs 62 on efficiency.

Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
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Tire B · Firestone Winterhawk 3
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UltraGrip 9+ or Winterhawk 3?

Which is better in the wet, UltraGrip 9+ or Winterhawk 3?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 85 vs 62 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, UltraGrip 9+ or Winterhawk 3?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 67 vs 62 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, UltraGrip 9+ or Winterhawk 3?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 80 vs 64 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, UltraGrip 9+ or Winterhawk 3?

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

Which is more comfortable, UltraGrip 9+ or Winterhawk 3?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 75 vs 60 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, UltraGrip 9+ or Winterhawk 3?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 76 vs 65 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, UltraGrip 9+ or Winterhawk 3?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 78 vs 62 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