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Head-to-head Updated

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ vs Nexen N Blue 4 Season — 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 + 11 road tests and 6 + 31 owner reviews. How we score

UltraGrip 9+ is ahead, 76–71

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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)

Nexen N Blue 4 Season
Tire BNexen

N Blue 4 Season

All Season

± 5

Tests 73 · 11 tests Owners 68 · 31 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (wear)

Category by category

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

  1. 67

    Dry

    N Blue 4 Season +1
    68
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 11 tests6070
    Reviews found online7965

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 65.1 = 68

  2. 85

    Wet

    UltraGrip 9+ +11
    74
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 11 tests8674
    Reviews found online8374

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 60% × 74.2 + 40% × 73.8 = 74

  3. 80

    Snow

    UltraGrip 9+ +13
    67
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 7 tests8567
    Reviews found online7468

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 60% × 66.9 + 40% × 68.3 = 67

  4. 75

    Comfort

    UltraGrip 9+ +6
    69
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests76≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online7470

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 40% × 68.9 (est.) + 60% × 69.8 = 69

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

  5. 69

    Noise

    N Blue 4 Season +8
    77
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 7 tests7183
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 60% × 83.4 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 77

    No owner ratings of noise for UltraGrip 9+ or N Blue 4 Season. 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+ +5
    71
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 6 tests7276
    Reviews found online8263

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

    N Blue 4 Season: 60% × 76.2 + 40% × 62.8 = 71

  7. 74

    Handling (owners)

    UltraGrip 9+ +4
    70
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+N Blue 4 Season
    Reviews found online7470
  8. 78

    Efficiency

    UltraGrip 9+ +51
    27
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+N Blue 4 Season
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 7 tests7827
Scores at a glance
CategoryGoodyear UltraGrip 9+Nexen N Blue 4 Season
Relative Score 76 71
Dry 67 68
Wet 85 74
Snow 80 67
Comfort 75 69
Noise 69 77
Treadwear 76 71
Handling (owners) 74 70
Efficiency 78 27

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+

± 5

N Blue 4 Season

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+N Blue 4 SeasonΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 92% #13/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 91% #11/35 · 2022 All Season Tyre Market Overview – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #9/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 97% #15/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 98% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 94% #10/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 95% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 81% #18/35 · 2022 All Season Tyre Market Overview – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #3/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 96% #11/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 100% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 96% #9/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 97% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 96% #8/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 97% #7/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 92% #9/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #5/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 99% #6/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Abrasion Treadwear 69% #11/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 100% #1/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 78% #6/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 100% #1/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 98% #3/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 95% #8/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 96% #2/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 78% #14/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 77% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #7/20 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test #6/15 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 79% #10/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #3/16 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test #14/35 2022 All Season Tyre Market Overview – 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 N Blue 4 Season

Pros

  • Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
  • High level of ride comfort and low road noise
  • Strong grip and predictable handling in cold, wet, and snowy winter conditions

Cons

  • Vague road feedback and noticeable understeer in warmer weather (above 20°C)
  • Increased rolling resistance leading to slightly reduced fuel economy
  • Softer sidewalls limit spirited or high-speed dry cornering performance
All owner themes in the N Blue 4 Season review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ B · Nexen N Blue 4 Season
CategoryWinterAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available1956
Rim diameters14″ – 16″13″ – 19″
Sizes in common1515

Which one should you actually buy?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

Nexen N Blue 4 Season

Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ — better efficiency, snow and wet. Pick the Nexen N Blue 4 Season if noise matters most to you.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 78 vs 27 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 80 vs 67 on snow.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 85 vs 74 on wet.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Nexen N Blue 4 Season scores 77 vs 69 on noise.

Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
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Tire B · Nexen N Blue 4 Season
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UltraGrip 9+ or N Blue 4 Season?

Which is better in the wet, UltraGrip 9+ or N Blue 4 Season?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 85 vs 74 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, UltraGrip 9+ or N Blue 4 Season?

Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 68 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, UltraGrip 9+ or N Blue 4 Season?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 80 vs 67 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, UltraGrip 9+ or N Blue 4 Season?

Nexen N Blue 4 Season, 77 vs 69 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, UltraGrip 9+ or N Blue 4 Season?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 75 vs 69 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, UltraGrip 9+ or N Blue 4 Season?

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

Which rolls more easily, UltraGrip 9+ or N Blue 4 Season?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 78 vs 27 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