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Goodyear UltraGrip 9 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ — 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 3 + 11 road tests and 39 + 18 owner reviews. How we score

UltraGrip Performance+ leads, 79–76 Narrow edge

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Goodyear UltraGrip 9
Tire AGoodyear

UltraGrip 9

Winter

± 6

Tests 74 · 3 tests Owners 79 · 39 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (snow braking)

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Tire BGoodyear

UltraGrip Performance+

Winter

± 5

Tests 78 · 11 tests Owners 80 · 18 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)

Category by category

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

  1. 72

    Dry

    UltraGrip Performance+ +1
    73
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 8 tests7071
    Reviews found online7576

    UltraGrip 9: 60% × 70.4 + 40% × 74.8 = 72

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 70.8 + 40% × 75.8 = 73

  2. 84

    Wet

    UltraGrip Performance+ +2
    86
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 11 tests8387
    Reviews found online8685

    UltraGrip 9: 60% × 83 + 40% × 85.7 = 84

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 86.8 + 40% × 84.9 = 86

  3. 75

    Snow

    UltraGrip Performance+ +9
    84
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 11 tests7387
    Reviews found online7879

    UltraGrip 9: 60% × 73.3 + 40% × 77.9 = 75

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 86.7 + 40% × 79.1 = 84

  4. 78

    Comfort

    UltraGrip 9 +1
    77
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 71 (est.)72
    Reviews found online8281

    UltraGrip 9: 40% × 71.4 (est.) + 60% × 82 = 78

    UltraGrip Performance+: 40% × 72.2 + 60% × 80.9 = 77

    No road tests of comfort for UltraGrip 9. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 65

    Noise

    UltraGrip 9 +5
    60
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 8 tests6455
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    UltraGrip 9: 60% × 63.7 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 65

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 55 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 60

    No owner ratings of noise for UltraGrip 9 or UltraGrip Performance+. 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 Performance+ +2
    77
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests7374
    Reviews found online7881

    UltraGrip 9: 60% × 72.6 + 40% × 77.7 = 75

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 73.9 + 40% × 81.1 = 77

  7. 81

    Handling (owners)

    UltraGrip Performance+ +2
    83
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9UltraGrip Performance+
    Reviews found online8183
  8. 75

    Efficiency

    UltraGrip Performance+ +2
    77
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 8 tests7577
Scores at a glance
CategoryGoodyear UltraGrip 9Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Relative Score 76 79
Dry 72 73
Wet 84 86
Snow 75 84
Comfort 78 77
Noise 65 60
Treadwear 75 77
Handling (owners) 81 83
Efficiency 75 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
± 6

UltraGrip 9

± 5

UltraGrip Performance+

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 9UltraGrip Performance+ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 95% #14/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 95% #11/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 98% #16/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 94% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 91% #8/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 97% #6/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 84% #13/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 99% #6/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Braking Snow 90% #3/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 97% #7/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 100% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 98% #5/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 100% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 98% #5/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 100% #1/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 97% #6/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 96% #14/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 97% #10/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 67% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 85% #6/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 91% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 81% #6/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 71% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 72% #12/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #2/20 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test #8/20 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 71% #11/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 56% #12/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #2/8 2020 Wybór Kierowców Winter Tire Test R16 #6/10 2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test R18 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A 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
All owner themes in the UltraGrip 9 review

Tire B UltraGrip Performance+

Pros

  • Exceptional wet grip and low risk of aquaplaning
  • Outstanding traction and lateral grip on snow
  • Comfortable ride quality with manageable noise levels

Cons

  • Mixed feedback regarding noise, with some users reporting a noticeable roar or sizzling sound on fast curves
  • Average performance on pure ice compared to specialized ice tires
  • Faster rear-axle tread wear reported on high-powered rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicles
All owner themes in the UltraGrip Performance+ review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9 B · Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available188
Rim diameters15″15″ – 22″

Which one should you actually buy?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+

Narrow edge: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ — better snow. Pick the Goodyear UltraGrip 9 if noise matters most to you.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ scores 84 vs 75 on snow.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Goodyear UltraGrip 9 scores 65 vs 60 on noise.

Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9
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Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
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UltraGrip 9 or UltraGrip Performance+?

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

Neither, by our numbers: 84 vs 86 on the wet score, within 3 points.

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

Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 73 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, UltraGrip 9 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+, 84 vs 75 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, UltraGrip 9 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9, 65 vs 60 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, UltraGrip 9 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 77 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, UltraGrip 9 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 77 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

Which rolls more easily, UltraGrip 9 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 77 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.

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