Tests 74 · 3 tests Owners 51 · 4 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test (wet braking)
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic looks discontinued: no new owner reviews or road tests in five years and no current EU tyre label.
Head-to-head
Updated
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 3 + 6 road tests and 4 + 3 owner reviews. How we score
Ice Zero 2 is ahead, 68–62
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Tests 77 · 6 tests Owners 58 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2021 Studless and Studded 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.
-
60
Dry
Ice Zero 2 +1272Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 4 tests 73 81 Reviews found online 42 58 UltraGrip Ice Arctic: 60% × 72.6 + 40% × 42.2 = 60
Ice Zero 2: 60% × 81.4 + 40% × 58 = 72
-
65
Wet
Ice Zero 2 +873Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 5 tests 74 80 Reviews found online 52 61 UltraGrip Ice Arctic: 60% × 74.3 + 40% × 52.1 = 65
Ice Zero 2: 60% × 80.1 + 40% × 61.4 = 73
-
72
Snow
UltraGrip Ice Arctic +171Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 4 tests 74 75 Reviews found online 68 64 UltraGrip Ice Arctic: 60% × 74.3 + 40% × 67.9 = 72
Ice Zero 2: 60% × 75.3 + 40% × 64 = 71
-
55
Comfort
Ice Zero 2 +863Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests ≈ 64 (est.) 72 Reviews found online 41 50 UltraGrip Ice Arctic: 60% × 64.3 (est.) + 40% × 41.2 = 55
Ice Zero 2: 60% × 71.6 + 40% × 49.9 = 63
No road tests of comfort for UltraGrip Ice Arctic. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
-
–
Noise
No comparison66Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests – 65 Reviews found online – ≈ 67 (est.) Ice Zero 2: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 67.3 (est.) = 66
No owner ratings of noise for Ice Zero 2. 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.
-
54
Treadwear
Ice Zero 2 +458Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 59 (est.) ≈ 61 (est.) Reviews found online 45 52 UltraGrip Ice Arctic: 60% × 59.3 (est.) + 40% × 45.1 = 54
Ice Zero 2: 60% × 61.5 (est.) + 40% × 52.1 = 58
No road tests of treadwear for UltraGrip Ice Arctic. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).
No road tests of treadwear for Ice Zero 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).
-
49
Handling (owners)
Ice Zero 2 +756Why this score
Source UltraGrip Ice Arctic Ice Zero 2 Reviews found online 49 56
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 62 | 68 |
| Dry | 60 | 72 |
| Wet | 65 | 73 |
| Snow | 72 | 71 |
| Comfort | 55 | 63 |
| Noise | – | 66 |
| Treadwear | 54 | 58 |
| Handling (owners) | 49 | 56 |
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
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
62
/ 100
UltraGrip Ice Arctic
68
/ 100
Ice Zero 2
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 Ice Arctic finished ahead 1 times and Pirelli Ice Zero 2 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | UltraGrip Ice Arctic | Ice Zero 2 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 93% #3/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 97% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 80% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 98% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 84% #14/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 97% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 80% #5/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 78% #13/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Ice Handling | Snow | 91% #7/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 92% #7/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Snow | 82% #6/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 68% #4/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 93% #5/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 94% #7/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 96% #4/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #5/8 | #6/8 | – | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Moottori Winter Studded Tire Test R17 · 225/50R17 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A UltraGrip Ice Arctic
Pros
- Excellent traction and handling on packed snow
- Strong performance on ice during the first two seasons
- Reliable winter grip in extreme arctic conditions
Cons
- Significant stud loss after two seasons of use
- Abrupt and dangerous decline in grip performance by the third year
- Poor longevity relative to competitors despite remaining tread depth
Tire B Ice Zero 2
Pros
- Very good traction and performance on snow
- Reasonably quiet for a studded winter tire
- Adequate performance on wet and salty roads
Cons
- Dangerous slipping on ice at low speeds in cold climates
- Strong, intrusive howling noise at speeds above 95 km/h
- Poor overall handling compared to competing studded winter tires like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic | B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
62
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
68
/ 100
Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Winner: Pirelli Ice Zero 2 — better dry, wet and comfort. Where the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 72 vs 60 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 73 vs 65 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 63 vs 55 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 56 vs 49 on handling.
Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
Tire B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
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UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Ice Zero 2?
Which is better in the wet, UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Ice Zero 2?
Pirelli Ice Zero 2, 73 vs 65 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Ice Zero 2?
Pirelli Ice Zero 2, 72 vs 60 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Ice Zero 2?
Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 71 on the snow score, within 3 points.
Which is more comfortable, UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Ice Zero 2?
Pirelli Ice Zero 2, 63 vs 55 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Ice Zero 2?
Pirelli Ice Zero 2, 58 vs 54 on our treadwear 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