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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 Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 3 + 2 road tests and 4 + 14 owner reviews. How we score

Observe GSi-6 HP is ahead, 72–62

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Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
Tire AGoodyear

UltraGrip Ice Arctic

Winter

Tests 74 · 3 tests Owners 51 · 4 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test (wet braking)

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
Tire BToyo

Observe GSi-6 HP

Winter

Tests 69 · 2 tests Owners 75 · 14 reviews

Best test result: #5 of 20 in 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)

Category by category

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

  1. 60

    Dry

    Observe GSi-6 HP +15
    75
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip Ice ArcticObserve GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests7373
    Reviews found online4279

    UltraGrip Ice Arctic: 60% × 72.6 + 40% × 42.2 = 60

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 78.7 = 75

  2. 65

    Wet

    Observe GSi-6 HP +10
    75
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip Ice ArcticObserve GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests7471
    Reviews found online5281

    UltraGrip Ice Arctic: 60% × 74.3 + 40% × 52.1 = 65

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 60% × 71.1 + 40% × 81 = 75

  3. 72

    Snow

    UltraGrip Ice Arctic +6
    66
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip Ice ArcticObserve GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests7460
    Reviews found online6875

    UltraGrip Ice Arctic: 60% × 74.3 + 40% × 67.9 = 72

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 60% × 59.7 + 40% × 75.2 = 66

  4. 55

    Comfort

    Observe GSi-6 HP +22
    77
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip Ice ArcticObserve GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 64 (est.)77
    Reviews found online4177

    UltraGrip Ice Arctic: 60% × 64.3 (est.) + 40% × 41.2 = 55

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 60% × 77.4 + 40% × 76.8 = 77

    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.

  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    70
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip Ice ArcticObserve GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests–72
    Reviews found online–≈ 67 (est.)

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 60% × 71.7 + 40% × 67.3 (est.) = 70

    No owner ratings of noise for Observe GSi-6 HP. 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. 54

    Treadwear

    Observe GSi-6 HP +11
    65
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip Ice ArcticObserve GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 59 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online4565

    UltraGrip Ice Arctic: 60% × 59.3 (est.) + 40% × 45.1 = 54

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 60% × 65.5 (est.) + 40% × 65.3 = 65

    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 Observe GSi-6 HP. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).

  7. 49

    Handling (owners)

    Observe GSi-6 HP +28
    77
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip Ice ArcticObserve GSi-6 HP
    Reviews found online4977
Scores at a glance
CategoryGoodyear UltraGrip Ice ArcticToyo Observe GSi-6 HP
Relative Score 62 72
Dry 60 75
Wet 65 75
Snow 72 66
Comfort 55 77
Noise – 70
Treadwear 54 65
Handling (owners) 49 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 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

UltraGrip Ice Arctic

Observe GSi-6 HP

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.

DisciplineCategoryUltraGrip Ice ArcticObserve GSi-6 HPΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 93% #3/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test 97% #5/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 98% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test 83% #9/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 97% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test 81% #7/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test 97% #8/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Braking Snow 80% #5/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test 79% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Handling Snow 91% #7/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test 85% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Traction Snow 82% #6/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test 57% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 93% #5/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test 99% #8/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 94% #7/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test 98% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 96% #4/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test 95% #16/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #4/5 2021 Test World Winter Studded Tire Test R17 #12/20 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests

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
All owner themes in the UltraGrip Ice Arctic review

Tire B Observe GSi-6 HP

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and stability in snow and slush
  • Impressive wet-weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
  • Remarkably quiet ride quality for a winter tire

Cons

  • Inconsistent tread life reports, with some users experiencing premature wear
  • Occasional reports of structural failure or tread separation
  • Slightly vague steering feel at lower speeds
All owner themes in the Observe GSi-6 HP review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic B · Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / Crossover—
Sizes available—39
Rim diameters—16″ – 21″
Tread depth—11 - 12/32″
Sidewall—Black Side Wall
Max pressure—50 - 51 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP

Winner: Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP — better handling, comfort and dry. Pick the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic if snow matters most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 77 vs 49 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 77 vs 55 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 75 vs 60 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 65 vs 54 on treadwear.

Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
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Tire B · Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
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UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Which is better in the wet, UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 75 vs 65 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 75 vs 60 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, 72 vs 66 on our snow score.

Which is more comfortable, UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 77 vs 55 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 65 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