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Head-to-head Updated

Vredestein Ultrac vs Pirelli Powergy — 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 14 + 1 road tests and 419 + 1,813 owner reviews. How we score

Powergy leads, 68–66 Narrow edge

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Vredestein Ultrac
Tire AVredestein

Ultrac

Summer

± 5

Tests 63 · 14 tests Owners 59 · 419 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test (wet handling)

“Are budget tyres closing the gap to premium? I changed a set of tyres on my daily pd130 winter bash about and managed to get a set of vredestein ultrac for £80 a tyre fitted which I thought was a pretty good price. The tyre fitting service was saying to me that the gap between budgets and premium is much smaller in the last 10 years and that taxis tend to opt for budget tyres all the time and have no issues. Any thoughts on this? I’ve always gone for medium to higher end tyres. Leer más”

Pirelli Powergy
Tire BPirelli

Powergy

Summer

± 6

Tests 76 · 1 test Owners 60 · 1,813 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test (noise)

“Pirelli cinturato P7 and Pirelli Powergy Hi all 👋🏼 So I had 4 Pirelli Cinturato P7’s on my Ford Focus ST. I got a flat tire (front left) while I was on vacation so I decided to get 2 new tires at the front. I asked the guy at the tire shop to get the same tires (so the Pirelli Cinturato’s). He got me Pirelli Powergy’s instead… He didn’t really speak English and there was not time as I was driving home the next day. So I just accepted it. Now my question is what’s the main difference between these tires? And does it matter I got 2 different tires now? (2 powergy’s at the front and 2 Cinturato’s at the back) Thanks!🙏🏼”

Category by category

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

  1. 75

    Dry

    Ultrac +4
    71
    Why this score
    SourceUltracPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 1 tests8477
    Reviews found online6062

    Ultrac: 60% × 84.3 + 40% × 60.3 = 75

    Powergy: 60% × 77.3 + 40% × 62 = 71

  2. 82

    Wet

    Ultrac +11
    71
    Why this score
    SourceUltracPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 1 tests9276
    Reviews found online6665

    Ultrac: 60% × 92 + 40% × 66.4 = 82

    Powergy: 60% × 75.7 + 40% × 64.9 = 71

  3. 63

    Comfort

    Level
    63
    Why this score
    SourceUltracPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 67 (est.)74
    Reviews found online6056

    Ultrac: 40% × 67 (est.) + 60% × 60.3 = 63

    Powergy: 40% × 73.6 + 60% × 55.9 = 63

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

  4. 67

    Noise

    Powergy +7
    74
    Why this score
    SourceUltracPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 1 tests6779
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Ultrac: 60% × 66.9 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 67

    Powergy: 60% × 79.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 74

    No owner ratings of noise for Ultrac or Powergy. 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.

  5. 25

    Treadwear

    Powergy +33
    58
    Why this score
    SourceUltracPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / – tests10≈ 61 (est.)
    Reviews found online4852

    Ultrac: 60% × 10 + 40% × 48.3 = 25

    Powergy: 60% × 61.3 (est.) + 40% × 52 = 58

    No road tests of treadwear for Powergy. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  6. 60

    Handling (owners)

    Powergy +2
    62
    Why this score
    SourceUltracPowergy
    Reviews found online6062
  7. 72

    Efficiency

    Powergy +2
    74
    Why this score
    SourceUltracPowergy
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 1 tests7274
Scores at a glance
CategoryVredestein UltracPirelli Powergy
Relative Score 66 68
Dry 75 71
Wet 82 71
Comfort 63 63
Noise 67 74
Treadwear 25 58
Handling (owners) 60 62
Efficiency 72 74

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
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

Ultrac

± 6

Powergy

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.

DisciplineCategoryUltracPowergyΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 90% #6/12 · 2025 UTAC / Aftonbladet Summer & All-Season Tire Test R17 94% #4/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 80% #9/12 · 2025 UTAC / Aftonbladet Summer & All-Season Tire Test R17 93% #3/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 100% #1/10 · 2025 Autobild SUV Off-Road Summer Tyre Test 81% #8/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 99% #2/12 · 2025 UTAC / Aftonbladet Summer & All-Season Tire Test R17 92% #4/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 100% #1/12 · 2025 UTAC / Aftonbladet Summer & All-Season Tire Test R17 96% #5/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 98% #3/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 98% #3/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 98% #9/12 · 2025 UTAC / Aftonbladet Summer & All-Season Tire Test R17 97% #2/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #3/10 · 2025 Autobild SUV Off-Road Summer Tyre Test 100% #1/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 98% #11/12 · 2025 UTAC / Aftonbladet Summer & All-Season Tire Test R17 81% #5/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #9/12 2025 UTAC / Aftonbladet Summer & All-Season Tire Test R17 #5/10 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ultrac

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and confidence in wet weather conditions
  • High level of ride comfort and ability to absorb road bumps
  • Low road noise and quiet operation

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear reported by several drivers
  • Softer sidewalls leading to less initial steering feedback or stability
  • Occasional complaints of tramlining or tracking narrow road repairs
All owner themes in the Ultrac review

Tire B Powergy

Pros

  • Significantly reduced road noise and quiet highway ride
  • Strong dry and wet grip for daily commuting
  • Comfortable and smooth ride quality compared to run-flats

Cons

  • Faster than average tread wear or shallow initial tread depth
  • Negative impact on fuel economy (MPG) for some users
  • Soft sidewalls leading to muted steering feedback and less precise handling at the limit
All owner themes in the Powergy review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Vredestein Ultrac

Positive

Community members generally view the Vredestein Ultrac favorably, recommending it as offering the best of both worlds at a good price point. While drivers appreciate its appearance and value on daily vehicles, prospective buyers express inquiries regarding noise levels and potential fast tread wear.

Top themes
#good price point#best of both worlds#tread wear concerns#tire recommendation#wide tire appearance#budget versus premium

Based on 8 community posts

Tire B

Pirelli Powergy

Mixed

Community opinion on the Pirelli Powergy is largely mixed, with the tire frequently viewed as an eco/budget, mid-tier option suitable for daily driving rather than high-performance use. While some users consider it a cost-effective, fuel-efficient choice from a reputable brand, others report negative experiences including excessive highway vibrations and potential sidewall defects. A significant number of discussions also revolve around general inquiries regarding safety, longevity, and whether it can be mixed with other Pirelli models.

r/tires ·1 upvote ·2025-05-18

“Pirelli cinturato P7 and Pirelli Powergy Hi all 👋🏼 So I had 4 Pirelli Cinturato P7’s on my Ford Focus ST. I got a flat tire (front left) while I was on vacation so I decided to get 2 new tires at the front. I asked the guy at the tire shop to get the same tires (so the Pirelli Cinturato’s). He got me Pirelli Powergy’s instead… He didn’t really speak English and there was not time as I was driving home the next day. So I just accepted it. Now my question is what’s the main difference between these tires? And does it matter I got 2 different tires now? (2 powergy’s at the front and 2 Cinturato’s at the back) Thanks!🙏🏼”
r/mazda3 ·1 upvote ·2026-10-05

“Avg 29mpg on a 2015 Mazda 3 Sport Nav 2L 165bhp, any ideas? I've had this car for about 3-4 weeks now, posted it here on this subreddit too. So far, I've done about 800 miles and my average fuel consumtion seems to be around 29mpg - 10.2L/100km. The car doesn't have its original rims, its on **MAM RS3** 18" rims with Pirelli Powergy tires 215/45/R18 (internet says these tires provide good fuel economy). On longer trips the average is about 40mpg-45mpg which still seems a bit high. My work commute is about 2 miles, and I do occasionally drive in a spirited manner. Is this okay? Thank you all!”
r/tires ·1 upvote ·2026-08-31

“Ripples in side wall Just been washing the car and found what I can only describe as ripples in the side wall of my front-right tyre. Had these fitted in June, only just noticed the ripples. The other tyres are perfect. I’ve probably done around 2,000 miles on them. Should I be concerned, and do they look like a manufacturing defect, or as a result of damage? (I’ve not hit any serious potholes that I’m aware of). These tyres are Pirelli Powergy, fitted to a Volvo XC60. Date code is 3325. Any help gratefully received. Read more”
Top themes
#budget eco tire line#highway vibrations and comfort#sidewall damage and defects#mixing with other tires#daily driver suitability#fuel economy and mileage

Based on 15 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Vredestein Ultrac B · Pirelli Powergy
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / Crossover—
Sizes available6587
Rim diameters15″ – 21″15″ – 21″
UTQG280 AA A—
Sizes in common5050

Which one should you actually buy?

Vredestein Ultrac

Pirelli Powergy

Narrow edge: Pirelli Powergy — better treadwear and noise. Pick the Vredestein Ultrac if wet and dry matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Pirelli Powergy scores 58 vs 25 on treadwear.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Vredestein Ultrac scores 82 vs 71 on wet.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Pirelli Powergy scores 74 vs 67 on noise.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Vredestein Ultrac scores 75 vs 71 on dry.

Tire A · Vredestein Ultrac
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Tire B · Pirelli Powergy
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Ultrac or Powergy?

Which is better in the wet, Ultrac or Powergy?

Vredestein Ultrac, 82 vs 71 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ultrac or Powergy?

Vredestein Ultrac, 75 vs 71 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, Ultrac or Powergy?

Pirelli Powergy, 74 vs 67 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Ultrac or Powergy?

Neither, by our numbers: 63 vs 63 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Ultrac or Powergy?

Pirelli Powergy, 58 vs 25 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Ultrac or Powergy?

Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 74 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