75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
79/100
10 professional tests
User signal (40%)
76/100
3 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental IceContact 3 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
69
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
2 professional tests
User signal (40%)
65/100
4 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental IceContact 3 — better comfort, handling and snow. Pick the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic if treadwear matters most to you.
Read full
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Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
IceContact 3 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 56 | 67 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 60 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 93% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
IceContact 3 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 93 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 65 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 100% | 100% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 97% | 95% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
IceContact 3 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 90 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 95% | 95% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 98% | 95% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
IceContact 3 leads by 36
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 100 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 53 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 65 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip Ice Arctic leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 60 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
IceContact 3 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | IceContact 3 | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 68 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental IceContact 3 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 69 |
| Dry | 68 | 64 |
| Wet | 84 | 82 |
| Snow | 88 | 83 |
| Comfort | 89 | 53 |
| Noise | 65 | – |
| Treadwear | 50 | 60 |
| Handling | 83 | 68 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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
75
/ 100
Tire A
69
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 93% #3/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +4.7 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 94% #5/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 94% #7/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -0.3 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #1/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 91% #4/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | +9.2 | Different tests |
| Ice Handling | Ice | 84% #4/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 94% #7/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -10.6 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 74% #14/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 73% #6/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/8 · The BEST Studded Tyres for 2025 | 33% #3/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 97% #6/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | +2.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 95% #2/8 · The BEST Studded Tyres for 2025 | 95% #4/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -0.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 98% #10/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 95% #7/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | +3.6 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #6/8 · The BEST Studded Tyres for 2025 | 98% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -2.7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 100% #2/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test | 80% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +20 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #1/8 · 2024 Studded Tyre Test | 95% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental IceContact 3 is highly regarded for its exceptional traction on packed snow and ice, offering a confidence-inspiring driving experience in severe winter conditions. While performance is competitive with top-tier rivals, some users have noted concerns regarding the long-term durability of the studs under regular highway use.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance on packed snow and ice
- Predictable handling in severe winter conditions
- Strong performance on lake ice tracks
- Good tread longevity for the rubber compound itself
Cons
- Premature stud wear or loss reported after moderate mileage
- Potential for reduced stability in deeper snow (4-5 cm) depending on tire width
- Unpredictable handling characteristics when paired with certain electronic stability control systems
Observations
- Users noted that wider tire profiles may struggle to maintain contact with the road surface in deeper snow conditions.
- Performance is highly effective in coastal, mild-to-severe winter climates like Northern Norway.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic is highly regarded for its exceptional initial performance on packed snow and ice, particularly in extreme winter conditions. However, users consistently report a significant decline in reliability and safety after the second season, primarily due to premature stud loss and a sharp degradation in grip despite having substantial tread depth remaining.
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
Observations
- Users noted that the tire's performance longevity is notably inferior when compared directly to competitors like the Continental IceContact 2.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental IceContact 3 | B · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Continental
69
/ 100
Goodyear
Winner: Continental IceContact 3 — better comfort, handling and snow. Pick the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental IceContact 3 scores 89 vs 53 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental IceContact 3 scores 83 vs 68 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic scores 60 vs 50 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Continental IceContact 3 scores 88 vs 83 on snow.
Tire A · Continental IceContact 3
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental IceContact 3 also compared with
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.