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Goodyear Assurance MaxLife vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ — Compared (May 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.
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6 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
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | UltraGrip Ice+ |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 97 |
| SimpleTire owners | 85 | – |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | UltraGrip Ice+ |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 30 | 93 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | UltraGrip Ice+ |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 73 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | UltraGrip Ice+ |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 86 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 87 |
| SimpleTire owners | 95 | – |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | UltraGrip Ice+ |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 97 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | – |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | UltraGrip Ice+ |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 48 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear Assurance MaxLife | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 65 | 93 |
| Dry | 79 | 97 |
| Wet | 42 | 93 |
| Snow | 74 | – |
| Comfort | 71 | 87 |
| Treadwear | 85 | 97 |
| Handling | 48 | 87 |
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.
Tire A
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Goodyear Assurance MaxLife is widely regarded as a high-longevity tire that excels in daily commuting and highway driving, though it sacrifices performance in wet conditions. While users appreciate the exceptional tread life and quiet ride, the consensus indicates significant concerns regarding traction in rain and standing water.
Pros
- Exceptional tread longevity and durability
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Reliable performance for standard daily commuting
Cons
- Poor traction and handling in wet conditions
- Noticeable reduction in fuel efficiency compared to OEM alternatives
- Lack of sidewall protection for rim safety
Observations
- Tesla Model 3 owners reported significant safety concerns regarding wet-weather handling and a lack of rim protection.
- High-mileage drivers, such as rideshare operators, report high satisfaction with noise levels and tread endurance over long distances.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ is highly regarded for its exceptional performance in harsh Nordic and Eastern European winter conditions. Users consistently praise its longevity and reliable traction on snow and ice, positioning it as a top-tier non-studded winter tire.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and stability on snow-covered and icy roads
- Exceptional tread longevity, with reports of effective performance over multiple seasons
- Predictable handling in challenging winter cornering and bends
- Strong performance in cold, dry conditions after an initial break-in period
Cons
- Noticeable road noise during the initial break-in period on dry pavement
- Performance may feel less optimal on dry roads compared to dedicated summer or all-season tires
Observations
- Proven reliability across diverse vehicle platforms, including compact SUVs like the Subaru Forester and premium sedans like the Volvo.
- Users report consistent performance across various road types, ranging from urban city streets to rural, snow-packed country roads.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear Assurance MaxLife | B · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring Summer tire | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 46 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 20″ | — |
| Tread depth | 11 - 13/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 820 A B | — |
| Treadwear warranty | 85,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Vertical Serrated Band | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
Goodyear
Goodyear
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ scores 93 vs 42 on wet.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ scores 87 vs 48 on handling.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ scores 97 vs 79 on dry.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ scores 87 vs 71 on comfort.
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.