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Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter vs Pirelli Sottozero Serie II — 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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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
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Winter | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 84 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Winter | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 86 |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Winter | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 67 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Winter | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 86 |
Noise
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Winter | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 81 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Winter | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 81 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter | Pirelli Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 84 | 81 |
| Dry | 81 | 84 |
| Wet | 87 | 86 |
| Snow | 88 | 67 |
| Comfort | 80 | 86 |
| Noise | 76 | – |
| Treadwear | 85 | 81 |
| Handling | 79 | 81 |
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.
Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.
The Pirelli Sottozero Serie II is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in cold, wet, and slushy conditions, often surprising users with its stability and comfort. While it is frequently praised for its dry-road handling and longevity, opinions on its deep snow and ice performance are polarized, with some users finding it transformative for rear-wheel-drive vehicles and others noting limited traction in heavy snow.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to aquaplaning
- Strong dry-road handling and braking characteristics for a winter tire
- High level of comfort and low road noise
- Impressive tread life and durability even when used in warmer temperatures
- Predictable and stable handling in cold, sub-zero climates
Cons
- Inconsistent performance in deep snow or on steep, icy inclines
- High price point compared to competitors
- Performance degradation in temperatures consistently above 7°C (45°F)
- Some reports of limited traction from a standstill in heavy snow
Observations
- Users with high-torque rear-wheel-drive vehicles (e.g., BMW 740d, Mercedes E-Class) report that the tire significantly improves winter drivability and safety.
- Owners of performance vehicles (Porsche, Maserati) frequently note that the tire maintains a sporty, responsive feel on dry pavement, leading some to use them as year-round tires in temperate climates.
- Drivers using low-profile, 20-inch fitments report high satisfaction with ride comfort and noise levels compared to summer performance tires.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter | B · Pirelli Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Category | — | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | — | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
Goodyear
Pirelli
Winner: Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter — better snow and treadwear. Pick the Pirelli Sottozero Serie II if comfort and dry matter most to you.
Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter scores 88 vs 67 on snow.
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II scores 86 vs 80 on comfort.
Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter scores 85 vs 81 on treadwear.
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II scores 84 vs 81 on dry.
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.