88
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
87/100
59 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 vs Pirelli SNOWCONTROL 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.
VS
81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
81/100
7 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Goodyear UltraGrip 8 — better comfort, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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Category breakdown
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
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 8 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 8 | SNOWCONTROL Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 79 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 8 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 8 | SNOWCONTROL Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 92 | 79 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
SNOWCONTROL Serie II leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 8 | SNOWCONTROL Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 90 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 8 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 8 | SNOWCONTROL Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 70 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 8 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 8 | SNOWCONTROL Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 83 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 8 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 8 | SNOWCONTROL Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 81 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip 8 | Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 88 | 81 |
| Dry | 88 | 80 |
| Wet | 92 | 80 |
| Snow | 87 | 89 |
| Comfort | 87 | 72 |
| Treadwear | 86 | 83 |
| Handling | 83 | 81 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
88
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Goodyear UltraGrip 8 is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet, slushy, and snowy conditions, often providing a significant safety upgrade over summer tires. While the vast majority of users praise its comfort, low noise levels, and confidence-inspiring grip, a small minority of users report issues with excessive road noise and inconsistent performance in deep snow.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in wet, slushy, and snowy conditions
- High level of ride comfort and refinement
- Low road noise compared to many winter tire competitors
- Positive impact on fuel economy and rolling resistance
- Strong braking performance on cold, icy, and wet surfaces
Cons
- Reports of excessive road noise for some specific vehicle applications
- Tread wear can be faster than average under heavy usage or high-speed driving
- Occasional reports of 'snappy' handling characteristics when pushed to the absolute limit
- Some users noted less-than-expected performance in deep, unplowed snow
Observations
- Rear-wheel-drive vehicle owners frequently reported a transformative improvement in winter mobility, allowing them to navigate hills and snow that previously required 4x4 vehicles.
- Users noted that the tire's soft compound provides a 'suspension-like' comfort benefit, though this can lead to a less stiff sidewall feel compared to performance summer tires.
The Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II is highly regarded for its exceptional winter performance, particularly in snow and ice conditions where it provides reliable traction and braking control. While users consistently praise its longevity and safety, the tire is frequently noted for producing higher levels of road noise compared to standard tires.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance on snow and ice
- Impressive tread longevity and durability over multiple seasons
- High level of driver confidence and vehicle control in adverse weather
- Reliable performance even after several years of use
Cons
- Noticeable road noise during operation
- Higher price point relative to some competitors
- Mixed value perception among some users
Observations
- Users operating smaller vehicles, such as the Renault Modus, reported excellent hill-climbing capability in heavy snow conditions.
- The tire maintains consistent performance characteristics across both city driving and long-distance winter travel, including extreme arctic conditions.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear UltraGrip 8 | B · Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
88
/ 100
Goodyear
81
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip 8 — better comfort, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 scores 87 vs 72 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 scores 92 vs 80 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 scores 88 vs 80 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Goodyear UltraGrip 8 scores 86 vs 83 on treadwear.
Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip 8
Tire B · Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II
More comparisons
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Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II 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.