Tests 74 · 5 tests Owners 78 · 6 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 14 in 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)
Head-to-head
Updated
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ vs Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
UltraGrip 9+ leads, 76–74 Narrow edge
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Tests 77 · 7 tests Owners 71 · 50 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (snow handling)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
70
Dry
Winter i*cept RS2 +474Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 64 76 Reviews found online 80 71 Dry Braking (% of best) 92% 98% Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 98% -
82
Wet
UltraGrip 9+ +181Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 83 85 Reviews found online 81 75 Wet Braking (% of best) 91% 98% Wet Handling (% of best) 99% 97% -
79
Snow
UltraGrip 9+ +475Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 84 80 Reviews found online 72 69 Snow Braking (% of best) 100% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 97% 100% Snow Traction (% of best) 100% 99% -
80
Comfort
UltraGrip 9+ +674Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 83 80 Reviews found online 76 67 -
64
Noise
UltraGrip 9+ +361Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 63 56 -
75
Treadwear
UltraGrip 9+ +273Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 71 74 Reviews found online 80 72 -
75
Handling
UltraGrip 9+ +471Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Winter i*cept RS2 Reviews found online 75 71
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ | Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 74 |
| Dry | 70 | 74 |
| Wet | 82 | 81 |
| Snow | 79 | 75 |
| Comfort | 80 | 74 |
| Noise | 64 | 61 |
| Treadwear | 75 | 73 |
| Handling | 75 | 71 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
76
/ 100
UltraGrip 9+
74
/ 100
Winter i*cept RS2
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 | UltraGrip 9+ | Winter i*cept RS2 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 92% #10/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −6.0 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #18/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #15/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −0.5 | Same test |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 98% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 77% #18/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +20.8 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #10/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 96% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +2.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 80% #15/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 82% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −1.9 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 79% #10/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 82% #6/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | −2.8 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 78% #6/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 72% #14/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +5.5 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 14% #7/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 33% #3/49 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview | −19.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 99% #4/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −3.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +1.0 | Same test |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 98% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 92% #9/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +6.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 100% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 90% #4/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +10.0 | Same test |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 80% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Same test |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 90% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 60% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +30.0 | Same test |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 50% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 50% #6/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Same test |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #7/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #19/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #10/49 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview | 98% #5/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −7.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #3/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 97% #4/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +2.0 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A UltraGrip 9+
Pros
- Excellent wet and cold weather grip
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise
- Strong value proposition compared to premium competitors
Cons
- Performance on deep snow and ice may lag slightly behind specialized winter-focused brands like Nokian
- Limited feedback on long-term tread wear due to low mileage in current reviews
- Increased noise levels specifically on concrete road surfaces
Tire B Winter i*cept RS2
Pros
- Exceptional grip and handling on wet and dry roads
- Impressive resistance to aquaplaning in heavy rain or standing water
- Strong value for money with a competitive price point
Cons
- Higher than average road noise, especially at highway speeds
- Firm, stiff sidewalls leading to a less comfortable or harsh ride
- Subpar performance and unpredictable grip on ice and black ice
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ | B · Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
74
/ 100
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ — better comfort, snow and handling. Pick the Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 if dry matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 80 vs 74 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 79 vs 75 on snow.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 75 vs 71 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 scores 74 vs 70 on dry.
Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*cept RS2
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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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.