Tests 76 · 5 tests Owners 79 · 6 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test (ice braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ vs Michelin X Ice Snow — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
UltraGrip 9+ is ahead, 77–71
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Tests 68 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 18 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (rolling resistance)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
70
Dry
UltraGrip 9+ +466Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 64 63 Reviews found online 80 70 Dry Braking (% of best) 95% 80% Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 92% -
86
Wet
UltraGrip 9+ +1967Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 89 60 Reviews found online 83 78 Wet Braking (% of best) 87% 72% Wet Handling (% of best) 99% 96% -
80
Snow
UltraGrip 9+ +476Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 84 73 Reviews found online 72 80 Snow Braking (% of best) 98% 97% Snow Handling (% of best) 97% 86% Snow Traction (% of best) 100% 89% -
80
Comfort
X Ice Snow +383Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 83 88 Reviews found online 75 77 -
64
Noise
X Ice Snow +1276Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 62 82 -
75
Treadwear
UltraGrip 9+ +372Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 80 76 -
76
Handling
UltraGrip 9+ +175Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ X Ice Snow Reviews found online 76 75
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 71 |
| Dry | 70 | 66 |
| Wet | 86 | 67 |
| Snow | 80 | 76 |
| Comfort | 80 | 83 |
| Noise | 64 | 76 |
| Treadwear | 75 | 72 |
| Handling | 76 | 75 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
77
/ 100
UltraGrip 9+
71
/ 100
X Ice Snow
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+ | X Ice Snow | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #10/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 80% #5/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | +14.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #18/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 92% #4/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | +5.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 98% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −2.4 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 98% #3/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | −1.8 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #1/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 98% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 99% #5/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 99% #7/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | −0.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 77% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 50% #14/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +27.0 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 86% #2/6 · Moottori: Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | −52.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 97% #13/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 86% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +10.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 89% #7/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | +11.1 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 97% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 81% #13/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | +15.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 100% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 80% #4/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 90% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 56% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +33.8 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 50% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 70% #5/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −20.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 87% #9/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 72% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +14.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #3/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 96% #3/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +2.6 | 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 X Ice Snow
Pros
- Exceptional traction and lateral grip in deep snow and slush
- High level of confidence and stability on icy surfaces
- Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons
Cons
- Average performance and handling on dry or wet pavement
- Increased road noise as the tires wear over time
- Can feel slightly 'twitchy' or less stable at the absolute limit of handling
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ | B · Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
71
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ — better wet, dry and snow. Pick the Michelin X Ice Snow if noise and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 86 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 76 vs 64 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 70 vs 66 on dry.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 80 vs 76 on snow.
Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
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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.