83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
86/100
31 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 vs Goodyear UltraGrip 9 — Compared (September 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
82
/ 100
Objective (60%)
82/100
5 professional tests
User signal (40%)
85/100
39 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 and Goodyear UltraGrip 9 are within 2 points overall. Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 is stronger on dry and treadwear. Goodyear UltraGrip 9 is stronger on comfort and noise.
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Category breakdown
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
Score (0–100)
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 92 | 78 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 82 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 92% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 89 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 95% | 95% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 90 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 95% | 100% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 9 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 100 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 90 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 9 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 47 | 52 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 84 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 83 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | Goodyear UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 82 |
| Dry | 90 | 80 |
| Wet | 89 | 87 |
| Snow | 86 | 86 |
| Comfort | 87 | 96 |
| Noise | 47 | 52 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 84 |
| Handling | 85 | 83 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
83
/ 100
Tire A
82
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
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 | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 92% #13/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | +6.1 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #10/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 98% #18/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.4 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 96% #4/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | -1.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 96% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | -0.8 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 94% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 77% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +17.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 33% #3/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | -13.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 95% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | -4.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 97% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +1.6 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 97% #4/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 98% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | -0.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 95% #3/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | -0.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #3/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -0.4 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 is widely regarded as a high-performing winter tire, particularly excelling in cold, wet, and slushy conditions. While most users praise its confidence-inspiring grip and longevity, some report mixed experiences regarding road noise and dry-weather handling precision.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather and slush performance
- Strong traction and braking capabilities in snow
- High durability and long tread life
- Comfortable ride quality compared to summer or run-flat tires
Cons
- Increased road noise reported by some users at higher speeds
- Vague steering feedback and sidewall flex during spirited dry-road driving
- Occasional loss of grip in dry conditions or when temperatures exceed 7°C
- Tendency to oversteer on certain rear-wheel-drive platforms
Observations
- Users on BMW and other rear-wheel-drive platforms noted a tendency for the rear to slide or oversteer in corners.
- Drivers transitioning from run-flat tires to these winter tires frequently reported a significant improvement in ride comfort.
- Owners of smaller, balanced vehicles like the Mazda MX-5 noted that the tire maintains good handling characteristics despite the softer winter compound.
The Goodyear UltraGrip 9 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction on snow and ice. Users frequently highlight its superior ride comfort and low noise levels, often noting that it performs as well as or better than premium summer tires in terms of cabin quietness.
Pros
- Exceptional snow and ice traction
- High level of ride comfort and low road noise
- Excellent wet and dry weather performance in cold temperatures
- Low rolling resistance contributing to improved fuel economy
Cons
- Reduced performance on dry, warm asphalt (above 12°C)
- Soft sidewalls can lead to a less sporty or 'wallowy' handling feel
- Reports of premature tread wear or chunking in specific heavy-use cases
Observations
- Users with smaller city cars and hatchbacks (e.g., VW Polo, Suzuki Swift, Opel Astra) report high satisfaction with winter mobility and fuel efficiency.
- Drivers of heavier or rear-wheel-drive vehicles (e.g., Volvo estate models) noted a significant improvement in hill-climbing ability and stability compared to summer tires.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 | B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Ultra High Performance Winter tire | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | 9 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Raised Black Lettering | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Goodyear
82
/ 100
Goodyear
Too close to call: Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 and Goodyear UltraGrip 9 are within 2 points overall. Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 is stronger on dry and treadwear. Goodyear UltraGrip 9 is stronger on comfort and noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 scores 90 vs 80 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 scores 96 vs 87 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 scores 52 vs 47 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 scores 88 vs 84 on treadwear.
Tire A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip 9
More comparisons
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Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen-1 also compared with
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 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.