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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 vs Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 — 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
76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
77/100
7 professional tests
User signal (40%)
77/100
50 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Goodyear UltraGrip 9 — better snow, comfort and dry. Pick the Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 if noise matters most to you.
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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)
UltraGrip 9 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 9 | Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | 66 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 77 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 100% | 98% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 100% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 9 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 9 | Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 84 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 95% | 92% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 9 leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 9 | Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 58 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 79 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 100% | 98% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 97% | 84% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 9 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 9 | Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 100 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 81 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 9 | Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 52 | 63 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 9 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 9 | Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 83 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip 9 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip 9 | Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 73 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip 9 | Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 82 | 76 |
| Dry | 80 | 70 |
| Wet | 87 | 85 |
| Snow | 86 | 66 |
| Comfort | 96 | 81 |
| Noise | 52 | 63 |
| Treadwear | 84 | 83 |
| Handling | 83 | 73 |
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
82
/ 100
Tire A
76
/ 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 | 100% #10/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 98% #8/9 · 2018 AMS All Season Tyre Test | +2.5 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #9/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 100% #9/9 · 2018 AZ Summer AND All Season Tyre Test | -2 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 98% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 87% #6/9 · 2018 AZ Summer AND All Season Tyre Test | +10.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #1/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 100% #2/7 · 2020 ADAC SUV All Season Tyre Test | +0.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #10/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 96% #1/9 · 2018 AZ Summer AND All Season Tyre Test | +0.9 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 83% #15/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 72% #8/9 · 2018 AMS All Season Tyre Test | +11.1 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 76% #10/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 69% #4/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | +6.5 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 81% #7/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 91% #3/10 · 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | -9.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 13% #8/15 · 2020 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 | 50% #2/6 · New VS 4mm VS 2mm All Season Tyre Performance | -37.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 98% #3/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | +2.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 84% #4/9 · 2018 AMS All Season Tyre Test | +13 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #4/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/10 · 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | -2.5 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #7/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #3/10 · 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 95% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 92% #2/7 · 2020 ADAC SUV All Season Tyre Test | +3.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #3/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 97% #4/9 · 2018 AZ Summer AND All Season Tyre Test | +2.1 | 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 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.
The Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 is widely regarded as a highly capable all-season tire that excels in cold, wet, and snowy conditions, often outperforming dedicated summer tires in winter environments. While users praise its comfort, longevity, and winter confidence, it is frequently noted that the tire's soft compound leads to a 'floaty' or 'wooly' handling feel in dry, warm weather and reduced performance during high-temperature summer months.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and confidence in snow and icy conditions.
- Strong wet-weather performance and resistance to aquaplaning.
- High level of ride comfort and low road noise.
- Impressive tread longevity and durability over high mileage.
Cons
- Soft sidewalls and tread compound result in vague or 'floaty' handling in dry, warm conditions.
- Increased braking distances and reduced grip when ambient temperatures exceed 20-25°C.
- Tendency to become noisy or exhibit vibration issues as the tire ages.
- Occasional reports of premature tread wear or sidewall crazing.
Observations
- Drivers of heavier vehicles (SUVs and large sedans) noted that the tire can feel 'sloppy' or struggle with weight during aggressive cornering.
- Users reported that the tire's soft nature is particularly noticeable on smaller, lighter cars, sometimes leading to a disconnected steering feel.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9 | B · Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | All Season Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
82
/ 100
Goodyear
76
/ 100
Goodyear
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip 9 — better snow, comfort and dry. Pick the Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 scores 86 vs 66 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 scores 96 vs 81 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 scores 63 vs 52 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 scores 80 vs 70 on dry.
Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9
Tire B · Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 also compared with
Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2 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.