91
/ 100
Objective (60%)
75/100
2 professional tests
User signal (40%)
92/100
3 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 vs Pirelli SOTTOZERO — 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
79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
76/100
9 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 — better snow, treadwear and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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 SUV Gen-1 leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 92 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 78 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 83 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 67 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 81 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 79 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 | SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 81 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 | Pirelli SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 91 | 79 |
| Dry | 91 | 78 |
| Wet | 90 | 83 |
| Snow | 87 | 67 |
| Comfort | 95 | 81 |
| Noise | 82 | – |
| Treadwear | 95 | 79 |
| Handling | 85 | 81 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
91
/ 100
Tire A
79
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance SUV Gen-1 is generally regarded as a highly capable winter tire that excels in snow and mud traction, providing confidence for SUV owners in challenging conditions. While users praise its grip on wet and snowy surfaces, some report concerns regarding high-speed aquaplaning resistance and soft handling characteristics in milder temperatures.
Pros
- Strong traction and grip in deep snow and mud conditions
- Reliable performance on wet roads
- Predictable handling on icy surfaces
- Durable performance over multiple winter seasons
Cons
- Susceptibility to aquaplaning at highway speeds
- Noticeable road noise on dry pavement
- Soft sidewall feel when ambient temperatures exceed 7°C
- Requires momentum for steep, extreme incline climbs
Observations
- Users operating on 225/65R17 sizes reported significant aquaplaning issues on wet roads at speeds approaching 60 mph.
- The tire is frequently cited as a strong complement to SUV 4x4 systems, effectively compensating for moderate drivetrain limitations in off-road winter conditions.
The Pirelli Sottozero is a polarizing winter tire that excels in comfort, dry road handling, and longevity for many drivers, though it receives mixed feedback regarding its performance in deep snow and wet conditions. While some users praise its progressive feedback and year-round durability, others report significant traction issues on ice and wet surfaces, suggesting performance may be highly dependent on vehicle weight and driving style.
Pros
- Exceptional ride comfort and low noise levels compared to standard winter tires.
- Strong dry road handling with a progressive, communicative feel.
- Impressive tread longevity, with some users reporting high mileage even in warmer conditions.
- Reliable performance in light snow and cold, wet conditions for many vehicle types.
Cons
- Inconsistent traction on ice and deep snow reported by some users.
- Potential for rear-end instability or loss of grip in wet conditions on certain vehicles.
- Accelerated tread wear noted by users who purchased used tires or drove aggressively.
- Increased road noise reported by some owners.
Observations
- Heavy vehicles may experience significant traction loss and rear-end instability in wet conditions.
- Performance in deep snow appears to diminish as tread depth decreases, particularly on rear-wheel-drive platforms.
- The tire demonstrates surprising durability in warmer climates, with some users successfully running them through summer months.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 | B · Pirelli SOTTOZERO |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Ultra High Performance Winter tire | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Raised Black Lettering | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
91
/ 100
Goodyear
79
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 — better snow, treadwear and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 scores 87 vs 67 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 scores 95 vs 79 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 scores 95 vs 81 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1 scores 91 vs 78 on dry.
Tire A · Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance SUV Gen-1
Tire B · Pirelli SOTTOZERO
More comparisons
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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) 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.