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Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — 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.
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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
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip Ice+ | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 88 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 97 | 89 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip Ice+ | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 77 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 90 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip Ice+ | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 71 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip Ice+ | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 79 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip Ice+ | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 38 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip Ice+ | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 97 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | UltraGrip Ice+ | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 93 | 83 |
| Dry | 97 | 89 |
| Wet | 93 | 83 |
| Snow | – | 76 |
| Comfort | 87 | 79 |
| Noise | – | 62 |
| Treadwear | 97 | 81 |
| Handling | 87 | 87 |
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.
Tire A
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ is highly regarded for its exceptional performance in harsh Nordic and Eastern European winter conditions. Users consistently praise its longevity and reliable traction on snow and ice, positioning it as a top-tier non-studded winter tire.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and stability on snow-covered and icy roads
- Exceptional tread longevity, with reports of effective performance over multiple seasons
- Predictable handling in challenging winter cornering and bends
- Strong performance in cold, dry conditions after an initial break-in period
Cons
- Noticeable road noise during the initial break-in period on dry pavement
- Performance may feel less optimal on dry roads compared to dedicated summer or all-season tires
Observations
- Proven reliability across diverse vehicle platforms, including compact SUVs like the Subaru Forester and premium sedans like the Volvo.
- Users report consistent performance across various road types, ranging from urban city streets to rural, snow-packed country roads.
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet, slushy, and cold dry conditions. Users consistently praise its sporty handling and confidence-inspiring grip, though it is frequently noted that the tire's performance and longevity are compromised if used in warm temperatures or during summer months.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to hydroplaning.
- Strong dry-road handling and steering precision for a winter tire.
- Excellent traction and stability in snow and slush.
- Comfortable and relatively quiet ride quality.
- Aesthetically pleasing design with effective rim protection.
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, particularly if driven in temperatures above 15°C or year-round.
- Susceptibility to sidewall damage and bubbling when encountering road hazards.
- Increased noise levels as the tire ages and tread depth decreases.
- High price point compared to some competitors.
Observations
- Drivers of high-torque, rear-wheel-drive performance vehicles report high satisfaction with the tire's ability to maintain traction and control.
- Users with staggered fitments on luxury sedans (e.g., BMW 5-series, M240i) note that the tire maintains its sporty character well in cold climates.
- Some owners of heavier vehicles or those with high-horsepower setups noted that the tire's longevity is significantly reduced under aggressive driving styles.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 32 |
| Rim diameters | — | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
Goodyear
Pirelli
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ — better treadwear, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ scores 97 vs 81 on treadwear.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ scores 93 vs 83 on wet.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ scores 97 vs 89 on dry.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+ scores 87 vs 79 on comfort.
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.