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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Pirelli Powergy vs Vredestein Ultrac — 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.

Tire A Pirelli

Pirelli Powergy

Summer Premium Touring tires

Pirelli Powergy tread pattern
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
71/100
34 owner reviews
Dry
76
Wet
77
Comfort
79
Noise
72
Treadwear
63
Handling
75

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Vredestein

Vredestein Ultrac

Summer High Performance tires

Vredestein Ultrac tread pattern
Objective (60%)
95/100
13 professional tests
User signal (40%)
77/100
23 owner reviews
Dry
87
Wet
84
Comfort
85
Noise
78
Treadwear
64
Handling
77

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Vredestein Ultrac — better dry, wet and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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Category breakdown

6 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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ultrac leads by 11
A — Pirelli Powergy
76
B — Vredestein Ultrac
87
Why this score
SourcePowergyUltrac
Professional tests (TWG score) 71 88
Tyre Reviews owners 83 84
Dry Braking (% of best) 94% 94%

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ultrac leads by 7
A — Pirelli Powergy
77
B — Vredestein Ultrac
84
Why this score
SourcePowergyUltrac
Professional tests (TWG score) 78 87
Tyre Reviews owners 76 80
Wet Braking (% of best) 96% 97%
Wet Circle (% of best) 98% 98%
Wet Handling (% of best) 90% 99%

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ultrac leads by 6
A — Pirelli Powergy
79
B — Vredestein Ultrac
85
Why this score
SourcePowergyUltrac
Professional tests (TWG score) 84 89
Tyre Reviews owners 72 80

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ultrac leads by 6
A — Pirelli Powergy
72
B — Vredestein Ultrac
78
Why this score
SourcePowergyUltrac
Professional tests (TWG score) 72 78

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ultrac leads by 1
A — Pirelli Powergy
63
B — Vredestein Ultrac
64
Why this score
SourcePowergyUltrac
Tyre Reviews owners 63 64

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ultrac leads by 2
A — Pirelli Powergy
75
B — Vredestein Ultrac
77
Why this score
SourcePowergyUltrac
Tyre Reviews owners 75 77
DriverReviews owners 82 80

Scores at a glance

Pirelli Powergy vs Vredestein Ultrac: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryPirelli PowergyVredestein Ultrac
Relative Score 73 78
Dry 76 87
Wet 77 84
Comfort 79 85
Noise 72 78
Treadwear 63 64
Handling 75 77

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.

Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

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.

DisciplineCategoryTire ATire BΔBoth?
Curved Aquaplaning Curved 81% #8/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test 95% #3/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test -13.8 Different tests
Dry Braking Dry 94% #4/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test 94% #6/10 · 2025 Autobild SUV Off-Road Summer Tyre Test 0 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 81% #5/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test 96% #4/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test -15.6 Different tests
Noise Other 98% #1/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test 99% #10/13 · Tyre Reviews Best Summer Touring Tyres -1 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 20% #5/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test 33% #3/7 · The Best Touring Tyres for 2025 Tested -13.3 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 92% #4/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test 98% #5/10 · 2025 Autobild SUV Off-Road Summer Tyre Test -6.4 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 93% #3/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test 95% #2/7 · The Best Touring Tyres for 2025 Tested -2.1 Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling Subj 93% #3/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test 80% #9/14 · 2025 Summer and All Season Combined Tyre Test +12.8 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 96% #5/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test 97% #3/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test -1.3 Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 98% #3/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test 98% #3/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test -0.1 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 90% #2/10 · 2026 autozurnal Eco Summer Tyre Test 99% #2/8 · 2024 AMS Summer SUV Tyre Test -8.5 Different tests
From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Pirelli Powergy

The Pirelli Powergy is a polarizing tire that excels in dry grip and ride comfort but faces significant criticism regarding its longevity and inconsistent noise levels. While many users praise its performance as a cost-effective daily driver, others report rapid tread wear and disappointing fuel economy, leading to a mixed overall reception.

Pros

  • Strong dry pavement grip and responsive handling
  • High levels of ride comfort and impact absorption
  • Competitive pricing compared to premium tier alternatives
  • Generally quiet operation for many users

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear and shallow initial tread depth
  • Inconsistent reports on road noise, with some users citing extreme volume
  • Noticeable negative impact on fuel economy for some vehicles
  • Lack of steering feedback and 'soft' sidewall feel

Observations

  • Users with high-torque or performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., M240i, 2.0TFSI Q3) reported issues with traction and wheelspin under load.
  • Drivers of heavier vehicles or those with specific rim sizes (e.g., 235/19) noted a decline in fuel efficiency compared to previous sets.
  • The tire is frequently cited as a significant comfort upgrade over factory-fitted run-flat tires.
Tire B Vredestein Ultrac

The Vredestein Ultrac is widely regarded as a comfortable, high-performance touring tire that excels in wet weather conditions and provides a refined, quiet ride. While many users praise its daily driving capabilities and steering feedback, the tire experiences a significant divide in user experience regarding tread longevity, with reports ranging from exceptional durability to premature, rapid wear.

Pros

  • Outstanding ride comfort and noise reduction
  • Strong wet weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
  • Predictable and consistent handling for daily driving
  • Improved steering feel compared to many entry-level or older performance tires

Cons

  • Highly inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting premature wear
  • Lack of sharp, high-performance steering feedback for aggressive driving
  • Reports of soft sidewalls leading to a lack of stability under heavy cornering
  • Occasional reports of increased road noise or 'hollow' sounds

Observations

  • Users with smaller, daily-driven vehicles (e.g., C-Max, Audi A1) report high satisfaction with comfort and longevity.
  • Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles or those expecting track-day precision often find the sidewalls too soft and the steering feedback lacking compared to dedicated performance tires.
Community buzz

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Pirelli Powergy

Mixed

Community opinion on the Pirelli Powergy line is mixed, with users noting it serves as Pirelli's budget or eco-oriented offering compared to higher-end models like the Cinturato. While some find them to be a decent, affordable upgrade over older worn tires, others report concerns regarding ride comfort, noise, and potential mixing issues with other tire models.

r/GRYaris ·3 upvotes ·2025-03-07

“Are Pirelli Powergy Winter the right winter tires for the GR? Hey, my parents bought a GR Yaris last week and it’s a great car but I looked at its winter tires and those are Pirelli Powergy Winter. I’m not an expert on tires but as far as I know the P-Zero Winter would be the right choice for a GR. My father didn’t bought them because he thought it was the right tires rather a tire salesman talked him into it. I talked him into Pirelli as those were the factory tires for his Volvo 850R and would be a better choice then his current Conti Premium 5 but somehow my father misunderstood me to that point that Pirelli’s are the greatest tires ever. So he asked the salesmen for the best Pirelli Tires and told the car it’s for but the salesman sold him those Powergy tires and said that not all Pirelli’s are in stock. As my father isn’t an enthusiast but loves likes to drive performance cars he didn’t knew better and now it’s too late. In my eyes a good salesman (not in the way of profit for the company rather costumer experience) would have told him that the P-Zeros winter are out of stock but can be ordered or would show him tires from different companies. Another option is the salesman though he meant the GR Sport Yaris for which P-Zero winters are too much as not many persons in their sixties drive a real GR. So my question are the Powergy enough for the GR or should he get P-Zeros next Winter (in a few weeks we will put on summer tires)”

r/tires ·1 upvote ·2026-08-31

“Ripples in side wall Just been washing the car and found what I can only describe as ripples in the side wall of my front-right tyre. Had these fitted in June, only just noticed the ripples. The other tyres are perfect. I’ve probably done around 2,000 miles on them. Should I be concerned, and do they look like a manufacturing defect, or as a result of damage? (I’ve not hit any serious potholes that I’m aware of). These tyres are Pirelli Powergy, fitted to a Volvo XC60. Date code is 3325. Any help gratefully received. Read more”

r/tires ·1 upvote ·2025-05-18

“Pirelli cinturato P7 and Pirelli Powergy Hi all 👋🏼 So I had 4 Pirelli Cinturato P7’s on my Ford Focus ST. I got a flat tire (front left) while I was on vacation so I decided to get 2 new tires at the front. I asked the guy at the tire shop to get the same tires (so the Pirelli Cinturato’s). He got me Pirelli Powergy’s instead… He didn’t really speak English and there was not time as I was driving home the next day. So I just accepted it. Now my question is what’s the main difference between these tires? And does it matter I got 2 different tires now? (2 powergy’s at the front and 2 Cinturato’s at the back) Thanks!🙏🏼”

Top themes
#Budget eco tire line#Comparison with Cinturato#Mixed ride comfort#Winter and all-season variants#Accidental mixing with other tires

Based on 15 community posts

Tire B

Vredestein Ultrac

Positive

Community members generally view the Vredestein Ultrac and Ultrac Pro as a compelling, budget-friendly alternative to premium high-performance summer tires like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. Users frequently highlight significant cost savings alongside comparable dry and wet performance, comfort, and noise levels, though a few note trade-offs in extreme cornering stiffness.

r/mazda3 ·55 upvotes ·2025-04-02

“New boots! Vredestein Ultrac Pro 225s for the Turbo 3”

r/CarTalkUK ·22 upvotes ·2025-05-27

“Are budget tyres closing the gap to premium? I changed a set of tyres on my daily pd130 winter bash about and managed to get a set of vredestein ultrac for £80 a tyre fitted which I thought was a pretty good price. The tyre fitting service was saying to me that the gap between budgets and premium is much smaller in the last 10 years and that taxis tend to opt for budget tyres all the time and have no issues. Any thoughts on this? I’ve always gone for medium to higher end tyres. Leer más”

r/ZL1 ·2 upvotes ·2013-12-15

“I just had a set of Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta put on. Initial thoughts... I got them in 275/40/20 for the fronts and 315/35/20 for the rears. They fit the wheels perfectly. I immediately noticed a much softer ride. Sport Mode now feels like Tour Mode, maybe even softer. I DD my ZL1 so cold weather performance is very important. Temps were near 40°F and they stayed quite grippy. This is a huge improvement over the stock Goodyear's. Initial turn in response is good. I had the opportunity to push them on an off ramp and they felt a little mushy when pushed and didn't seem to want to exceed .75g I had a set of these on a previous car (2004 ZO6) and expect great wet weather performance. I will update this post once I get some more miles on them. Read more”

r/ZL1 ·2 upvotes ·2013-12-19

“The Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta are probably the best sport tyres ever made. Ive sold tyres for a living since I was 16, I've tried and tested hundreds of different tyres so i can give my customers the best advice, so I class myself as somewhat of an expert. The Sessantas are brilliant. I had them on an X5 for 8,000 miles, they couldn't have performed all round any better. EDIT: Oh and they wear so evenly it's unbelievable!”

Top themes
#Price and Value Comparison#Comparison to Michelin PS4S#Wet and Dry Grip#Ride Comfort and Noise#Tread Wear and Longevity#Handling and Steering Feel

Based on 17 community posts

Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Pirelli Powergy B · Vredestein Ultrac
CategorySummer Premium Touring tiresSummer High Performance tires
Vehicle type—Passenger Car / Crossover
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Pirelli

Vredestein

Winner: Vredestein Ultrac — better dry, wet and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Vredestein Ultrac scores 87 vs 76 on dry.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Vredestein Ultrac scores 84 vs 77 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Vredestein Ultrac scores 85 vs 79 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Vredestein Ultrac scores 78 vs 72 on noise.

Tire A · Pirelli Powergy
Tire B · Vredestein Ultrac

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.