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Updated September 2026

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 review

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 is widely praised for its exceptional ride comfort and low noise levels, positioning it as a refined option in the Nordic friction tire segment. While it delivers reliable performance on snow and wet surfaces, users note that it falls slightly short of specialized competitors in pure ice traction and exhibits concerningly rapid tread wear.

Relative score
79/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
79/100
4 reviews
Road tests
84/100
8 published tests
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
Scores

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

By owner reviews

79%
Would buy again 87%
Dry
Overall dry
83%
Wet
Overall wet
83%
Snow & ice
Overall snow & ice
80%
Comfort
Overall comfort
95%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
70%
Handling
Overall handling
73%

By road tests

83.7%
Dry
88%
Wet
81.3%
Snow
87.1%
Comfort
100%
Noise
65.8%
From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 4 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 is widely praised for its exceptional ride comfort and low noise levels, positioning it as a refined option in the Nordic friction tire segment. While it delivers reliable performance on snow and wet surfaces, users note that it falls slightly short of specialized competitors in pure ice traction and exhibits concerningly rapid tread wear.

Pros

  • Exceptional ride comfort and low road noise
  • Predictable and reliable handling on snow
  • Strong performance on wet surfaces
  • Competitive pricing compared to premium alternatives

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear and premature loss of tread depth
  • Inferior ice grip compared to top-tier specialized competitors like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
  • Concerns regarding long-term durability and safety after multiple seasons

Worth knowing

  • Users noted a firmer ride quality over uneven road surfaces compared to all-season alternatives.
  • The tire maintains solid performance characteristics even as ambient temperatures rise above freezing.
Test results

8 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

The Best Snow tires for 2025/26 · 205/55 R16

2nd of 5
Best: Snow Handling · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling · 3rd
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling3rd of 5
Dry Handling2nd of 5
Snow Traction2nd of 5
Snow Handling1st of 5
Ice Handling1st of 5
Rolling Resistance3rd of 5
Straight Aqua1st of 5
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 5
Subj. Comfort2nd of 5
Noise2nd of 5
Ice Traction3rd of 5

2025 Friction Winter tire Test · 235/60 R18

3rd of 8
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Dry Braking · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 8
Wet Handling1st of 8
Dry Braking6th of 8
Snow Traction4th of 8
Snow Handling3rd of 8
Ice Handling2nd of 8
Straight Aqua2nd of 8
Subj. Dry Handling1st of 8
Noise1st of 8
Ice Traction4th of 8
Fuel Consumption4th of 8

2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter tire Test · 235/45 R18

7th of 20
DisciplinePlacementField position

2025 Friction and Studded Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

3rd of 14
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Dry Braking · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 14
Wet Handling1st of 14
Dry Braking5th of 14
Snow Braking3rd of 14
Snow Traction4th of 14
Ice Braking5th of 14
Subj. Dry Handling3rd of 14
Subj. Wet Handling1st of 14
Ice Traction5th of 14
Subj. Noise4th of 14

2024 Nordic Friction Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

1st of 8
Best: Snow Traction · 1st Weakest: Ice Traction · 4th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling2nd of 8
Snow Traction1st of 8
Snow Handling1st of 8
Ice Handling3rd of 8
Straight Aqua2nd of 8
Subj. Dry Handling2nd of 8
Noise1st of 8
Ice Traction4th of 8
Fuel Consumption1st of 8

The Best Studded / Friction Winter tires for 2024 · 225/50 R17

6th of 17
DisciplinePlacementField position

2023 Studless Friction Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

2nd of 8
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Ice Handling · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling1st of 8
Snow Traction1st of 8
Snow Handling3rd of 8
Ice Handling5th of 8
Straight Aqua1st of 8
Subj. Dry Handling1st of 8
Noise4th of 8
Ice Traction5th of 8
Fuel Consumption2nd of 8

2023 Studless vs Studded Snow tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 8
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Snow Traction · 2nd
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling1st of 8
Snow Braking1st of 8
Snow Traction2nd of 8
Snow Handling2nd of 8
Ice Handling1st of 8
Ice Traction2nd of 8