Goodyear, a leader in tire technology, offers the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter Tire, designed to provide superior traction, control, and reliability in harsh winter conditions. Winter driving presents unique challenges, including navigating snow-covered roads and maintaining control on icy surfaces. This studdable tire is crafted for sedans, minivans, crossovers, coupes, and SUVs, combining advanced tire technology with practical features to ensure maximum traction during cold temperatures. This review explores the key features, performance capabilities, and how the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter Tire stands out from the competition. It is essential for drivers seeking confidence and control during the winter season.
Tire Technology & Features
Several high-tech features and technologies went into making the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter Tire so that it could provide unrivaled performance in the winter. Its design is tailored to tackle the unique obstacles of driving on snow and ice, so drivers can confidently and safely traverse winter roadways. Here is a detailed breakdown of the tire’s important features and technologies:
Directional Tread Pattern
Goodyear developed the Ultra Grip Winter Tire with a directed tread pattern to improve traction on snowy roads. This design improves traction and decreases the likelihood of hydroplaning by allowing snow and water to be efficiently evacuated from the contact area of the tire. With the tread channels strategically oriented, drivers can enjoy excellent performance in thick snow and slushy situations, making their driving experience safer and more stable.
Multiple Biting Edges
This tire’s multiple biting edges provide a sure grip on roadways coated in snow and ice. The tire’s sipes create these rims; they bite into the snow and ice to enhance grip and control. You can safely accelerate, turn, and stop thanks to the tire’s abundance of biting edges, which keep a firm grip even in the most slippery winter circumstances.

Wide Tread Grooves
For better grip in the winter, the tire’s wide tread grooves divert snow and slush away from the tire. These grooves keep the tire in touch with the road by efficiently directing snow and water that can collect beneath it. Reliable handling in wet and slushy situations is ensured by this function, which is critical for preventing hydroplaning.
Strong Shoulder Blocks
The tire’s construction has sturdy shoulder blocks that encourage uniform tread wear. Doing so is critical to extending the life of the tire’s performance features. Maintaining uniform tread wear helps keep the tire’s grip and handling qualities intact, so it performs consistently in different winter driving situations.
Outfitted for Optional Metal Studs
The Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter Tire offers the option of metal studs for drivers who experience harsh winter weather. With these studs, you may drive with confidence on ice surfaces, even in the worst winter weather. This tire’s adaptability to even the most difficult and icy routes is due to the capability to add studs.

Three Peak Mountain Snowflake-certified
This tire has proven itself to be exceptionally well-suited for snowy conditions by earning the esteemed Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) designation. The Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter Tire has been certified to handle extreme snow conditions, giving drivers peace of mind and better performance in winter driving situations.
Performance in Different Conditions
When it comes to winter driving, the Goodyear Ultra Grip Tire is built to deliver dependable performance in every weather. Its hydroplaning resistance, traction, stability, and handling are all greatly enhanced by its cutting-edge technology and characteristics. Presented here are its capabilities in various scenarios:
Snow Performance
The tire’s directed tread pattern and multiple biting edges provide excellent traction in snowy environments. With the extra metal studs, this tire provides unparalleled traction and control on snowy and icy roads. The tire’s construction makes it possible to brake effectively on icy and snowy surfaces, cutting down on stopping distances considerably in the winter. In addition to improving traction and control in snowy situations, the tread grooves aid in slush evacuation.
Wet Performance
Wide tread grooves aid in water evacuation and traction maintenance on wet roads. When driving in rainy weather, drivers may rest assured that the tire’s construction will keep them stable. The tread design of the tire makes it more effective at braking in wet circumstances, which lowers the danger of sliding. To prevent hydroplaning, the tire’s broad tread grooves divert water away from its footprint while keeping it in touch with the road.

Dry Performance
You can drive with assurance in dry weather thanks to the tire’s exceptional grip and stability provided by its powerful shoulder blocks and numerous biting edges. Responsive steering and stability are enhanced, especially at higher speeds or during abrupt movements, by the directional tread pattern and powerful shoulder blocks. On dry conditions, the improved braking performance and reduced stopping distances are a result of the enhanced contact patch. The tire’s composition seeks to reduce rolling resistance, which can lead to improved fuel economy, however it is mostly made for use in winter weather.
Comfort & Road Noise
The tire provides a pleasant riding quality without sacrificing its emphasis on winter performance. A more comfortable ride is guaranteed by the tread pattern’s ability to dampen vibrations and road noise. The tread pattern and rubber composition are engineered to minimize road noise, which is a typical complaint with winter tires. As a result, the ride becomes noticeably quieter.
Tread Life & Warranty
The tire lasts longer thanks to its sturdy shoulder blocks and tread wear design that is evenly distributed. Its tread life can be extended with proper care and seasonal use, adding value over time. Includes Goodyear’s Limited Warranty for Highway Auto and Light Truck Tire Replacement, which addresses a range of wear and performance issues. With this warranty, you can rest assured that the tire is of high quality and will last a long time.

Compatible Vehicles For The Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter Tire
Sedans, minivans, coupes, SUVs, and crossovers are just some of the many vehicle types that the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter Tire is made to match. It is compatible with a wide variety of popular car types thanks to its adaptability and size range. Depending on the tire size and vehicle characteristics, the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter Tire can be installed on the following vehicles:
- Chevy Impala, Chevy Malibu, Chevrolet Equinox
- Ford Focus, Ford Fusion, Ford Escape
- Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda Odyssey, Honda CR-V
- Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Tucson
- Kia Rio, Kia Sedona
- Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy
- Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Tiguan
- Nissan Sentra, Nissan Altima, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Rogue
- Toyota Corolla, Toyota Echo, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Yaris
Compared with Other Tires
Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter vs. Michelin X-Ice Xi3
Both Goodyear and Michelin are considered top winter tires because to their great traction and durability in adverse circumstances. The Michelin X-Ice Xi3’s Flex-Ice composition makes it durable and fuel-efficient, while the Ultra Grip Winter’s studdable design improves icy grip. The tread design of the X-Ice Xi3 decreases road noise, making it quieter than many competitors. Drivers seeking a mix between cost and performance prefer the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter due to its lower pricing.
Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter vs. Continental VikingContact 7
With a specialized tread pattern and rubber composition for icy and snowy roads, the Continental VikingContact 7 performs well in tough winter conditions. The Nordic compound’s cold flexibility improves traction. VikingContact 7’s tread design gives it better wet-surface performance and hydroplaning resistance than the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter. If drivers face a variety of winter road conditions, the Goodyear tire’s metal studs can give it an edge on ice, making it a more versatile choice.
Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter vs. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 premium winter tires for high-performance automobiles provide excellent handling and stability in cold weather. Its revolutionary compound and tire design tailored for winter sports driving gives it quick steering and high-speed capability on dry and wet surfaces. Unlike the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter, the Sottozero 3 prioritizes performance for sports car and luxury vehicle drivers seeking ideal winter driving dynamics without compromising safety. The Sottozero 3 performs well, but the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter is more adaptable and cost-effective for sedans, minivans, and SUVs.
Customer Feedback
Customers often praise the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter tires’ snow-covered road handling. The aggressive tread pattern promotes safety and reliability in snowy and icy situations and makes the tire quieter than expected for winter tires, surprising many customers. These tires have been lauded for making front-wheel-drive cars behave like all-wheel drives in winter. Customers also like the tires’ endurance, noticing minimal degradation after heavy use, proving their quality and value. Affordable prices boost customer satisfaction, making the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter tires a top choice for winter traction.
Some reviews have criticized the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter tires, particularly in temperatures exceeding 40F. Some customers have reported punctures from small nails and screws due to the tires’ softness in warmer weather, raising questions about their robustness. While the tires work well in cold, snowy weather, they may not operate well in warmer winter conditions or throughout spring. Since the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter tires, despite its many benefits, may not be suitable for all climates, such criticisms emphasize the significance of understanding one’s region’s winter circumstances while choosing winter tires.
Conclusion
The Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter Tire is a reliable choice for drivers navigating winter’s unpredictable conditions. It offers safety, performance, and value, with features like enhanced ice traction, Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, and a design for even tread wear. Suitable for sedans, SUVs, minivans, and more, it ensures reliable performance across dry, wet, and snowy conditions. Compared to competitors like Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, and Pirelli, the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter stands out, offering a budget-friendly and balanced approach to winter driving needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Ultra Grip Winter Tire need studding?
Studs are optional and improve ice traction, but the tire works well in snow and slush without them.
How does the tire handle deep snow?
Deep snow performance is improved by its large tread grooves and biting edges.
Are Ultra Grip Winter tires noisy?
Compared to other winter tires, the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter Tire reduces road noise.
How do these tires handle wet roads?
Wet road performance is great due to their large tire grooves that prevent hydroplaning.
What makes these winter tires good?
They perform well in winter because to their directed tread pattern, multiple biting edges, and metal stud option.