Toyo Observe Ice Freezer vs Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
The Toyo Observe Ice Freezer and the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 have met in one independent test so far, and the UltraGrip Arctic 2 finished ahead. The UltraGrip Arctic 2 was stronger in wet, snow, ice, comfort and value.
Performance profile
6 measurements from the one shared test, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure.
Where each is furthest ahead
Observe Ice Freezer
Not ahead on any measurement here
UltraGrip Arctic 2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it.
Where each scores higher
Observe Ice Freezer
UltraGrip Arctic 2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Every measurement, side by side
Both tyres' figures from the one test that ran them together, on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The bar grows towards the tyre that did better.
| Measurement | Observe Ice Freezer | Gap | UltraGrip Arctic 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet UltraGrip Arctic 2 ahead | |||
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | 3 | 100% | 6 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 58.8 | 9.9% | 64.6 |
| Snow UltraGrip Arctic 2 ahead | |||
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | 7 | 28.6% | 9 |
| Ice UltraGrip Arctic 2 ahead | |||
| Subj. Ice Handling pts | 6 | 50% | 9 |
| Comfort UltraGrip Arctic 2 ahead | |||
| Subj. Comfort pts | 4 | 25% | 5 |
| Value UltraGrip Arctic 2 ahead | |||
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 6.01 | 0.9% | 5.96 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared.
Head to head in 1 test in 2025
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Observe Ice Freezer | Field | UltraGrip Arctic 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | P8 of 8 | P1 of 8 |
Observe Ice Freezer vs UltraGrip Arctic 2: your questions
Is the Toyo Observe Ice Freezer or the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 the better tyre?
The Toyo Observe Ice Freezer and the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 have met in one independent test so far, and the UltraGrip Arctic 2 finished ahead. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Observe Ice Freezer scores 3.1 and the UltraGrip Arctic 2 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Observe Ice Freezer or the UltraGrip Arctic 2?
The UltraGrip Arctic 2 led 2 of the 2 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The UltraGrip Arctic 2 led 1 of the 1 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8/10 for the Observe Ice Freezer and 9/10 for the UltraGrip Arctic 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Observe Ice Freezer 91% from 1 reviews and the UltraGrip Arctic 2 91% from 1.
Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Review the Observe Ice Freezer Review the UltraGrip Arctic 2
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.