Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Pirelli Ice Friction
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Pirelli Ice Friction finished ahead 2 times and the UltraGrip Arctic 2 not once. The UltraGrip Arctic 2 was stronger in wet and ice, the Ice Friction in dry, comfort and value.
Performance profile
6 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
UltraGrip Arctic 2
Ice Friction
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. The scale stops at 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 2 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
UltraGrip Arctic 2
Ice Friction
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
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | UltraGrip Arctic 2 | Gap | Ice Friction | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Ice Friction ahead | ||||
| Subj. Road Score pts | scored | 20% | scored | 0-1 |
| Dry Lane Change km/h | 69 | 2.9% | 71 | 0-1 |
| Wet UltraGrip Arctic 2 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 1-1 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 63.65 | 5% | 60.6 | 2-0 |
| Snow Level | ||||
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 1-1 |
| Ice UltraGrip Arctic 2 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Ice Handling pts | scored | 6.3% | scored | 1-0 |
| Comfort Ice Friction ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 70% | scored | 0-2 |
| Value Ice Friction ahead | ||||
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 6.11 | 2.5% | 5.95 | 0-2 |
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 2 tests, 2025 to 2026
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 | UltraGrip Arctic 2 | Field | Ice Friction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 7Studded Winter Tyres | P3 of 5Nordic Friction Winter Tyres | |
| 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | P1 of 8Studded Winter Tyres | P2 of 7Nordic Friction Winter Tyres |
UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Ice Friction: your questions
Is the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 or the Pirelli Ice Friction the better tyre?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Pirelli Ice Friction finished ahead 2 times and the UltraGrip Arctic 2 not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the UltraGrip Arctic 2 scores 9.2 and the Ice Friction 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the UltraGrip Arctic 2 or the Ice Friction?
The UltraGrip Arctic 2 led 3 of the 4 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 5% higher speed across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Ice Friction led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
Across the shared tests the snow measurements are split 1-1 between the UltraGrip Arctic 2 and the Ice Friction.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Ice Friction used 2.5% less fuel (2 tests).
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 9/10 for the UltraGrip Arctic 2 and 9.5/10 for the Ice Friction.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the UltraGrip Arctic 2 91% from 1 reviews and the Ice Friction 97% from 4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the UltraGrip Arctic 2 was the dearer tyre in 1 of them, by 1.5% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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Every Goodyear vs Pirelli test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tyres →
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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.
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.