Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
In the 12 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 finished ahead 11 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 once. The Winter Sottozero 3 was stronger in dry, the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 in wet, snow and comfort.
Performance profile
9 measurements from the 12 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter Sottozero 3
UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
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 97%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 1 measurement recorded in only one shared test is left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Winter Sottozero 3
UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
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.
Where owners rate each higher
Winter Sottozero 3
UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59 reviews and the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 88% from 32. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
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 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Gap | UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Winter Sottozero 3 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 43.98 | 1.1% | 44.48 | 3-1 |
| Dry Handling km/h | 106.2 | 0.3% | 106 | 2-2 |
| Wet UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 44.55 | 1.4% | 43.7 | 1-3 |
| Wet Handling km/h | 73.15 | 0.1% | 73.23 | 1-3 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 83.67 | 0.6% | 83.1 | 2-1 |
| Snow UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 28.05 | 4.7% | 26.7 | 0-4 |
| Snow Handling km/h | 54.9 | 2.1% | 56.13 | 0-4 |
| Comfort UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 72.83 | 0.1 dB | 72.9 | 1-2 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Wear km | 29,625 | 8.9% | 32,250 | 0-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.48 | 0.5% | 8.53 | 2-1 |
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 12 tests, 2015 to 2018
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 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Field | UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 10 | P5 of 10 | |
| 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 10 | P1 of 10 | |
| 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 10 | P1 of 10 | |
| 2017 50 Winter Tyre Shoot Out | P8 of 50 | P3 of 50 | |
| 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P18 of 20 | P4 of 20 | |
| 2017 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 8 | P4 of 8 | |
| 2016 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 6 | P2 of 6 | |
| 2016 AutoBild Winter UHP Tyre Test | P4 of 8 | P1 of 8 | |
| 2016 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 225/45 R17 | P2 of 13 | P4 of 13 | |
| 2015 AMS UHP Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 10 | P1 of 10 | |
| 2015 ACE 17 Inch Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 8 | P2 of 8 | |
| 2015 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 8 | P1 of 8 |
Winter Sottozero 3 vs UltraGrip Performance Gen 1: your questions
Is the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 or the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 the better tyre?
In the 12 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 finished ahead 11 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter Sottozero 3 scores 7.9 and the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 8.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter Sottozero 3 or the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1?
The UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 led 7 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.4% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter Sottozero 3 led 5 of the 8 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.1% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 led 8 of the 8 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.7% shorter on snow across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winter Sottozero 3 had 0.5% lower rolling resistance (3 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Winter Sottozero 3 and 8.8/10 for the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.6/10 for the Winter Sottozero 3 and 8.7/10 for the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59 reviews and the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 88% from 32. 81% of Winter Sottozero 3 owners would buy it again, against 94% for the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the two were priced within 1% of each other on average.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter Sottozero 3 is made in 98 sizes (16 to 21 inch) and the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 in 27 (16 to 21 inch). 18 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter Sottozero 3 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 B and C.
Which is the newer tyre?
The UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Winter Sottozero 3 in 2013. The UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 replaced the Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 2.
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 Winter Sottozero 3 Review the UltraGrip Performance Gen 1
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.