Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 90% · 15
- TR Score
- 9.3/10
- Owners say
- 80% · 3
In the 16 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finished ahead 14 times and the Cinturato Winter 2 twice. The UltraGrip Performance 3 lasted 23.9% longer in the wear tests; the Cinturato Winter 2 stopped 9.2% shorter on ice.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 for mixed or snow-rich winters, strong aquaplaning reserves, and long-term value. Pick Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 if your climate is mostly wet/mild with occasional ice and you prefer a touring feel, accepting shorter wear and less consistent dry/snow performance.
Where the UltraGrip Performance 3 is stronger
- Outstanding snow braking and traction consistency across tests
- Best-in-class aquaplaning safety and strong wet handling balance
- High projected mileage and low abrasion for superior long-term value
Where the Cinturato Winter 2 is stronger
- Strong results in select wet protocols (incl. wet braking, concrete)
- Competitive ice braking in ADAC testing
- Touring-oriented ride with quiet pass-by noise in some tests
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Cinturato Winter 2 at a glance
| Category | UltraGrip Performance 3 | Gap | Cinturato Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won16 shared tests | 14 | 2 | |
| Dry22 measurements | 18 | The UltraGrip Performance 3 stopped 1.1% shorter in the dry (11 tests) | 2 |
| Wet53 measurements | 35 | The UltraGrip Performance 3 held 11.1% more grip in curved aquaplaning (9 tests) | 16 |
| Snow42 measurements | 30 | The UltraGrip Performance 3 stopped 1.8% shorter on snow (14 tests) | 9 |
| Ice2 measurements | 0 | The Cinturato Winter 2 stopped 9.2% shorter on ice (2 tests) | 2 |
| Comfort13 measurements | 10 | The UltraGrip Performance 3 was 1 dB quieter (8 tests) | 2 |
| Value17 measurements | 12 | The UltraGrip Performance 3 lasted 23.9% longer in the wear tests (5 tests) | 3 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.5/10 | The UltraGrip Performance 3 by 0.2 | 9.3/10 |
| Owner rating15 and 3 reviews | 90% | The UltraGrip Performance 3 by 10 points | 80% |
| Pricein the 11 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Cinturato Winter 2 was dearer in 6 of 11 | +2.1% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 175 | 30 sizes made in both | 41 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 16 tests, 2023 to 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 | UltraGrip Performance 3 | Field | Cinturato Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 20 | P10 of 20 | |
| 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | P3 of 51 | P9 of 51 | |
| 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 10 | P7 of 10 | |
| 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 7 | P5 of 7 | |
| 2024 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 7 | P4 of 7 | |
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 20 | P13 of 20 | |
| 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 10 | P4 of 10 | |
| 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | P1 of 16 | P7 of 16 | |
| The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tyres for 2024 | P4 of 5 | P3 of 5 | |
| 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 12 | P11 of 12 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test | P9 of 55 | P4 of 55 | |
| 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 9 | P7 of 9 | |
| 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test | P1 of 11 | P6 of 11 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 20 | P5 of 20 | |
| 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | P3 of 54 | P9 of 54 | |
| 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 11 | P6 of 11 |
Performance profile
26 measurements from the 16 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
UltraGrip Performance 3
Cinturato Winter 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. The scale stops at 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 3 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
UltraGrip Performance 3
Cinturato Winter 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.
Where owners rate each higher
UltraGrip Performance 3
Cinturato Winter 2
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 2 80% from 3. 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | UltraGrip Performance 3 | Gap | Cinturato Winter 2 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.66 | 1.1% | 44.14 | 10-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 72.73 | 0.5% | 73.13 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 111.8 | 0.9% | 110.8 | 6-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 0.9% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 40.05 | 0.7% | 40.37 | 8-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 39.5 | 2.9% | 38.35 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.81 | 0.5% | 72.39 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 78.89 | 1.2% | 77.97 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 4.8% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 7.42 | 0.5% | 7.38 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 12.4 | 0.3% | 12.35 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 84.43 | 0.9% | 83.76 | 9-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 10.82 | 11.1% | 10.1 | 9-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 24.92 | 1.8% | 25.43 | 13-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.73 | 1% | 5.79 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1,811 | 1.1% | 1,788 | 6-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 75.61 | = | 75.6 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 64.27 | 0.8% | 63.55 | 3-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 14.7% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4.28 | 3.2% | 4.16 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3.45 | 0.2% | 3.46 | 2-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 19.4 | 9.2% | 17.6 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 15% | scored | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 6.6% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 70.45 | 1 dB | 71.4 | 6-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 50,520 | 23.9% | 41,159 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.37 | 3.3% | 8.64 | 5-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.2 | = | 5.2 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 56 | 26.3% | 76 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the UltraGrip Performance 3 scores 9.5 and the Cinturato Winter 2 9.3 out of 10.
| UltraGrip Performance 3 | Category | Cinturato Winter 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | Dry | 65 | ||
| 95 | Wet | 90 | ||
| 85 | Comfort | 42 | ||
| 70 | Value | 33 | ||
| 87 | Snow | 64 | ||
| 22 | Ice | 76 | ||
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.
What owners say
| UltraGrip Performance 3 | Category | Cinturato Winter 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | Dry Grip | 8 | ||
| 8.8 | Wet Grip | 8.7 | ||
| 8.6 | Road Feedback | 8 | ||
| 8.1 | Handling | 7.7 | ||
| 9 | Wear | 6 | ||
| 8.8 | Comfort | 7.7 | ||
| 9.5 | Snow Grip | 9 | ||
| 8.1 | Ice Grip | 7 | ||
Owners rate the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 2 80% from 3. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
- 90%from 15 reviews
- 100%would buy again
- 62,800 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers rate the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 very highly, praising its excellent grip and braking on dry and wet roads, strong traction in snow, and a quiet, comfortable, and predictable ride. Handling is often described as stable and confidence-inspiring, with several noting good highway manners. A minority mention weaker performance on pure ice and a softer, less sporty steering feel at the limit. Overall sentiment is strongly positive with only a few caveats.
- strong dry grip and braking
- excellent wet grip and braking
- very good snow traction
- quiet and comfortable ride
- limited grip on pure ice compared to some rivals
- softer steering feel and less sporty lateral grip at high speeds
Summarised by AI from 12 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 15 UltraGrip Performance 3 reviewsThis is exceptional tyre in winter i swapped it now with Michelin PA 5 which is even better on snow but lucks a bit on wet. But you cant go wrong with niether of those. I cant wait Michelin s to worn out so i can try pirelli.
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
- 80%from 3 reviews
- 20,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 Cinturato Winter 2 reviewsIt’s the best winter tire I’ve had so far great wet and snow traction also the tire is very quiet (test say otherwise but on my car this tire is quiet) big downfall is the wear of the tire after 1 winter the tires lost almost half of their tread . Last winter was weak so maybe that’s because but I’ve heard that pirelli don’t last that long. Other than that great tire
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 175 sizes of the UltraGrip Performance 3 and 41 of the Cinturato Winter 2, 30 of them made in both.
| Category | UltraGrip Performance 3 | Cinturato Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 175 sizes, 14 to 23 inch | 41 sizes, 16 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 30 sizes 195/55 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16215/55 R16215/60 R16215/65 R16175/65 R17205/45 R17205/50 R17205/55 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17and 18 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B60%C39%D0%A0% | B91%A9% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C74%B16%D9%A1%E0% | C78%B16%D5% |
| EU label noise | 69-74 dB B87%A13% | 69-72 dB B84%A16% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 415 of 415 | 74 of 74 |
| On the market since | - | 2021 |
| Replaced | - | Pirelli Cinturato Winter (2015) |
| Replaced by | - | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 |
| Awards | Commended: Best Winter Tyre (DriverReviews, 2025/26) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Cinturato Winter 2 was the dearer tyre in 6 of the 11 tests that listed prices, by 2.1% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This head-to-head pits two very different winter philosophies against each other: Goodyear's UltraGrip Performance 3, an ultra-high-performance winter tyre aimed at dynamic, all-weather control, versus Pirelli's Cinturato Winter 2, a premium-touring option focused on comfort and wet-road assurance. Across 16 shared tests, the Goodyear consistently runs at or near the front of the field, while the Pirelli delivers pockets of strength in wet braking and balanced touring manners.
Expect notably stronger all-round performance, longevity and aquaplaning safety from the Goodyear, with repeated wins in snow braking/traction and across dry metrics. The Pirelli counters with competitive wet grip in some protocols (including concrete wet braking) and decent comfort at times, but shows variability on dry roads and lower wear life, with occasional strengths on ice braking.
Conclusion
The data is decisive: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is the more complete winter tyre. It out-positions the Pirelli in the majority of comparative tests, leads on aquaplaning safety (both straight and curved), brakes shorter on snow in virtually every study, and pairs strong wet performance with class-leading projected mileage and lower abrasion-delivering better value over the life of the tyre.
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 remains viable for drivers prioritizing touring comfort and select wet protocols (notably wet braking on certain surfaces and good curved aquaplaning in some tests), plus relatively strong ice braking in ADAC. However, its inconsistent dry precision, weaker snow braking versus Goodyear, higher rolling resistance in several tests, and significantly shorter wear undermine its case. If you drive through a wide range of winter conditions or simply want fewer compromises, the Goodyear is the safer, longer-lasting bet; opt for the Pirelli only if your winters are mainly wet/mild with occasional ice and you value a touring feel.
UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Cinturato Winter 2: your questions
Is the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 or the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 the better tyre?
In the 16 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finished ahead 14 times and the Cinturato Winter 2 twice. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the UltraGrip Performance 3 scores 9.5 and the Cinturato Winter 2 9.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the UltraGrip Performance 3 or the Cinturato Winter 2?
The UltraGrip Performance 3 led 35 of the 53 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 11.1% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 9 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The UltraGrip Performance 3 led 18 of the 22 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.1% shorter in the dry across 11 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The UltraGrip Performance 3 led 30 of the 42 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.8% shorter on snow across 14 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The UltraGrip Performance 3 lasted 23.9% longer in the wear tests (5 tests), had 3.3% lower rolling resistance (9 tests) and shed 26.3% less rubber in the abrasion test (2 tests). Owners rate wear 9/10 for the UltraGrip Performance 3 and 6/10 for the Cinturato Winter 2.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The UltraGrip Performance 3 was 1 dB quieter (8 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.8/10 for the UltraGrip Performance 3 and 7.7/10 for the Cinturato Winter 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 2 80% from 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 11 tests that listed prices, the Cinturato Winter 2 was the dearer tyre in 6 of them, by 2.1% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The UltraGrip Performance 3 is made in 175 sizes (14 to 23 inch) and the Cinturato Winter 2 in 41 (16 to 20 inch). 30 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the UltraGrip Performance 3 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Cinturato Winter 2 B and C.
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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.
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