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Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Hankook Winter I cept RS3

Winter Passenger Car 13 shared tests
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
TR Score
9.5/10
Owners say
90% · 15
Head to head 11-2 wins in 13 shared tests 2024-2026 · 8 publications
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
TR Score
8.8/10
Owners say
77% · 28

In the 13 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finished ahead 11 times and the Winter I cept RS3 twice. The UltraGrip Performance 3 lasted 12.6% longer in the wear tests; the Winter I cept RS3 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 1.5% higher speed.

Data updated

Which should you buy?

Choose the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 if you want the most dependable all-round winter tyre-particularly for mixed conditions (wet + slush + real snow), strong braking/handling confidence and lower cabin noise. Choose the Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 if your priority is maximum aquaplaning security and strong value for money in a predominantly wet winter climate, and you can accept that braking/handling consistency (and in some sizes, tread life) may not match the Goodyear.

Where the UltraGrip Performance 3 is stronger

  • Consistently higher overall performance across tests (wins 11 of 13 shared tests), with strong balance rather than one “headline” strength
  • Stronger braking performance overall, especially in the dry (10 category wins to 1) and often competitive wet braking (8 wins to 4)
  • More confidence-inspiring wet handling and steering feel (wet handling wins 6 to 0; strong subjective wet scores in multiple tests)
Everything on the UltraGrip Performance 3

Where the Winter I cept RS3 is stronger

  • Class-leading aquaplaning resilience, especially straight-line (straight aquaplaning wins 7 to 3) and frequently strong in curved aquaplaning
  • Strong value proposition: often cheaper or better value-per-performance (e.g., AvD value metric advantage; described as value pick in Sport Auto/AMS context)
  • Can be very competitive on snow in some programmes (notably snow braking/traction in Auto Express tests; snow braking category edges overall 5 wins to 4)
Everything on the Winter I cept RS3

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 Winter I cept RS3 at a glance

Category UltraGrip Performance 3 Gap Winter I cept RS3
Shared tests won13 shared tests 11 2
Dry19 measurements 13 The UltraGrip Performance 3 stopped 2.5% shorter in the dry (11 tests) 5
Wet47 measurements 29 The UltraGrip Performance 3 stopped 1% shorter in the wet (12 tests) 17
Snow34 measurements 21 The UltraGrip Performance 3 averaged a 1.6% higher speed on the snow handling course (3 tests) 10
Ice4 measurements 1 The Winter I cept RS3 stopped 2.3% shorter on ice (4 tests) 3
Comfort13 measurements 10 The UltraGrip Performance 3 was 1.4 dB quieter (9 tests) 0
Value20 measurements 11 The UltraGrip Performance 3 lasted 12.6% longer in the wear tests (6 tests) 8
Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold 9.5/10 The UltraGrip Performance 3 by 0.7 8.8/10
Owner rating15 and 28 reviews 90% The UltraGrip Performance 3 by 13 points 77%
Would buy againshare of owners 100% The UltraGrip Performance 3 by 26 points 74%
Pricein the 10 tests that listed prices +25.1% The UltraGrip Performance 3 was dearer in 10 of 10 Cheaper
Sizes madeEU label registrations 175 27 sizes made in both 46

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 13 tests, 2024 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 Performance 3 Field Winter I cept RS3
The BEST Winter Tyres for 2026/27 Tyre Reviews · 2026 · 205/55 R17 Tyre Reviews test P1 of 9 P7 of 9
2026 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test Sport Auto · 2026 · 205/45 R17 · Mazda MX-5 P3 of 9 P6 of 9
2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test AvD · 2026 · 225/45 R17 · Audi A3 P3 of 15 P7 of 15
2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 225/50 R17 ADAC · 2026 · 225/50 R17 · Audi A4 P3 of 16 P6 of 16
2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 ADAC · 2026 · 185/65 R15 · Skoda Fabia P6 of 16 P3 of 16
2026 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test Auto Express · 2026 · 205/55 R16 P6 of 11 P3 of 11
2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test Auto Motor Und Sport · 2025 · 215/55 R17 · Audi SQ2 P2 of 10 P4 of 10
2024 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test Auto Express · 2024 · 205/55 R16 P2 of 7 P3 of 7
2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild · 2024 · 205/55 R16 P2 of 20 P6 of 20
2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test Auto Zeitung · 2024 · 215/55 R17 P2 of 10 P5 of 10
2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test ADAC · 2024 · 215/55 R17 P1 of 16 P5 of 16
2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test ADAC · 2024 · 205/55 R16 P2 of 12 P4 of 12
2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test Auto Bild · 2024 · 205/55 R16 P9 of 55 P14 of 55

Performance profile

28 measurements from the 13 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.

Dry BrakingDry Handling (s)Dry Handling (km/h)Subj. Dry HandlingWet BrakingWet Braking - ConcreteWet Handling (s)Wet Handling (km/h)Subj. Wet HandlingWet Circle (m/s)Wet Circle (s)Straight AquaCurved AquaplaningSnow BrakingSnow TractionSnow TractionSnow HandlingSnow Handling (km/h)Subj. Snow HandlingSnow CircleSnow SlalomIce BrakingSubj. ComfortNoiseWearRolling ResistanceFuel ConsumptionAbrasion

Where each is furthest ahead

UltraGrip Performance 3

Winter I cept RS3

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 95%: 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.

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 Winter I cept RS3 Wins
43.67 2.5% 44.78 10-1
65.76 0.9% 65.21 0-2
112.5 0.1% 112.4 1-2
scored 4.6% scored 2-0
39.13 1% 39.6 8-4
39.65 3.2% 40.98 4-0
94.85 1.1% 95.91 3-0
72.64 1.4% 71.6 3-0
scored 26.8% scored 2-0
7.67 0.2% 7.66 1-1
12.37 1.6% 12.57 3-0
83.25 1.5% 84.43 3-7
3.37 2.4% 3.44 2-5
19.3 0.5% 19.36 4-5
5.61 0.7% 5.64 1-1
1,657 3.5% 1,635 5-2
76.18 0.9% 76.94 2-1
82.1 1.6% 80.7 3-0
scored 29.4% scored 3-0
4.28 3.1% 4.15 2-0
3.55 0.6% 3.56 1-1
20.03 2.3% 19.53 1-3
scored 14.3% scored 1-0
scored = scored 0-0
68.67 1.4 dB 70.03 9-0
48,967 12.6% 44,145 4-2
8.17 0.7% 8.22 3-4
5.43 0.5% 5.47 1-1
62.75 4.7% 67.5 3-1

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. "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 Winter I cept RS3 8.8 out of 10.

Tyre Reviews Score by category
UltraGrip Performance 3 Category Winter I cept RS3
89Dry 60
95Wet 93
85Comfort 36
70Value 52
87Snow 75
22Ice 33

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

What owners rate
UltraGrip Performance 3 Category Winter I cept RS3
8.6Dry Grip 8.5
8.8Wet Grip 8.3
8.6Road Feedback 7.6
8.1Handling 8
9Wear 7.6
8.8Comfort 6.7
9.5Snow Grip 9
8.1Ice Grip 7.7

Owners rate the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15 reviews and the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28. 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.

This 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.

94% Cupra Leon 225/40 R18 15,000 miles October 22, 2026
All 15 UltraGrip Performance 3 reviews

Hankook Winter I cept RS3

  • 77%from 28 reviews
  • 74%would buy again
  • 156,320 milesdriven by reviewers

Owners generally rate the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 as a capable winter tyre with strong real-world grip, particularly in snow and wet conditions, backed up by solid dry grip and handling for a winter pattern. Around two in five owners specifically praise snow traction and wet grip, and a smaller but meaningful group also mention confident aquaplaning resistance and wet handling. The standout drawback is road noise: nearly two thirds of owners mention it and most of those are unhappy, often describing it as noticeably loud at speed. A smaller group also report softer, less responsive steering feel, with mixed feedback on tread life.

  • Strong snow traction and confidence in winter conditions
  • Reassuring wet grip
  • Very good dry grip for a winter tyre
  • Secure wet handling
  • Noticeably loud road noise, especially at speed
  • Steering feels soft / less responsive
  • Mixed or disappointing tread life

Summarised by AI from 25 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.

I drove some 13000 km with them, once they got 3 years old dry rot cracks were already visible in the tread area around the tread blocks, my winter tires before them were Continental TS850 replaced at 10 years old, gave them away to my father, they were made in 2012, still no dry rot cracks in them at 14 years old, but they aren't as grippy as my new Hankooks. However, Continental is a premium class, Hankooks are middle and now I can see why.
What I misjudged about Hankooks is noise above some 95 km/h, it's more the engine getting more noisy similar noise to the tyres humming excessively, once I distinguished that, I can say these Hankooks aren't noisy at all. However, dry rot at just 3 years old is not what I like, I almost wish I paid 80 euros per tyre for premium class instead 60 for these Hankooks, they surely aren't going to last me 10 years due to dry rot. But for now, they do their job well, if you wear out tyres within a few years, they are good tyres

77% Ford Focus 195/65 R15 8,000 miles September 20, 2026
All 28 Winter I cept RS3 reviews

Sizes, EU label and lineage

From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 175 sizes of the UltraGrip Performance 3 and 46 of the Winter I cept RS3, 27 of them made in both.

Category UltraGrip Performance 3 Winter I cept RS3
Season Winter Winter
Sizes made 175 sizes, 14 to 23 inch 46 sizes, 14 to 17 inch
Made in both 27 sizes 175/65 R14175/65 R15185/60 R15185/65 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15185/50 R16185/55 R16185/60 R16195/55 R16195/60 R16205/45 R16and 15 more
EU label wet grip B60%C39%D0%A0% B100%
EU label rolling resistance C74%B16%D9%A1%E0% C58%D42%
EU label noise 69-74 dB B87%A13% 70-72 dB B100%
Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes 415 of 415 189 of 189
Replaced - Hankook Winter i cept RS2 (2021)
Awards Commended: Best Winter Tyre (DriverReviews, 2025/26) -
Price in the shared tests The UltraGrip Performance 3 was the dearer tyre in 10 of the 10 tests that listed prices, by 25.1% 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.

Goodyear's UltraGrip Performance 3 and Hankook's Winter i*cept RS3 sit in the same “premium winter” conversation, but they're built with slightly different priorities. The Goodyear is positioned as an ultra-high-performance winter option, aiming for a broad spread of grip, stability and refinement, while the Hankook leans more premium-touring/value-often targeting secure wet-road manners and strong aquaplaning resistance at a sharper price.

Across 13 shared professional tests in multiple sizes, the story isn't simply “one is good, one is bad.” It's a consistent pattern: the Goodyear tends to score higher overall thanks to stronger balance in braking, wet handling and refinement, while the Hankook repeatedly produces standout results in deep-water aquaplaning metrics and can be very competitive on snow braking in certain tests. The result is a choice between all-round “top-table” performance versus a more water-focused, cost-effective alternative that comes with a few trade-offs.

Conclusion

Looking across the full set of shared tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is the more consistently high-ranking tyre: it leads the head-to-head overall in 11 of 13 shared tests and takes the big headline win in “The BEST Winter Tyres for 2026/27” (1st of 9 vs Hankook 7th). Its advantages show up where it matters most for everyday safety and confidence: dry braking (10 category wins to 1), wet handling (6 to 0), cabin noise (9 to 0), and generally stronger subjective control on snow. In several tests the gaps are meaningful rather than marginal-for example in the 2026 Sport Auto test the Goodyear's snow traction advantage is large (1.31 vs 1.10, ~19%), and in AvD it also pairs performance with notably better projected wear (51,899 km vs 45,721 km).

The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3's recurring “signature” is water security and value. It wins straight aquaplaning far more often (7 wins to Goodyear's 3), frequently performs strongly in curved aquaplaning, and it's regularly positioned as a smart buy when budgets matter (e.g., AvD value: 9.62 vs 11.66 price/1000 in Hankook's favour). It can also be genuinely strong on snow in specific test programmes (Auto Express 2026: best snow braking and strong traction), but its results are less uniform: multiple reports cite longer dry/wet braking than the leaders, and several note handling traits like understeer on snow or a less “biting” front end in the wet.

Practical takeaway: if you want the safer, quieter, more consistently “top-tier” winter tyre that rarely has a weak chapter-especially when conditions vary between cold wet roads, slush and real snow-the Goodyear is the clearer all-round pick. If your winters are dominated by heavy rain/standing water and you want strong aquaplaning resistance with good overall competence at a better price, the Hankook makes sense-just accept that depending on size and test, it may give up some braking/handling sharpness and, in some datasets, tread life.

UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Winter I cept RS3: your questions

Is the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 or the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 the better tyre?

In the 13 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 finished ahead 11 times and the Winter I cept RS3 twice. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the UltraGrip Performance 3 scores 9.5 and the Winter I cept RS3 8.8 out of 10.

Which is better in the wet, the UltraGrip Performance 3 or the Winter I cept RS3?

The UltraGrip Performance 3 led 29 of the 47 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1% shorter in the wet across 12 tests.

Which is better in the dry?

The UltraGrip Performance 3 led 13 of the 19 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.5% shorter in the dry across 11 tests.

Which is better in snow?

The UltraGrip Performance 3 led 21 of the 34 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 1.6% higher speed on the snow handling course across 3 tests.

Which lasts longer and costs less to run?

The UltraGrip Performance 3 lasted 12.6% longer in the wear tests (6 tests) and shed 4.7% less rubber in the abrasion test (4 tests); the Winter I cept RS3 had 0.7% lower rolling resistance (7 tests). Owners rate wear 9/10 for the UltraGrip Performance 3 and 7.6/10 for the Winter I cept RS3.

Which is quieter and more comfortable?

The UltraGrip Performance 3 was 1.4 dB quieter (9 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.8/10 for the UltraGrip Performance 3 and 6.7/10 for the Winter I cept RS3.

What do owners say?

Owners rate the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15 reviews and the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28. 100% of UltraGrip Performance 3 owners would buy it again, against 74% for the Winter I cept RS3.

Which is more expensive?

In the 10 tests that listed prices, the UltraGrip Performance 3 was the dearer tyre in 10 of them, by 25.1% 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 Winter I cept RS3 in 46 (14 to 17 inch). 27 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 Winter I cept RS3 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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