Continental VikingContact 8 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
The data show Continental building its case on elite ice capability and strong snow traction, paired with competitive wet and dry manners. Goodyear counters with class-leading aquaplaning resistance, sharper steering feel on tarmac, lower fuel consumption, and high comfort. The result is a nuanced choice: maximize deep-winter security or prioritize calm, efficient road manners when conditions are mixed.
Test Results
Independent comparison tire tests are the best source of data to get tire information from, and the good news is there have been six tests which compare both tires directly!
| Tire | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Continental VikingContact 8 | five | |
| Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 | one |
While it might look like the Continental VikingContact 8 is better than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tires are very complicated objects which means where one tire is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tires compare across multiple tire test categories.
Key Strengths
- Class-leading ice performance (repeated wins in ice braking/traction/handling)
- Strong overall snow ability with excellent traction and stability
- Very competitive dry and wet braking with low external noise in several tests
- Low rolling resistance for the category, supporting efficiency
- Best-in-class aquaplaning resistance (straight and curved) and strong wet handling
- Sharp, precise steering and high subjective handling scores on dry
- Lower fuel consumption across multiple tests
- High comfort and low cabin noise impressions
Dry Braking
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during four dry braking tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 stopped the vehicle in 3.32% less distance than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Dry Braking: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was 0.17% faster around a lap than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during two subj. dry handling tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 scored 3.57% more points than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during two wet braking tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 stopped the vehicle in 1.74% less distance than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Wet Braking: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during three wet handling [s] tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was 0.81% faster around a wet lap than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during two subj. wet handling tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 scored 5.09% more points than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 1.47% faster around a wet circle than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Wet Circle: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during four straight aqua tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 floated at a 7.97% higher speed than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Straight Aqua: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 slipped out at a 25.25% higher speed than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during three snow braking tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 stopped the vehicle in 0.57% less distance than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Snow Braking: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during three snow traction tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 accelerated 0.8% faster than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Snow Traction: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during two snow handling [s] tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was 0.12% faster around a lap than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 performed equally well in subj. snow handling tests.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Both tires performed equally well
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one snow slalom tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 2.36% faster through a slalom than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Snow Slalom: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during three ice braking tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 stopped the vehicle 4.96% shorter than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Ice Braking: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Ice Traction
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during four ice traction tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 accelerated 5.43% faster than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Ice Traction: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Ice Traction winner was calculated >>
Ice Handling [s]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two ice handling [s] tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 1.69% faster around a lap than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Ice Handling [s]: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Ice Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Ice Handling
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two subj. ice handling tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 9.62% more points than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Subj. Ice Handling: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Ice Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 scored 1.26% more points than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Subj. Noise
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 performed equally well in subj. noise tests.
Best In Subj. Noise: Both tires performed equally well
See how the Subj. Noise winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during two noise tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 measured 0.29% quieter than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Noise: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one rolling resistance tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 had a 3.95% lower rolling resistance than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 was better during two fuel consumption tests. On average the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 used 1.03% less fuel than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Tire Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Continental VikingContact 8 and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
In total the Continental VikingContact 8 has been reviewed 5 times and drivers have given the tire 80% overall.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 has been reviewed 3 times and drivers have given the tire 75% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Continental VikingContact 8.
Snow grip is good and very predictable, ice grip is good for a friction tire but if you need ice grip studded tires are the way to go.
Where the tire really shines is the comfort and noise part. Very quiet impression and the comfort has a rounded/isolated feel to it.
Overall a very... Continue reading this review using the link below
Conclusion
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 shines for real-world road use: excellent straight and curved aquaplaning, strong wet handling, precise steering on dry, lower fuel use, and higher comfort scores. On pure ice, it trails Continental by meaningful margins in several tests, but remains competitive elsewhere and often easier to drive quickly on clear tarmac. If your winters are wet and slushy with frequent bare asphalt, Goodyear's balance and efficiency are compelling; if you regularly face polished ice and packed snow, Continental's grip advantage is decisive. The practical takeaway: pick Continental for maximum winter grip confidence, Goodyear for confident, quiet, and efficient everyday winter commuting.
Key Differences
- Continental dominates on ice (e.g., up to ~6-12% better in ice braking/traction in some tests), a meaningful safety margin on slick surfaces.
- Goodyear leads aquaplaning (often by 6-19% in straight, and markedly in curved), boosting confidence in rain/slush.
- Goodyear typically steers more crisply and scores higher in subjective dry/wet handling; Continental can feel slower to react.
- Continental often stops shorter in dry; wet braking is split, with slight swings by test, but Goodyear can trail in wet stops.
- Fuel use: Goodyear consistently lower; Continental occasionally posts best rolling resistance values in specific tests but loses fuel economy head-to-head.
- Noise/comfort: Goodyear usually edges comfort; Continental posts very low external noise in several results.
Overall Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
Based on the tire test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tire has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tire buying choice.Similar Comparisons
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Footnote
This page has been developed using tire industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tires in the same test.
Why is this important? Tire testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tire test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tire tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tire Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tire comparison, Tire Reviews doesn't.