Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1

The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 is a Ultra High Performance Winter tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

Tire review data from 28 tire reviews averaging 88% over 276,940 miles driven, and 19 tests with an average result of 3rd.

Dry Grip 86%
Wet Grip 90%
Road Feedback 83%
Handling 85%
Wear 88%
Comfort 90%
Buy again 94%
Snow Grip 90%
Ice Grip 84%

First On MarketMay 2021
Wheel Size16 - 21"
Width205 - 305mm
Profile30 - 60
Rolling ResistanceB - E
Wet GripB - D
Noise (dB)69 - 73
Winter Rating3PMSF Rated

The UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 is ranked 6th of 43 Winter Ultra High Performance tires.

This tire replaced the Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance 2 and this tire has been replaced by the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus.

Tests Included

19

Best Result

1st

Worst Result

5th

Average Result

3rd

Latest Tire Test Results

2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tire Test
5th of 11 tires
  • Premium tires with excellent performance in the snow and wet.
  • Average dry grip and dry braking.
View Full Test >>
2018 Auto Express Winter Tire Test
4th of 10 tires
  • Well balanced performance, excellent aquaplaning result.
  • Slightly weak dry handling, high rolling resistance.
View Full Test >>
2017 Auto Express Winter Tire Test
4th of 8 tires
  • A previous test winner, the Goodyear Ultragrip Performance Gen-1 has to now settle for fourth place overall. A good overall performance, particularly strong in the snow and dry, but let down a little by its wet performance.
View Full Test >>

SizeFuelWetNoise
16 inch
205/55R16 91 HDC72
205/60R16 96 H XLCC71
205/60R16 92 VDD69
205/55R16 91 HCB72
205/55R16 91 HCB72
205/60R16 96 H XLCC71
205/60R16 92 HCD70
205/60R16 92 HDC70
17 inch
225/50R17 98 H XLBB72
225/50R17 98 H XLCB72
205/50R17 89 HEC69
225/50R17 98 H XLCB72
225/50R17 98 H XLBB72
225/45R17 91 VDB71
18 inch
245/40R18 97 V XLCB72
245/40R18 97 V XLCB72
20 inch
245/35R20 95 V XLDB71
245/35R20 95 V XLDB71
View All Sizes and EU Label Scores for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 >>

Questions and Answers for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1

2019-01-08 - Are winter tires worth fitting to a mx5 in the UK during the winter period? My local tire centre recommended Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance as they couldn't source Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1.

If you want to be safe and mobile in freezing, snow and ic conditions then yes. We've plenty of videos regarding winter tires, check them out!


2019-09-19 - I need to replace 2 Continentals Cross Contact ( rear ) with new ones on my 4x4 (265/50/r20 ) Would you think these are ok. On the front I have Yokohama Advan sport V105. I do realise summer/winter mix. If not what do you think would be ok. I've been searching through so many

I really can't recommend switching just two tires to winter, we have videos on this subject on the youtube channel.


2020-11-06 - Hi i live in the UK in rural Wiltshire and am looking for a tire that will work all year round. The weather and road conditions can range from flooding lots of mud to freezing conditions. At the moment i have being using Avon ZV7 205/55 R16 W (91) which have been great but not so good in the snow. Would this tire be a good choice?

This is a winter tire. If you're looking for year round use, the Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 3 would be a better purchase.


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Size Price Range  
205/55 R16 $121.96 - $121.96 (1 Prices) Compare Prices >>
225/45 R17 $308.99 - $308.99 (1 Prices) Compare Prices >>
Available in 3 tire sizes - View all.

Top 3 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 Reviews

Given 89% while driving a Toyota Avensis (215/55 R17 V) on a combination of roads for 6,000 spirited miles
It is the 3rd winter I am using these and I can definitely say I love these tires .
Maneuverability is very good even at high speed and the car feels very stable on the road.
Drove on 8 inch snow covered road during winter and never got stuck with these
Only minus is I find them a bit noisy at high speed on dry road.
Helpful 51 - tire reviewed on October 29, 2019
Given 81% while driving a Ford Focus MK3 (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 2,000 average miles
Running 215 width tires on 16" rims.

Dry grip good but lacks a bit of feedback. Wet grip superb. Got my first go on snow with them this morning with 3 inches of wet snow on the ground and they shone. On slush it's like the slush isn't there. On snow there's a bit of wheelspin unless you are gentle with the clutch (mine is an auto so it's a bit tricky persuading the car to be gentle!). However it's the stopping power of these tires on the snow I was very impressed with. Yes they slide (but not very much!) if you jam the brake pedal to the floor but braking normally with a bit of caution it's not far off driving on a snow free road. Going round corners and up hills the car felt planted to the road and any sideways wiggle was easily corrected. I've got a heavy diesel engine up front helping with traction too.

They are very soft sidewalls and were a bit squishy at first but an extra 3 psi above normal and the handling was improved.

They run quietly and and are very comfortable too. Would definitely recommend.
Helpful 81 - tire reviewed on March 4, 2016
Given 99% while driving a Mercedes Benz C220 cdi (225/45 R17 H) on mostly town for 1,000 average miles
Too early to rate it, but my first impression is - great tire!!!
Helpful 48 - tire reviewed on November 25, 2019
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Latest Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 Reviews

Given 84% while driving a Mercedes Benz ML350 (255/55 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 39,000 average miles
Used for 3 winter seasons totalling 39000 miles. Really happy with wear. Slightly noisy compared to previous winter tires but performed well overall
Helpful 36 - tire reviewed on October 14, 2020
Given 76% while driving a BMW 130i M (225/40 R18 V) on mostly motorways for 14,000 spirited miles
This will be my 4th winter on the Ultragrip Performance Gen 1.
Ran them on a BMW 130i and now an M135i, initially 225/40/18 all round, last year I changed the rears to 235/40/18.
Overall very happy with the tires, excellent in the cold & damp/wet UK winter and very good in the limited use they've had in snow. Perfectly acceptable when dry although like all winter tires they do feel a little vague compared to a decent summer tire. Not often mentioned in reviews but they are also very good on the muddy rural roads around here.
Approx 12k miles from the rears which were changed at 4mm tread depth, the fronts will see me through this winter for a total of approx. 16k miles.
Would buy again but most likely opt for the newer Goodyear Ultragrip Performance + when the fronts need changing for next winter.
Helpful 42 - tire reviewed on December 2, 2019
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Given 86% while driving a Alfa Romeo 147 (215/45 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 3,000 average miles
215 45 ZR17 Pirelli Pzero Nero
bought used, but wonderful on sporty road and for safety (everyday use)
more comfort then 16" Dunlop and with less road feedback (but it is however enoughy)
Helpful 43 - tire reviewed on July 31, 2019
Given 91% while driving a BMW 120d (205/55 R16 V) on a combination of roads for 30,000 spirited miles
Best sporty winter tire in "regular car" tire sizes.

Performs well all round, and allows for sporty driving by having good progressive slip near the limit. Be sensible on the public road, but know that this tire will not pull any surprises.
Helpful 35 - tire reviewed on July 23, 2019
Given 81% while driving a Audi a5 3.0 tdi quattro sport (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 2,000 spirited miles
Love this winter tire for the UK.
Disappointed in its dry breaking as it let go a couple of times when I wouldn't of expected it too.
I marked feedback low just because I have an Audi A5 and feedback is numb on anything.
Tire very noisy but I have never used other winter tires.
Snow & Ice handled excellently but then I'm using winter tires on a AWD Audi when I'm used to all season tires on a BMW.
Helpful 38 - tire reviewed on March 27, 2019
Given 82% while driving a Mercedes Benz C220 CDI Sports (215/55 R16) on for 10,700 miles
Very good winter ture, if you drive in different conditions. Easy to controll case good feedback for a winter tire.
When temprature outside more than 7°c to soft. And below ÷15°c a nodic tire is better. Will highly recommend if you know how to drive on winter roads. Turning off ESP and so on
Helpful 42 - tire reviewed on March 27, 2019
Given 84% while driving a Ford Kuga (235/50 R18) on a combination of roads for 4,000 average miles
Tire with excellent performances.
Will definetly buy them again.
Helpful 42 - tire reviewed on February 17, 2019
Given 86% while driving a Dacia Duster 4x4 (215/65 R16 H) on mostly country roads for 4,000 spirited miles
Never felt so confident with a tire as with these, I've been running winter tires for nearly 10 years now and that's in cold wet and heavy snowed alpine roads. Slightly high rolling resistance, you can really feel it, but tire that feels like it's sticking to the road is exactly what you want in a winter tire no? Wear, well I've just put them back on for a 2nd winter season and it doesn't look like they've lost any tread yet, still feel like they did when I first put them on.
Helpful 48 - tire reviewed on November 2, 2018
Given 87% while driving a BMW 218d Active Tourer (225/45 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 10,000 spirited miles
Running these for 2 winter seasons and they are more comfortable than my factory fitted EfficientGrip run flats. I notice no increased fuel consumption and the few times I was on snow they felt fine. Interestingly I drove them in semi-hot environments and they behaved perfectly for a bit of spirited driving. In general I love them as the car does not really feel that much different during the winter season. In my opinion a good "sporty" winter tire that takes care of all weather conditions.
Helpful 33 - tire reviewed on November 1, 2018
Given 96% while driving a SEAT Leon FR Plus (205/55 R16 V) on a combination of roads for 5,650 average miles

Quiet, excellent performance on any type of coating and in all weather conditions.
I did not expect such a balance of performance from winter tires. Impressed.
I recommend to buy.
Helpful 35 - tire reviewed on April 1, 2018
Given 93% while driving a Audi A6 (225/50 R17 H) on a combination of roads for 0 miles
I have used these tires for two winters in the harsh climate of the Bulgarian severe snowy and icy winter with temperatures between -25 and +10-15 degrees and have very elaborate observations.
So, the tire is perfect on wet and frozen roads below 0 degrees. Actually it slides and drifts on deep snow when it cannot touch the asphat intil the cuts become filled with snow. After that the grip is perfect.
It slides on ice but hardly is there a tire that does not slide on smooth ice at all. Anyway the grip even on smooth ice is satisfactory.
On light and wet snow it is perfect and the grip is even better than on dry road. You feel as if you are driving in a summer day with perfect tires. No difference. You forget that it is winter and the conditions outside are harsh and you just wonder why your colleageus drivers are drifting around you with their tires and it is more difficult to avoid driftings cars than gripping the road.
There is one disdvantage of these tires - they ARE NOT good for warmer temperatures. As soon as the temperatures go over around 10 degress the tires become so soft that you are virtually glued to the road. The car starts torturing itself. The acceleration falls sharply and the car becomes slow and lazy although my car i 245 hp and 480 NM torque. The grip is so strong that you feel as if the car loses at least 30% of its power and acceleration only because of the grip of the tires. These tires are incredible for super low temperatures but bad for warmer ones. My advice is to swap them some time between middle of March and the beginning of April for the moderate climate zone.
Helpful 52 - tire reviewed on March 8, 2018
Given 81% while driving a BMW 320D (225/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 1,500 average miles
I bought these on steel wheels for my wife's BMW 320D Hardtop Cabriolet. In East Sussex we've had no real snow this year but plenty of cold wet weather. In the rain and wet these tires are superb and there have been no problems at all with a few patches of ice. I struggled (in play) to get the wheels to slip at all on large sheets of white ice. By contrast,I am running Continental Wintercontacts on my BMW X3. They are good but these Goodyears are far better in really wet conditions. There is no sign of aquaplaning or any movement at all. Sheets of water over the road are easily dispersed without barely any pull on the steering.

At first they seemed a little soft so I recommend going a few PSI on the high side of their rating, whereupon they feel firm and planted. Fuel economy is surprisingly good and braking and handling give enormous confidence in cold/wet conditions. I'll be interested to try them in snow as the ADAC test rated them rather average in snow yet the Bild test rated them very highly. My gut feeling, from all other indications, is they will be a very competent tire in the snow. These tires and matching steel wheels have turned a posing summer car into a very competent winter sports car. I can't wait for snow covered roads with a bright sunny day, cruising with the roof down.
Helpful 33 - tire reviewed on January 23, 2018