Continental VikingContact 7 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Continental VikingContact 7 and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 appear in 12 tests, 1 of which put both tires on the same track on the same day. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.
How the Continental VikingContact 7 performs. It takes the win in noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 7 tests.
How the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 5 tests.
What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.
Verdict
The Continental VikingContact 7 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in noise / comfort and Tire Lab Score. The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Continental VikingContact 7 if
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise efficiency
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Continental VikingContact 7 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Nordic Winter | Nordic Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 7 | 5 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.6 | 4.1 |
| Latest test | 2023 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.9 | 88.6 |
Tire Lab Score
Continental VikingContact 7
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 6.3 11 | Avg rank 5.1 132 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 5.7 17 | Avg rank 4.1 11 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.7 214 | Avg rank 4.5 412 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 6.4 22 | Avg rank 5.0 111 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 3.4 52 | Avg rank 3.6 211 | Continental VikingContact 7 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 5.5 | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Continental VikingContact 7 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 1 independent test:
💧 Wet: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.1, compared to 6.3 for the Continental VikingContact 7.
☀️ Dry: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.1, compared to 5.7 for the Continental VikingContact 7.
❄️ Snow: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 6.7 for the Continental VikingContact 7.
🧊 Ice: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 6.4 for the Continental VikingContact 7.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
The Continental VikingContact 7 wins this category with an average rank of 3.4, compared to 3.6 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
The Continental VikingContact 7 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 6.0 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental VikingContact 7 or Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 ranks higher on average than the Continental VikingContact 7.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Continental VikingContact 7 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Continental VikingContact 7 ranks better than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental VikingContact 7 appears in 7 independent tests, Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 in 5, with 1 head-to-head tests where both were measured.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →