Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 and Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 appear in 7 tests, though they have not yet met head-to-head in the same test. 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 Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 performs. It takes the win in efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 91/100, based on 6 tests.
How the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 1 test.
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 Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in efficiency and Tire Lab Score. The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 if
- You prioritise efficiency
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Studded Winter | Studded Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 6 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.4 | 4.3 |
| Latest test | 2025 | — |
| Tire Lab Score | 90.8 | 90 |
Tire Lab Score
Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.3 222 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 5.9 11 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.4 12 | Avg rank 3.7 11 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 4.6 212 | Avg rank 4.5 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.4 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 1.3 21 | Avg rank 5.0 | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 |
💧 Wet: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 5.3 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2.
☀️ Dry: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 5.9 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2.
❄️ Snow: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 wins this category with an average rank of 3.7, compared to 6.4 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2.
🧊 Ice: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 4.6 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 6.4 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2.
🔋 Efficiency: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 wins this category with an average rank of 1.3, compared to 5.0 for the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 or Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 ranks higher on average than the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 ranks better than the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 appears in 6 independent tests, Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 in 1.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →