Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2: 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 Pirelli Ice Zero 2 appear in 9 tests, 2 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 Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 performs. It takes the win in snow, ice, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 91/100, based on 6 tests.
How the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 3 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 Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in snow and Tire Lab Score. The Pirelli Ice Zero 2 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 snow
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
Test profile
| Metric | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Studded Winter | Studded Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 6 | 3 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.4 | 5.8 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 90.8 | 90 |
Tire Lab Score
Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.3 222 | Avg rank 4.6 11 | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 5.9 11 | Avg rank 4.0 21 | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.4 12 | Avg rank 8.3 1 | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 4.6 212 | Avg rank 6.2 1 | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.4 | Avg rank 7.3 2 | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 1.3 21 | Avg rank 5.0 | Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 2 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2
The Pirelli Ice Zero 2 wins this category with an average rank of 4.6, compared to 5.3 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2.
☀️ Dry: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2
The Pirelli Ice Zero 2 wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 5.9 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2.
❄️ Snow: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2
The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 wins this category with an average rank of 6.4, compared to 8.3 for the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
🧊 Ice: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2
The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 wins this category with an average rank of 4.6, compared to 6.2 for the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2
The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 wins this category with an average rank of 6.4, compared to 7.3 for the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
🔋 Efficiency: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2
The Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 wins this category with an average rank of 1.3, compared to 5.0 for the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 or Pirelli Ice Zero 2?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 ranks higher on average than the Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Pirelli Ice Zero 2 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 Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 ranks better than the Pirelli Ice Zero 2.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 appears in 6 independent tests, Pirelli Ice Zero 2 in 3, with 2 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 →