Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51

    2026 test data · 6 independent tests

    → See full Goodyear vs Kumho brand comparison

    Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51: the full picture

    This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 and Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 appear in 6 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 Ice 3 performs. It takes the win in dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 5 tests.

    How the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 performs. It takes the win in wet. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 85/100, 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 Ice 3 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in dry and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.

    Which one should you buy?

    • You prioritise dry
    • You prioritise snow
    • You prioritise ice

    Test profile

    MetricGoodyear UltraGrip Ice 3Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    SegmentNordic WinterNordic Winter
    TypeWinterWinter
    Tests used51
    Best rank#1#2
    Avg rank4.17.5
    Latest test20252021
    Tire Lab Score88.685.1

    Tire Lab Score

    88.6
    Very Good · Nordic Winter
    85.1
    Very Good · Nordic Winter

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryGoodyear UltraGrip Ice 3Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51Winner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 5.1
    132
    Avg rank 5.0
    Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 4.1
    11
    Avg rank 6.0
    Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    ❄️Snow
    Avg rank 4.5
    412
    Avg rank 7.0
    1
    Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    🧊Ice
    Avg rank 5.0
    111
    Avg rank 7.5
    1
    Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 3.6
    211
    Avg rank 7.0
    Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
    🔋Efficiency
    Avg rank 6.0
    1
    No data
    Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3

    💧 Wet: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51

    The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 5.1 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.

    ☀️ Dry: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.1, compared to 6.0 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.

    ❄️ Snow: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 7.0 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.

    🧊 Ice: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 7.5 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 wins this category with an average rank of 3.6, compared to 7.0 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.

    🔋 Efficiency: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to no data for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which is better in the wet, Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 or Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 ranks higher on average than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3.

    Which has shorter dry braking distance?

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 across the tests where both appeared.

    Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?

    On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 ranks better than the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.

    How many tests were used in this comparison?

    Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 appears in 5 independent tests, Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 in 1.

    Also compare

    Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →