Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic 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 Ice Arctic and Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 appear in 4 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 Arctic performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, ice, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 3 tests.
How the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 performs. It takes the win in 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 Ice Arctic is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 still wins on noise / comfort, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Studded Winter | Studded Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 3 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| Latest test | 2019 | — |
| Tire Lab Score | 90.3 | 90 |
Tire Lab Score
Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 3.5 11 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 3.3 11 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 3.7 3 | Avg rank 3.7 11 | Tie |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 3.4 2 | Avg rank 4.5 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | No data | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 3.0 1 | Avg rank 5.0 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
💧 Wet: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic wins this category with an average rank of 3.5, compared to 4.5 for the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3.
☀️ Dry: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic wins this category with an average rank of 3.3, compared to 4.5 for the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3.
❄️ Snow: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
Both tires perform similarly in snow, with average ranks of 3.7 and 3.7.
🧊 Ice: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic wins this category with an average rank of 3.4, compared to 4.5 for the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to no data for the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic.
🔋 Efficiency: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic wins this category with an average rank of 3.0, compared to 5.0 for the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic or Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic ranks higher on average than the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic averages a better dry-braking rank than the Nexen WinGuard WinSpike 3 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 Ice Arctic.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic appears in 3 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 →