Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nordman North 9: 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 Nordman North 9 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 dry, ice, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 3 tests.
How the Nordman North 9 performs. It takes the win in snow, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, 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 Nordman North 9 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in snow and Tire Lab Score. The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic still wins on dry, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise efficiency
Choose Nordman North 9 if
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic | Nordman North 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Studded Winter | Studded Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 3 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 3.8 | 4.6 |
| Latest test | 2019 | 2024 |
| Tire Lab Score | 90.3 | 91.6 |
Tire Lab Score
Nordman North 9
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic | Nordman North 9 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 3.5 11 | Avg rank 3.5 1 | Tie |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 3.3 11 | Avg rank 6.0 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 3.7 3 | Avg rank 2.3 12 | Nordman North 9 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 3.4 2 | Avg rank 3.5 1 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | No data | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Nordman North 9 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 3.0 1 | Avg rank 7.0 | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
💧 Wet: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nordman North 9
Both tires perform similarly in wet, with average ranks of 3.5 and 3.5.
☀️ Dry: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nordman North 9
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic wins this category with an average rank of 3.3, compared to 6.0 for the Nordman North 9.
❄️ Snow: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nordman North 9
The Nordman North 9 wins this category with an average rank of 2.3, compared to 3.7 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic.
🧊 Ice: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nordman North 9
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic wins this category with an average rank of 3.4, compared to 3.5 for the Nordman North 9.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic vs Nordman North 9
The Nordman North 9 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 Nordman North 9
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic wins this category with an average rank of 3.0, compared to 7.0 for the Nordman North 9.
Frequently asked questions
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic averages a better dry-braking rank than the Nordman North 9 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Nordman North 9 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, Nordman North 9 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 →