Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP51: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 and Kumho Winter Craft WP51 appear in 26 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 Performance 3 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 95/100, based on 23 tests.
How the Kumho Winter Craft WP51 performs. It takes the win in ice, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 88/100, 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 Performance 3 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 still wins on ice, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Touring Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 23 | 3 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.3 | 9.4 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2021 |
| Tire Lab Score | 95.3 | 87.5 |
Tire Lab Score
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
Kumho Winter Craft WP51
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 4.5 13179 | Avg rank 12.2 1 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.3 5411 | Avg rank 8.3 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 4.7 1287 | Avg rank 9.2 11 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 8.8 | Avg rank 2.5 1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.1 633 | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 7.3 231 | No data | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 5.3 112 | Avg rank 2.0 11 | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
💧 Wet: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP51
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 12.2 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
☀️ Dry: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP51
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.3, compared to 8.3 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
❄️ Snow: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP51
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.7, compared to 9.2 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
🧊 Ice: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP51
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 2.5, compared to 8.8 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP51
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 6.1 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
📏 Mileage: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP51
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 wins this category with an average rank of 7.3, compared to no data for the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
🔋 Efficiency: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP51
The Kumho Winter Craft WP51 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 5.3 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 or Kumho Winter Craft WP51?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 ranks higher on average than the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Kumho Winter Craft WP51 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Kumho Winter Craft WP51 ranks better than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 shows better mileage performance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP51.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 appears in 23 independent tests, Kumho Winter Craft WP51 in 3.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →