TopTire Review

    Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52

    2026 test data · 34 independent tests · 8 head-to-head

    → See full Goodyear vs Kumho brand comparison

    Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52: 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 WP52 appear in 34 tests, 8 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 Performance 3 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 95/100, based on 23 tests.

    How the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 performs. It takes the win in ice, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 11 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 WP52 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

    Overall winner
    • You prioritise wet
    • You prioritise dry
    • You prioritise snow

    Choose Kumho Winter Craft WP52 if

    • You prioritise ice
    • You prioritise efficiency

    Test profile

    MetricGoodyear UltraGrip Performance 3Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    SegmentPerformance WinterWinter
    TypeWinterWinter
    Tests used2311
    Best rank#1#1
    Avg rank5.310.5
    Latest test20252025
    Tire Lab Score95.391.9

    Tire Lab Score

    95.3
    Excellent · Winter
    91.9
    Excellent · Winter

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryGoodyear UltraGrip Performance 3Kumho Winter Craft WP52Winner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 4.5
    13179
    Avg rank 9.1
    14
    Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 4.3
    5411
    Avg rank 4.7
    311
    Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    ❄️Snow
    Avg rank 4.7
    1287
    Avg rank 12.7
    Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    🧊Ice
    Avg rank 8.8
    Avg rank 4.5
    1
    Kumho Winter Craft WP52
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 6.1
    633
    Avg rank 9.2
    112
    Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    📏Mileage
    Avg rank 7.3
    231
    Avg rank 8.7
    2
    Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
    🔋Efficiency
    Avg rank 5.3
    112
    Avg rank 4.7
    1
    Kumho Winter Craft WP52

    Tests used in this comparison

    Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 8 independent tests:

    💧 Wet: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 9.1 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.

    ☀️ Dry: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.3, compared to 4.7 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.

    ❄️ Snow: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.7, compared to 12.7 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.

    🧊 Ice: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52

    The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 8.8 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.1, compared to 9.2 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.

    📏 Mileage: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 wins this category with an average rank of 7.3, compared to 8.7 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.

    🔋 Efficiency: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52

    The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 4.7, 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 WP52?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 ranks higher on average than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.

    Which has shorter dry braking distance?

    The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 across the tests where both appeared.

    Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?

    On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 ranks better than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.

    Which tire lasts longer?

    Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 shows better mileage performance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.

    How many tests were used in this comparison?

    Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 appears in 23 independent tests, Kumho Winter Craft WP52 in 11, with 8 head-to-head tests where both were measured.

    Also compare

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