Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus 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 Plus and Kumho Winter Craft WP52 appear in 23 tests, 3 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 Plus performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 93/100, based on 12 tests.
How the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 performs. It takes the win in dry, 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 Plus is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 still wins on dry, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 12 | 11 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 6.8 | 10.5 |
| Latest test | 2023 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 92.8 | 91.9 |
Tire Lab Score
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.8 426 | Avg rank 9.1 14 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 7.5 21 | Avg rank 4.7 311 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 4.3 444 | Avg rank 12.7 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 7.0 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.7 41 | Avg rank 9.2 112 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 7.8 | Avg rank 8.7 2 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 9.6 | Avg rank 4.7 1 | Kumho Winter Craft WP52 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 3 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus wins this category with an average rank of 5.8, compared to 9.1 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
☀️ Dry: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 4.7, compared to 7.5 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus.
❄️ Snow: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus wins this category with an average rank of 4.3, compared to 12.7 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
🧊 Ice: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 7.0 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus wins this category with an average rank of 6.7, compared to 9.2 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
📏 Mileage: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus wins this category with an average rank of 7.8, compared to 8.7 for the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
🔋 Efficiency: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wins this category with an average rank of 4.7, compared to 9.6 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus or Kumho Winter Craft WP52?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus ranks higher on average than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus ranks better than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus shows better mileage performance than the Kumho Winter Craft WP52.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus appears in 12 independent tests, Kumho Winter Craft WP52 in 11, with 3 head-to-head tests where both were measured.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →