Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 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 Performance Plus and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 appear in 22 tests, 5 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, ice, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 93/100, based on 12 tests.
How the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 performs. It takes the win in dry, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 88/100, based on 10 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 Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 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 ice
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 12 | 10 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 6.8 | 9.0 |
| Latest test | 2023 | 2020 |
| Tire Lab Score | 92.8 | 87.8 |
Tire Lab Score
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.8 426 | Avg rank 7.7 22 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 7.5 21 | Avg rank 5.9 312 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 4.3 444 | Avg rank 12.7 1 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 7.0 | No data | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.7 41 | Avg rank 7.4 21 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 7.8 | Avg rank 17.3 | Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 9.6 | Avg rank 9.1 1 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 5 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus wins this category with an average rank of 5.8, compared to 7.7 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
☀️ Dry: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.9, compared to 7.5 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus.
❄️ Snow: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus wins this category with an average rank of 4.3, compared to 12.7 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
🧊 Ice: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus wins this category with an average rank of 7.0, compared to no data for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus wins this category with an average rank of 6.7, compared to 7.4 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
📏 Mileage: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus wins this category with an average rank of 7.8, compared to 17.3 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 wins this category with an average rank of 9.1, compared to 9.6 for the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus or Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus ranks higher on average than the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 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 Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus shows better mileage performance than the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Plus appears in 12 independent tests, Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 in 10, with 5 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 →