Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 victorious in multiple Nordic winter tyre tests

Goodyear’s new Nordic friction – or non-studded – winter tyre, the UltraGrip Ice 3 has gained several podium positions in the 2023 winter tyre testing season. The tyre won two Finnish tests from magazines Moottori and Tekniikan Maailma, and claimed second place in the tests conducted by Swedish magazines Vi Bilägare and Teknikens Värld. The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 incorporates a range of the manufacturer’s latest winter tyre technologies, including Ice Grip technology, Ice Handling+ technology, and Snow Braking technology.

In the latest Finnish Moottori winter tyre test, the magazine compares four premium non-studded Nordic winter tyres and four budget studded tyres. The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 achieved the best score among all eight tested tyres. It also beat seven other Nordic friction tyres in the latest Finnish Tekniikan Maailma winter tyre test, in which it shared first place with the Continental VikingContact 7.

According to Moottori, the UltraGrip Ice 3 featured significantly developed ice performance compared to its predecessor, showing the best performance in ice handling, ice braking and snow braking. The magazine praises the tyre’s “excellent grip on ice and snow.” On asphalt, the tyre also showed the best wet handling, with the editors’ comment “safe and easy to drive in wet.”

The UltraGrip Ice 3 convinced Tekniikan Maailma’s testers, who award the tyre top scores in braking and acceleration on snow. The magazine said: “Goodyear’s grip on ice is at the level of the best friction tyres,” praising the tyre’s “balanced properties in all conditions” and low noise level.

In Vi Bilägare’s test of non-studded Nordic winter tyres, the Swedish auto title ranks the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 second overall, highlighting its balanced performance in different winter conditions. It commented: “Goodyear is the best choice if you drive mostly on asphalt but still want good grip on ice and snow.”

Vi Bilägare testers add: “The predecessors have distinguished themselves as Nordic friction tyres that perform well on wet roads. The newcomer retains this market position but has also strengthened its winter grip. It performs at the top in terms of starting and braking on snow and exhibits good cornering ability.”

In addition, Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 achieved second place among Nordic non-studded tyres in the Swedish publication Teknikens Värld. The magazine recognised the balanced performance of the tyre: “Positive is that Goodyear understands how to combine winter grip with decent aquaplaning characteristics.” The tyre also performed best in the famous “moose test”, which combines heavy braking and a lane change.

In Teknikens Värld, Goodyear’s studded UltraGrip Arctic 2 and non-studded UltraGrip Performance 3 were also crowned Best in Test in the studded and Middle European friction tyre categories.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 offers a range of winter tyre technologies. These include Ice Grip technology, which increases ice contact thanks to a softer compound with greater rubber elasticity at low temperatures compared to its predecessor. Goodyear’s Ice Handling+ technology delivers better ice handling performance and stability even on heavier vehicles, thanks to a larger contact area. Finally, the tyres Snow Braking technology incorporates a larger number of block edges and higher sipe density into the tread for better acceleration and braking.