Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter 2: The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3, launched in 2023, takes on the all-new 2024 Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 in an intense battle for dominance in the ultra-high performance middle European winter segment. The Pirelli, fresh on the scene, aims to dethrone Goodyear’s proven expertise. Let the winter performance showdown begin!
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Results: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter 2
Results below were taken from Tyre Review’s BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 Test with a total of 6 tires tested. The graph below shows the comparison between Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 based on the relevant performance category. The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 tire was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
Note that for subjective ratings, 1 point is equivalent to 5%. So if tire A has a 4 point rating & tire B has a 3 point rating, tire A is better than tire B by 5%. The tire size of interest is a 235/35 R19 which is a common tire size for Audi R8 and BMW M4. The testing vehicle is a Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Wet
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 and the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 show closely matched wet performances. In wet braking, the Goodyear stops slightly quicker, with a 0.33-meter advantage over the Pirelli (30.47 m vs. 30.8 m). Wet handling reveals a marginal difference, with the Pirelli completing the lap 0.59 seconds faster (107.35 s vs. 107.94 s). Both tires score a perfect 10/10 in subjective wet handling, indicating equal driver confidence. In straight-line aquaplaning resistance, both tires match perfectly, slipping at 72 km/h.
P Zero Winter 2 :
- -1% in wet braking
- +1% in wet handling (lap time)
- 0% in wet handling (subjective)
- 0% in aquaplaning
Snow
In snow performances, the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 outshines the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 across all key metrics. In snow braking, the Pirelli stops 0.85 meters shorter (17.47 m vs. 18.32 m). Snow traction is also better for the Pirelli, accelerating 0.21 seconds quicker (5.16 s vs. 5.37 s). In snow handling, the Pirelli completes the lap 1.97 seconds faster (78.28 s vs. 80.25 s). Subjective snow handling is also in favor of the Pirelli, scoring a perfect 10 points, compared to Goodyear’s 9.5. The snow performance edge clearly goes to the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2.
P Zero Winter 2 :
- +5% in snow braking
- +4% in snow traction
- +3% in snow handling (lap time)
- +2.5% in snow handling (subjective)
Ice
In ice performance, the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 continues to outperform the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3. In ice braking, the Pirelli stops 1.57 meters shorter (9.51 m vs. 11.08 m). For ice traction, the Pirelli accelerates 0.64 seconds quicker (4.5 s vs. 5.14 s). Even though ice performance is not the main requirement for middle European winter tires, typically favoring studless designs, the snow advantage for Pirelli clearly carries over to ice as well.
P Zero Winter 2 :
- +17% in ice braking
- +14% in ice traction
Dry
In dry performance, the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 edges out the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3. For dry braking, the Pirelli stops 0.47 meters shorter (40.4 m vs. 40.87 m). In dry handling, the Pirelli is 0.77 seconds faster on the lap (87.02 s vs. 87.79 s). Subjectively, the Pirelli also scores higher with 9.5 points compared to Goodyear’s 9 points, indicating slightly better driver confidence.
P Zero Winter 2 :
- +1% in dry braking
- +1% in dry handling (lap time)
- +2.5% in dry handling (subjective)
NVH
In terms of NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) performance, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 and the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 are closely matched in comfort, both scoring 9 points out of 10. However, in noise levels, the Pirelli is slightly quieter, producing 1.1 dB less noise than the Goodyear (71.4 dB vs. 72.5 dB).
P Zero Winter 2 :
- +2% in exterior noise (-1.1 dB)
- 0% in subjective comfort
Rolling Resistance
In rolling resistance, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 has a slight advantage over the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2, with a lower rolling resistance of 8.67 N/kN compared to Pirelli’s 8.95 N/kN. This small difference suggests the Goodyear tire is marginally more efficient in reducing energy loss while rolling.
P Zero Winter 2 :
- -3% in rolling resistance
Price
For the 235/35 R19 size, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is priced at €258, while the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 is slightly cheaper at €256. The Pirelli offers a 1% lower price compared to the Goodyear.
Tire size: 235/35 R19
- UltraGrip Performance 3 : € 258
- P Zero Winter 2 : € 256
Difference: -1% more cheaper for P Zero Winter 2
Conclusion
From my perspective as a tire expert, both the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 and the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 offer impressive performances. The Goodyear excels in rolling resistance, providing slightly better fuel efficiency, and matches the Pirelli in subjective comfort. However, the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 consistently leads in key areas such as wet and dry handling, braking on snow and ice, and even offers lower noise levels. While both tires are strong contenders, the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 clearly dominates overall, especially in crucial winter performance metrics.
Dr Edwin Pang