Comparison: GoodYear UltraGrip Performance+ vs. Vredestein Wintrac Pro (2026)

Wet performance is where the Vredestein Wintrac Pro makes its strongest case. Braking distances across three measured tests are essentially neck and neck: the Goodyear averages 33.5m versus the Vredestein's 33.6m — a difference of just 10cm. The Vredestein posts strong wet-handling and wet-circle-cornering scores, and real-world owners report confident wet-road feel. However, aquaplaning resistance is a clear Goodyear advantage (score 85.0 vs 76.5), and several test programmes flagged the Vredestein for slightly extended wet braking and limited reserves against standing water. The Goodyear's EU wet grip label ratings lean more heavily toward the better 'B' grade too. For drivers who spend a lot of time on saturated roads, the Goodyear's aquaplaning composure tips the balance.

On dry tarmac the two tyres are surprisingly close in raw score — Goodyear at 78.2 and Vredestein at 77.9 — but the character differs. The Vredestein impresses with objective lane-change and handling numbers, and testers noted secure limit behaviour and precise steering response on dry roads in several evaluations. Where it unravels is consistency: under sustained pressure, its handling can turn unharmonious, and precision at the limit is described as lacking. The Goodyear doesn't dazzle on dry roads either, but it is unfailingly neutral and predictable — exactly what you want from a winter tyre on a cold, clear motorway. Neither tyre is a dry-road hero, but the Goodyear is the more trustworthy partner.

This is where the comparison opens up dramatically. The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ is genuinely exceptional on snow — its score of 90.6 against the Vredestein's 75.0 reflects a real-world gap backed by braking data. Across three shared snow braking measurements, the Goodyear averages 24.9m versus 25.5m for the Vredestein — a 0.6m advantage that compounds at speed. In test after test, the Goodyear's snow acceleration, handling and traction scores sit at the very top of the premium field. Owners back this up; one UltraGrip Performance+ user on a BMW 330ci specifically called out its excellence on snow and mud, and another praised it as the first winter tyre that let them drive with genuine spirit in wintry conditions. The Vredestein is not unsafe on snow — testers describe its snow performance as still adequate — but it offers less margin, and its snow braking and handling scores are mid-field at best. For anyone facing regular snowfall, this gap matters.

The Goodyear's only noted weakness is comfort — testers described it as average, and it is rated accordingly. Yet even here, real-world feedback is more forgiving: owners on BMW M240i and BMW 335i note that the tyre is comfortably quiet and noticeably smoother than expected for a high-performance winter tyre, even in run-flat form. The Vredestein scores lower (77.2 vs 83.9) and testers registered complaints about ride comfort on dry roads at multiple test events. On rolling resistance, the gap is stark: the Goodyear scores 79.9, the Vredestein just 63.5 — with multiple independent tests flagging the Vredestein's elevated fuel consumption penalty. Mileage tells a similar story (78.3 vs 68.9), meaning the Vredestein will likely cost more to run and wear faster, which partly undermines the value argument of choosing it over the Goodyear.