Goodyear: a winter tyre built around wet asphalt
Where Goodyear puts the emphasis
Developing a winter tyre always means choosing what to sacrifice. Many Nordic brands sacrifice wet asphalt in favour of ice. Goodyear's winter lines are characterised by the opposite emphasis: the compound and tread are built to keep the tyre predictable on wet surfaces, where a large share of Latvian winter kilometres is spent.
In the range that shows up as three distinct winter lines. UltraGrip Performance is the Central European direction. UltraGrip Ice and Ultra Grip Arctic are the Nordic direction, of which the Arctic is also available studded. Vector 4Seasons is the all-season line.
Eagle F1 in summer, three lines in winter
Goodyear in our offering is distinctly a summer and UHP-weighted brand - the Eagle F1 family takes up a large part of the range - but the winter side is complete, studded tyres included. The range runs from R13 to R23, and the C-marked segment for vans is one of the broadest in our catalogue.
| Model | Season | Studs | Diameters | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UltraGrip Performance 3 | winter | studless | R14-R22 | Central European winter |
| Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | summer | - | R17-R23 | UHP summer |
| Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 | all-season | - | R14-R22 | All-season |
| Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 | summer | - | R17-R22 | UHP summer |
| UltraGrip Performance+ | winter | studless | R15-R22 | Winter |
| Ultra Grip Arctic 2 | winter | some sizes | R16-R20 | Nordic, also studded |
| UltraGrip Ice 3 | winter | studless | R15-R22 | Nordic studless |
| Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 | summer | - | R17-R22 | UHP summer |
| Eagle F1 Supersport | summer | - | R18-R23 | |
| Ultra Grip Arctic 2 SUV | winter | some sizes | R16-R21 |
There are particularly many EV-marked tyres in the Goodyear range - most of our Goodyear offering is also suitable for electric cars. What changes for an EV is covered in the EV tyre section.
What the independent tests show
In the 2025 Tekniikan Maailma and UTAC test both studless Goodyears confirmed that character. The Ultra Grip Arctic 2 stopped in 36.0 metres from 80 km/h in wet braking - the best result among all the friction tyres in the test - and was second best on ice in its group at 36.9 metres. The testers described it as a consistently high-quality tyre that feels safe in all winter conditions.
The UltraGrip Ice 3 in the same test posted the best wet handling of all fourteen tyres - 39.9 seconds - but on ice it braked in 50.2 metres, considerably weaker. Two tyres from one brand, two different emphases; the choice depends on how often there is ice rather than wet asphalt under the wheels.
Who Goodyear suits best
Goodyear suits drivers who cover a lot of wet, salted asphalt in winter - in the city and on the motorway - and anyone wanting a summer UHP tyre with a wide choice of sizes. It also suits van owners and electric car drivers.
If the main requirement is maximum grip on polished ice, the Nordic specialist brands have been stronger in tests, and the difference is measured in metres. If price is the deciding factor, the comparison is in Budget or premium tyres.
Winter tyres are compulsory in Latvia from 1 December to 1 March, with a tread of at least 4 mm, set by the Road Traffic Law and explained by CSDD.