Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2: reviews of the owners

The choice of winter tires for your car should be treated especially carefully, because at this time of year there are much more dangers on the roads than in the summer, due to unfavorable weather conditions. Therefore, when it's time to "re-boot" your car, you should listen not only to advertising information from the manufacturer, but also to the opinion of other drivers. This can be done if you read reviews about Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2, one of the best options for replacing the ratio of price / quality. Let's first consider what the manufacturer says about this rubber, and then analyze the opinion of experienced drivers who have already rolled it for years.

A bit about the model itself

Rubber Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice, as already mentioned above, and indeed it is clear from its very name, is designed for traffic on roads in the winter season. Its range is designed specifically for passenger cars of different sizes. However, it can be installed on larger vehicles, for example, some types of off-road vehicles or minibuses.

For the development of this model, the team of the manufacturer took three whole years. They were not wasted, because all this time they were tested, prototypes were made, rubber was tested and finalized in accordance with the real conditions of future operation. As it was later written in the leading editions of automotive subjects, the model turned out to be more than successful. Whether this is so, we will be able to learn a little later, and now let's talk about its individual elements.

Special composition of the applied rubber compound

Despite the fact that the Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice tire has been developed and tested in the US, it is well suited for use in our climate. The fact is that in the north of America the normal temperature for the winter months can be considered as an indicator at minus 25 degrees and below. And once the testing took place exactly in such conditions, then with most local weather disasters the tires must cope.

So, it was for the solution of the problem of low temperatures that a special composition of the rubber compound was developed. Marketers from the manufacturer have already managed to give him a loud name "cryo-adaptive". To put it more simply, this rubber, according to the idea of the developers, is able to adjust to the ambient temperature, always retaining sufficient softness so that its coupling characteristics do not deteriorate. Such indicators were achieved thanks to new components, in particular, the use of silicic acid and other chemical compounds. And the combination of natural rubber and artificial silicone only added opportunities.

However, thanks to this approach, it was possible not only to lower the temperature threshold, but also to allow the rubber to be operated even at relatively high temperatures. Strength Goodyear Ultra Grip enough that even on warm days wear did not become critical, and the walls did not acquire too soft properties, because of what control would be uncomfortable.

Specific tread pattern

The manufacturer did not depart from the concept of the V-shaped arrangement of the protective elements that showed itself on the good side for a long time. And yet this drawing can be called unique, as it was developed from scratch with the help of computer simulation of real life situations that drivers can face on the roads. In addition, it is this arrangement of tread blocks that has already become traditional for new rubber models from this manufacturer. Apparently, the test results show that it is thanks to him that you can achieve maximum parameters.

This construction of the protector allowed to improve the Goodyear Ultra Grip model, making it better than the previous one in terms of adhesion to the road surface under such unfavorable conditions as slippery rolled snow or ice. And this is all without the use of spikes, which could add a number of significant disadvantages to the rubber.

If you compare the new model with the previous one, then immediately the central part of the picture rushes to the eye, which is now radically different. Instead of long longitudinal rings, which reduced the rowing properties, in the center are now located separate large blocks, each of which has its edges. They have the form of separate arrows, which allows them to show themselves well both during acceleration and during emergency braking.

These tread blocks influence the overall Goodyear rubber density, reducing its overall wear and distributing the load more evenly.

Features of the shoulder zones of the protector

The design of the side blocks responsible for maneuvering and overcoming the longitudinal obstacles did not remain unchanged. They were significantly smaller than the predecessor Goodyear Grip 1, but now it has made it possible to make each element larger, which has a positive effect not only on their strength, but also increased the area of the contact patch with the track. This, in turn, led to an improvement in the quality of adhesion to the road, regardless of what weather phenomenon has to be fought.

Thoughtful lamella system

As already mentioned above, due to the large number of tread blocks, a number of edges have been formed, which are responsible for the dynamic characteristics and propeller properties. However, when separating the blocks, lamellas are formed, which are no less important in the overall operation of the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 winter tire, which will be reviewed at the end of the article.

Their task is to effectively remove water, dirt or snow from the place where the contact spot with the road is located. Due to the fact that they also have an arrow-shaped shape, water can go to the edge of the wheel along constantly expanding grooves, which allows it to be removed as quickly as possible.

This structure allows you to easily not only drain the liquid, but also distribute the snow falling under the Goodyear rubber. In this case, the lamellas are not clogged, but are constantly cleaned during movement, which allows them to be used again and again.

At the edges of the tread blocks, there are lamellas of a smaller size. They can remove a small amount of moisture towards larger slots, and besides they enable the use of more individual edges, increasing rowing capabilities and, as a result, stability on a loose surface, whether it is snow or ground.

Absence of thorns

In the model series Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 MS XL, reviews of which we will consider a little later, it was decided to abandon the spikes in principle. This entailed only positive results, since it allowed to reduce rolling resistance, and as a result, along with it, such negative effects as excessive noise, vibration and increase in fuel consumption disappeared.

The absence of misfiring did not worsen the general characteristics. On the contrary, the tires turned out to be more versatile, and is more confident on dry, dry asphalt. When driving on ice, it is still necessary to exercise caution, because the stopping distance will be slightly larger than that of the studded version. However, if you are accustomed to spikes, you can choose another model of this manufacturer or independently install them on the nearest checked tire.

Positive feedback about rubber from drivers

In order to conduct a qualitative analysis, it is necessary to pay attention to the opinion of those who already had the opportunity to test the tires themselves and to make a conclusion about their characteristics in real operating conditions. To do this, let's analyze what positive aspects are most often found in reviews about Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 XL those who have already bought these tires and have been using them for a while:

1. Softness of rubber . This property allows you to overcome small obstacles without feeling them, because the jolt simply does not reach the suspension, but is completely absorbed by the rubber itself. Larger obstacles are also much smoother. Especially it can be appreciated by those who live in cities with a tram service and regularly crosses the rails.
2. Good coupling on snow, regardless of its condition. Pure snow, whether it is loose or rolled, does not pose a problem for this rubber. If it is a snow porridge, then the edges and the system of slats for draining water come into play. On the compressed snow, the chemical composition of the rubber, which retains its softness at low temperatures, behaves well. As one of the drivers notes in his review of Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 winter tires, the overall feeling is that the tire becomes even softer when the temperature on the street drops.
3. No noise. The fact that the protector blocks are changing one after another due to their arrow-like structure, allows the rubber to roll almost silently, keeping a good roll and not spending excess fuel.
4. Good exchange rate stability . Even with high-speed traffic along the road, you can be sure that the rubber feels the way. The only danger in this case can be a sharp change in the quality of the coating, for example, if all the time there was pure asphalt, and it is replaced by ice or water. In other situations, rubber behaves well at speed, allowing you to confidently drive.
5. Not a bad balance from the factory . When installing an additional load on the wheels, as the reviews of the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic 2 show, it is almost not required, since the rubber has a uniform weight. This is good in the future for smooth running and maintaining the integrity of the suspension.
6. A well thought-out composition of the mixture, which increases wear resistance . Despite the fact that the rubber has got a fairly soft structure, it is resistant to abrasion and can successfully retire several seasons without replacement.
7. High strength of the sides . Sidewalls are made of durable rubber and reinforced with a cord, which allows the rubber to firmly hold onto the disc even at a plus temperature. According to reviews, tires Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 while avoiding damage due to "mashing" on the curbs or other longitudinal obstacles.
8. A sure way out and returning to it. The lateral elements of the tread are tenacious, allowing without any problems during the movement to leave the rut for overtaking or another maneuver, and in the same way to return to it.

As you can see, the list turned out to be quite impressive. However, for completeness of the analysis, it is necessary to get acquainted with the negative aspects of this rubber.

Negative feedback about the considered model of tires

However, when buying, it is also necessary to take into account the disadvantages that inevitably exist in any manufacturer. This model was no exception. One of the main disadvantages many drivers call in their reviews about Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 is the behavior on the ice. If it is a bit loose, then there is no problem, but in the icy conditions the coupling gets worse, which makes it necessary to move with extreme caution. This is exactly the case when the spikes would have come in handy as never before. Some drivers generally jokingly suggest removing the word "Ice" from the name of the rubber, since it is with the ice that it copes worst of all.

In addition to this moment, some people note excessive softness at times, however this point is controversial, since it does not negatively affect other characteristics, i.e. does not increase wear or does not reduce the strength of a cut or puncture.

In other respects, there are no significant drawbacks, in fact, no, and users say that this model is one of the best "stickers" with which one had to deal.

Comparison of official data and reviews

As can be seen from the above information and analysis, the manufacturer provided reliable data on almost all items. The only thing that has not been realized is the uncertainty of stability on clean ice, which means that when driving on winter routes, especially during the thaw period, one should exercise special care. As the reviews of tires Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2, for the ice surface, they are almost not applicable.

In the rest, they can please drivers, especially its ability to stay on a clean track and not create unnecessary noise. As some users have pointed out, this rubber is intended for the so-called European winter, which is characterized by fairly strong frosts, but the precipitation is minimal.

Conclusion

If you are looking for rubber for movement mainly on cleaned or chemically treated routes, then this option will be ideal for you. Tests and reviews about Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 showed that the tires are good at high speed, and they can confidently feel on the track. Their strength and durability completely pay off the cost, which is higher than that of competitors. A pleasant bonus will be a fairly long warranty from the manufacturer, extending to damage and factory defects.

However, whatever the tires, you should be careful when driving along the winter routes, remembering your own safety and the lives of others. Much of the road depends on the professionalism and confidence of the driver, and the tires only complement his skills.