Goodyear has improved its studded winter tyres

Goodyear has upgraded its studded winter tyres, Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2, to meet the new A+ standard set by Finland’s Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom). This standard requires a 15% reduction in road wear and will apply to all passenger car tyres manufactured for the Northern European market starting 1 January 2027.

The company states that the stud shape has been modified while the number of studs remains unchanged, ensuring reduced road wear without compromising safety performance.

Goodyear will also revise its tyre naming structure. In the future, all sizes will carry the name UltraGrip Arctic 2, and the SUV designation will be discontinued to make the product range “more uniform and easier to understand.”

“We continuously update our product line to stay ahead of evolving regulations and customer preferences,” says Goodyear, adding that “thanks to this upgrade, we ensure our tyres meet the new requirements while maintaining the winter performance customers expect.”

Additional sidewall markings have also been added, including the Ice Grip symbol and the 3PMSF marking (a three-peak mountain with a snowflake), now accompanied by the letter Ш, confirming the tyres have passed certification tests for ice and snow performance, respectively.

Alongside the stud design improvements, Goodyear will expand the UltraGrip Arctic 2 size range with seven new sizes, all with a minimum diameter of 18 inches, designed for vehicles such as the Audi e-tron, Volvo EX60 and EX40, Kia EV5, Skoda Enyaq, Tesla Model 3, Volkswagen Tayron, and ID. Buzz. Following this expansion, the tyres will be available in 122 total sizes.

The size range for the non-studded winter tyres, Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3, designed for northern winter conditions, will also be increased, with 18 new sizes introduced. The line will grow to 130 sizes in total, with 80% of them featuring a rim diameter of 18 inches or larger.