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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 0 + 10 road tests and 21 + 68 owner reviews. How we score

Winter Sottozero 3 is ahead, 73–65

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Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire BPirelli

Winter Sottozero 3

Winter

± 6

Tests 67 · 10 tests Owners 80 · 68 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test (dry braking)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 65

    Dry

    Winter Sottozero 3 +11
    76
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM-32Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 8 tests≈ 66 (est.)73
    Reviews found online6382

    Blizzak LM-32: 60% × 65.9 (est.) + 40% × 63 = 65

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 81.7 = 76

    No road tests of dry for Blizzak LM-32. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

  2. 65

    Wet

    Winter Sottozero 3 +18
    83
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM-32Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 10 tests≈ 67 (est.)80
    Reviews found online6487

    Blizzak LM-32: 60% × 66.8 (est.) + 40% × 63.5 = 65

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.4 + 40% × 86.5 = 83

    No road tests of wet for Blizzak LM-32. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 66

    Snow

    Blizzak LM-32 +1
    65
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM-32Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 10 tests≈ 68 (est.)56
    Reviews found online6379

    Blizzak LM-32: 60% × 68.2 (est.) + 40% × 63.1 = 66

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.5 + 40% × 78.8 = 65

    No road tests of snow for Blizzak LM-32. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 61

    Comfort

    Winter Sottozero 3 +13
    74
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM-32Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 67 (est.)72
    Reviews found online5875

    Blizzak LM-32: 40% × 66.5 (est.) + 60% × 58 = 61

    Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72.1 + 60% × 74.5 = 74

    No road tests of comfort for Blizzak LM-32. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 64

    Noise

    Winter Sottozero 3 +7
    71
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM-32Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 7 tests≈ 66 (est.)64
    Reviews found online5982

    Blizzak LM-32: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 59.1 = 64

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.4 + 40% × 81.6 = 71

    No road tests of noise for Blizzak LM-32. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 66

    Treadwear

    Blizzak LM-32 +2
    64
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM-32Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 3 tests≈ 66 (est.)57
    Reviews found online6675

    Blizzak LM-32: 60% × 66.2 (est.) + 40% × 65.6 = 66

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 57.1 + 40% × 74.6 = 64

    No road tests of treadwear for Blizzak LM-32. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 59

    Handling (owners)

    Winter Sottozero 3 +23
    82
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM-32Winter Sottozero 3
    Reviews found online5982
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    76
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak LM-32Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 7 tests–76
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Blizzak LM-32Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Relative Score 65 73
Dry 65 76
Wet 65 83
Snow 66 65
Comfort 61 74
Noise 64 71
Treadwear 66 64
Handling (owners) 59 82
Efficiency – 76

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Blizzak LM-32

± 6

Winter Sottozero 3

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryBlizzak LM-32Winter Sottozero 3ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #7/10 2014 AMS Winter Tyre Test #13/15 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Blizzak LM-32

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and reliability in deep snow and winter storms
  • Stable and satisfying handling on cold, dry roads
  • Good resistance to aquaplaning and solid durability/tread life reported by some users

Cons

  • Poor and unpredictable wet weather grip, leading to wheel spin and sliding
  • Noticeable road noise and humming that increases as the tread wears down
  • Vague steering feel and lackluster performance under quick acceleration
All owner themes in the Blizzak LM-32 review

Tire B Winter Sottozero 3

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to hydroplaning.
  • Strong dry-road handling and steering precision for a winter tire.
  • Excellent traction and stability in snow and slush.

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear, particularly if driven in temperatures above 15°C or year-round.
  • Susceptibility to sidewall damage and bubbling when encountering road hazards.
  • Increased noise levels as the tire ages and tread depth decreases.
All owner themes in the Winter Sottozero 3 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available3698
Rim diameters15″ – 20″16″ – 21″
Tread depth11/32″10/32″
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure50 psi50 psi
Sizes in common2525

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, wet and comfort. Where the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 82 vs 59 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 83 vs 65 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 74 vs 61 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 76 vs 65 on dry.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32
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Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
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Blizzak LM-32 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Which is better in the wet, Blizzak LM-32 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 83 vs 65 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Blizzak LM-32 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 76 vs 65 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Blizzak LM-32 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 66 vs 65 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Blizzak LM-32 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 71 vs 64 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Blizzak LM-32 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 74 vs 61 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Blizzak LM-32 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 66 vs 64 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology