Tests 69 · 3 tests Owners 68 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (wet braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO 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 3 + 10 road tests and 3 + 66 owner reviews. How we score
Winter Sottozero 3 leads, 73–69 Narrow edge
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Tests 67 · 10 tests Owners 81 · 66 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.
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67
Dry
Winter Sottozero 3 +1077Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 EVO Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 8 tests 66 73 Reviews found online 68 82 Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 94% 100% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 98% 98% Blizzak LM001 EVO: 60% × 65.8 + 40% × 68.1 = 67
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 82.3 = 77
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80
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +383Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 EVO Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 10 tests 82 81 Reviews found online 75 87 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 97% 95% Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 99% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 99% 100% Blizzak LM001 EVO: 60% × 82.3 + 40% × 75.3 = 80
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.7 + 40% × 87.4 = 83
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57
Snow
Winter Sottozero 3 +966Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 EVO Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 10 tests 53 57 Reviews found online 63 79 Snow Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 90% 87% Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 97% 95% Blizzak LM001 EVO: 60% × 53.1 + 40% × 63.3 = 57
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.8 + 40% × 79.2 = 66
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69
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +574Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 EVO Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 69 (est.) 72 Reviews found online 69 76 Blizzak LM001 EVO: 40% × 69.1 (est.) + 60% × 68.7 = 69
Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72.3 + 60% × 75.9 = 74
No road tests of comfort for Blizzak LM001 EVO. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
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77
Noise
Blizzak LM001 EVO +572Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 EVO Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 7 tests 84 65 Reviews found online ≈ 67 (est.) 82 Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 97% Blizzak LM001 EVO: 60% × 83.7 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 77
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.6 + 40% × 81.9 = 72
No owner ratings of noise for Blizzak LM001 EVO. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
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69
Treadwear
Blizzak LM001 EVO +564Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 EVO Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 3 tests 72 56 Reviews found online 65 75 Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 83% 61% Blizzak LM001 EVO: 60% × 71.7 + 40% × 65.1 = 69
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.2 + 40% × 74.6 = 64
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70
Handling (owners)
Winter Sottozero 3 +1383Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 EVO Winter Sottozero 3 Reviews found online 70 83 -
73
Efficiency
Winter Sottozero 3 +376Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 EVO Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 7 tests 73 76 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 88% 88%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 73 |
| Dry | 67 | 77 |
| Wet | 80 | 83 |
| Snow | 57 | 66 |
| Comfort | 69 | 74 |
| Noise | 77 | 72 |
| Treadwear | 69 | 64 |
| Handling (owners) | 70 | 83 |
| Efficiency | 73 | 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 and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
Blizzak LM001 EVO
73
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
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.
In the overall rankings of 2 tests that ran both, Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO finished ahead 2 times and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | Blizzak LM001 EVO | Winter Sottozero 3 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 94% | 100% | −6.4 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% | 98% | −0.5 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 97% | 95% | +1.9 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% | 100% | −0.9 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% | 100% | −1.5 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 90% | 87% | +3.3 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% | 95% | +1.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Noise | Noise | 100% | 97% | +2.6 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Wear | Treadwear | 83% | 61% | +21.7 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 88% | 88% | +0.6 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 85% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 54% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #10/20 | #20/20 | – | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Value | Cost | 59% | 45% | +14.7 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #8/20 | #18/20 | – | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/50 R17 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Blizzak LM001 EVO
Pros
- Superb wet braking and performance in cold, wet conditions
- Sharp and responsive steering feel
- Very quiet operation when new
Cons
- Fast tread wear, particularly in dry and warmer conditions
- Below average snow performance and limited resistance to aquaplaning
- Increased tire noise inside the cabin as the tire ages
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.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 5 | 98 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 17″ | 16″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
| Sizes in common | 3 | 3 |
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
73
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Narrow edge: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, dry and snow. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO if noise and treadwear matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 83 vs 70 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 77 vs 67 on dry.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 66 vs 57 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO scores 77 vs 72 on noise.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
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Blizzak LM001 EVO or Winter Sottozero 3?
Which is better in the wet, Blizzak LM001 EVO or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 83 vs 80 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Blizzak LM001 EVO or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 77 vs 67 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Blizzak LM001 EVO or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 66 vs 57 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Blizzak LM001 EVO or Winter Sottozero 3?
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO, 77 vs 72 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Blizzak LM001 EVO or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 74 vs 69 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Blizzak LM001 EVO or Winter Sottozero 3?
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 EVO, 69 vs 64 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Blizzak LM001 EVO or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 76 vs 73 on our efficiency score.
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