Tests 71 · 2 tests Owners 54 · 11 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)
Head-to-head
Updated
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter Sottozero 3 is ahead, 72–63
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Tests 66 · 10 tests Owners 78 · 66 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test (rolling resistance)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
63
Dry
Winter Sottozero 3 +1275Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 71 73 Reviews found online 51 79 Dry Braking (% of best) 96% 99% Dry Handling (% of best) 100% 99% -
68
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +1381Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 74 80 Reviews found online 58 83 Wet Braking (% of best) 91% 99% Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 96% -
62
Snow
Winter Sottozero 3 +365Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 69 57 Reviews found online 51 77 Snow Braking (% of best) 96% 93% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 99% -
61
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +1273Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 72 Reviews found online 52 74 -
56
Noise
Winter Sottozero 3 +1167Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 71 60 Reviews found online 34 78 -
62
Treadwear
Level62Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 56 Reviews found online 60 71 -
60
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +2080Why this score
Source Blizzak LM001 Winter Sottozero 3 Reviews found online 60 80
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 63 | 72 |
| Dry | 63 | 75 |
| Wet | 68 | 81 |
| Snow | 62 | 65 |
| Comfort | 61 | 73 |
| Noise | 56 | 67 |
| Treadwear | 62 | 62 |
| Handling | 60 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
63
/ 100
Blizzak LM001
72
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Blizzak LM001 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 96% #10/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −3.1 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #1/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +1.0 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 97% #11/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +1.5 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 61% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 71% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | −10.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 14% #7/15 · 2016 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 25% #4/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −10.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 93% #8/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | +3.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −1.1 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 89% #9/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | −10.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −8.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #9/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Blizzak LM001
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow and icy conditions
- Precise handling and stability on cold, winter-affected roads
- Reliable braking performance in severe weather
Cons
- Rapid tread wear reported by some users
- High noise levels on dry asphalt
- Increased fuel consumption compared to other winter tires
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 | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 69 | 98 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 21″ | 16″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
63
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
72
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 60 on handling.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 81 vs 68 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 75 vs 63 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 73 vs 61 on comfort.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
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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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.