Tests – · none yet Owners 68 · 42 reviews
Best test result: #5 of 42 in 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Falken EuroWinter HS449 vs Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
SNOWCONTROL Serie II leads, 70–69 Narrow edge
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests – · none yet Owners 71 · 7 reviews
Best test result: #5 of 13 in 2010 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
67
Dry
SNOWCONTROL Serie II +269Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 SNOWCONTROL Serie II Reviews found online 67 69 -
76
Wet
EuroWinter HS449 +472Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 SNOWCONTROL Serie II Reviews found online 78 72 -
65
Snow
SNOWCONTROL Serie II +772Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 SNOWCONTROL Serie II Reviews found online 63 73 -
70
Comfort
EuroWinter HS449 +367Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 SNOWCONTROL Serie II Reviews found online 70 65 -
61
Noise
No comparison–Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 SNOWCONTROL Serie II Reviews found online 52 – -
65
Treadwear
SNOWCONTROL Serie II +368Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 SNOWCONTROL Serie II Reviews found online 65 70 -
70
Handling
SNOWCONTROL Serie II +373Why this score
Source EuroWinter HS449 SNOWCONTROL Serie II Reviews found online 70 73
Scores at a glance
| Category | Falken EuroWinter HS449 | Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 70 |
| Dry | 67 | 69 |
| Wet | 76 | 72 |
| Snow | 65 | 72 |
| Comfort | 70 | 67 |
| Noise | 61 | – |
| Treadwear | 65 | 68 |
| Handling | 70 | 73 |
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.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
EuroWinter HS449
70
/ 100
SNOWCONTROL Serie II
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | EuroWinter HS449 | SNOWCONTROL Serie II | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/42 · 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test | 20% #5/13 · 2010 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A EuroWinter HS449
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow, slush, and ice
- Strong value for money compared to premium brand winter tires
- Reliable and safe performance on wet and rainy roads with good hydroplaning resistance
Cons
- Faster tread wear or a softer rubber compound noted by some users
- Slightly reduced fuel economy or rolling resistance penalty
- Occasional reports of decreased grip or wheel spin on steep inclines and packed ice for certain 2WD setups
Tire B SNOWCONTROL Serie II
Pros
- Fantastic grip and control in deep snow, ice, and wet conditions
- Exceptional longevity and slow, even tread wear over multiple seasons
- Short and predictable braking distances on slippery surfaces
Cons
- Noticeable road noise during regular driving
- Some users feel they are relatively expensive for what they offer
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Falken EuroWinter HS449 | B · Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 6 | — |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 19″ | — |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Falken EuroWinter HS449
70
/ 100
Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II
Too close to call: Falken EuroWinter HS449 and Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II are within 2 points overall. Falken EuroWinter HS449 is stronger on wet and comfort. Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II is stronger on snow, treadwear and handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II scores 72 vs 65 on snow.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Falken EuroWinter HS449 scores 76 vs 72 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Falken EuroWinter HS449 scores 70 vs 67 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II scores 68 vs 65 on treadwear.
Tire A · Falken EuroWinter HS449
Tire B · Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.