Tests 73 · 16 tests Owners 74 · 22 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test (wet braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Too close to call: Winter i cept evo3 and Winter Sottozero 3 are level at 73.
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Tests 67 · 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.
-
75
Dry
Winter Sottozero 3 +176Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 73 Reviews found online 75 81 Dry Braking (% of best) 97% 98% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 99% -
81
Wet
Winter i cept evo3 +279Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 83 77 Reviews found online 77 82 Wet Braking (% of best) 100% 86% Wet Handling (% of best) 98% 95% -
77
Snow
Winter i cept evo3 +1067Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 78 61 Reviews found online 76 77 Snow Braking (% of best) 95% 94% Snow Handling (% of best) 95% 99% Snow Traction (% of best) 94% 91% -
68
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +573Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 71 72 Reviews found online 64 74 -
32
Noise
Winter Sottozero 3 +3567Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 10 59 Reviews found online – 79 -
75
Treadwear
Winter i cept evo3 +1263Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 57 Reviews found online 74 72 -
72
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +880Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Reviews found online 72 80
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Winter i cept evo3 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 73 |
| Dry | 75 | 76 |
| Wet | 81 | 79 |
| Snow | 77 | 67 |
| Comfort | 68 | 73 |
| Noise | 32 | 67 |
| Treadwear | 75 | 63 |
| Handling | 72 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Winter i cept evo3
73
/ 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 | Winter i cept evo3 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 97% #4/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | −1.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #6/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.5 | Same test |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 81% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | −19.1 | Same test |
| Noise | Other | 97% #8/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +1.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 90% #3/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 54% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +36.0 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 78% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 45% #20/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +33.4 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 83% #14/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 61% #19/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +21.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 7% #14/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 17% #6/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | −9.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 95% #4/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 94% #22/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 95% #16/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #6/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | −3.8 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 94% #13/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 91% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 97% #4/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | −2.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 91% #13/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 86% #16/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +14.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #6/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +3.6 | Same test |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Winter i cept evo3
Pros
- Exceptional wet grip and outstanding aquaplaning resistance
- Outstanding snow and ice traction providing high confidence in winter storms
- Great value for money compared to Tier-1 brands like Michelin or Goodyear
Cons
- Slightly increased noise levels or humming compared to summer tires
- Mixed feedback on ride comfort, with some finding them stiffer
- Longer braking distances reported by a few users in specific conditions
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 · Hankook Winter i cept evo3 | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 32 |
| Rim diameters | — | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Hankook Winter i cept evo3
73
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Too close to call: Hankook Winter i cept evo3 and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 are within 2 points overall. Hankook Winter i cept evo3 is stronger on treadwear and snow. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is stronger on noise, handling and comfort.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 67 vs 32 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 75 vs 63 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 77 vs 67 on snow.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 72 on handling.
Tire A · Hankook Winter i cept evo3
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.