Tests 76 · 17 tests Owners 82 · 22 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)
Head-to-head
Updated
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 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 17 + 10 road tests and 22 + 66 owner reviews. How we score
Winter i cept evo3 is ahead, 78–73
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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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78
Dry
Winter i cept evo3 +177Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 8 tests 75 73 Reviews found online 82 82 Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 95% 96% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 99% Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 75.3 + 40% × 81.9 = 78
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 81.9 = 77
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90
Wet
Winter i cept evo3 +783Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 10 tests 92 80 Reviews found online 86 87 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 97% 94% Wet Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 94% 86% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 95% Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 92.1 + 40% × 86.2 = 90
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 87.1 = 83
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80
Snow
Winter i cept evo3 +1565Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 10 tests 80 56 Reviews found online 80 79 Snow Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–0 97% 94% Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 97% Snow Traction (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 93% 91% Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 80.1 + 40% × 79.5 = 80
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.3 + 40% × 78.5 = 65
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73
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +174Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 1 tests 72 72 Reviews found online 74 76 Winter i cept evo3: 40% × 71.6 + 60% × 73.7 = 73
Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72.2 + 60% × 75.7 = 74
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33
Noise
Winter Sottozero 3 +3871Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 7 tests 10 64 Reviews found online ≈ 67 (est.) 82 Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 94% 97% Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 10 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 33
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.4 + 40% × 81.6 = 71
No owner ratings of noise for Winter i cept evo3. 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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79
Treadwear
Winter i cept evo3 +1564Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 3 tests 77 57 Reviews found online 81 75 Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 83% 83% Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 77 + 40% × 81.1 = 79
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 57.1 + 40% × 74.9 = 64
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81
Handling (owners)
Winter Sottozero 3 +283Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Reviews found online 81 83 -
62
Efficiency
Winter Sottozero 3 +1476Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 7 tests 62 76 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 81% 100%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Winter i cept evo3 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 78 | 73 |
| Dry | 78 | 77 |
| Wet | 90 | 83 |
| Snow | 80 | 65 |
| Comfort | 73 | 74 |
| Noise | 33 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 64 |
| Handling (owners) | 81 | 83 |
| Efficiency | 62 | 76 |
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
78
/ 100
Winter i cept evo3
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, Hankook Winter i cept evo3 finished ahead 2 times and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | Winter i cept evo3 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% | 96% | −0.5 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% | 99% | +0.5 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 97% | 94% | +2.8 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 94% | 86% | +7.7 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% | 95% | +3.6 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 97% | 94% | +3.0 | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% | 97% | +0.5 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 93% | 91% | +2.1 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 94% #4/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 94% | 97% | −3.3 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Wear | Treadwear | 83% | 83% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 81% | 100% | −19.1 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 90% #3/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 54% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #18/20 | #5/20 | – | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Value | Cost | 78% | 64% | +13.9 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test · 245/45 R18 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #5/48 | #20/48 | – | 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test · 245/45 R18 |
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 | 86 | 98 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 22″ | 16″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
| Sizes in common | 57 | 57 |
Which one should you actually buy?
78
/ 100
Hankook Winter i cept evo3
73
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Winner: Hankook Winter i cept evo3 — better snow, treadwear and wet. Pick the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 if noise and efficiency matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 71 vs 33 on noise.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 80 vs 65 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 79 vs 64 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want lower fuel or energy use
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 76 vs 62 on efficiency.
Tire A · Hankook Winter i cept evo3
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
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Winter i cept evo3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Which is better in the wet, Winter i cept evo3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 90 vs 83 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Winter i cept evo3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 77 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is better in snow, Winter i cept evo3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 80 vs 65 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Winter i cept evo3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 71 vs 33 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Winter i cept evo3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 74 on the comfort score, within 3 points.
Which lasts longer, Winter i cept evo3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 79 vs 64 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Winter i cept evo3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 76 vs 62 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