Tests – · none yet Owners 73 · 10 reviews
Best test result: #10 of 13 in 2010 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Kumho IZen KW23 vs Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero 2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
IZen KW23 is ahead, 71–64
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Tests – · none yet Owners 63 · 6 reviews
Best test result: #9 of 10 in 2010 European 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.
-
70
Dry
IZen KW23 +664Why this score
Source IZen KW23 Winter 210 Sottozero 2 Reviews found online 71 62 -
74
Wet
IZen KW23 +371Why this score
Source IZen KW23 Winter 210 Sottozero 2 Reviews found online 76 71 -
73
Snow
IZen KW23 +865Why this score
Source IZen KW23 Winter 210 Sottozero 2 Reviews found online 75 62 -
71
Comfort
IZen KW23 +962Why this score
Source IZen KW23 Winter 210 Sottozero 2 Reviews found online 73 54 -
69
Treadwear
IZen KW23 +465Why this score
Source IZen KW23 Winter 210 Sottozero 2 Reviews found online 72 64 -
71
Handling
IZen KW23 +1952Why this score
Source IZen KW23 Winter 210 Sottozero 2 Reviews found online 71 52
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho IZen KW23 | Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 64 |
| Dry | 70 | 64 |
| Wet | 74 | 71 |
| Snow | 73 | 65 |
| Comfort | 71 | 62 |
| Treadwear | 69 | 65 |
| Handling | 71 | 52 |
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
71
/ 100
IZen KW23
64
/ 100
Winter 210 Sottozero 2
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 | IZen KW23 | Winter 210 Sottozero 2 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 10% #10/13 · 2010 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 11% #9/10 · 2010 European Winter Tyre Test | −1.1 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A IZen KW23
Pros
- Outstanding traction and handling on snow and ice
- Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
- Provides significant confidence for rear-wheel-drive vehicles in winter
Cons
- Increased road noise levels
- Mediocre performance in wet, non-frozen conditions
- Potential for skidding if tire pressure is not strictly maintained
Tire B Winter 210 Sottozero 2
Pros
- Exceptional grip and confidence in cold and wet conditions
- Reliable performance in snow and ice
- Maintains characteristic performance over multiple seasons
Cons
- Extremely high road noise compared to other major brands
- Some users intend to switch to competitor brands like Michelin or Vredestein for future sets
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho IZen KW23 | B · Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
71
/ 100
Kumho IZen KW23
64
/ 100
Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero 2
Winner: Kumho IZen KW23 — better handling, comfort and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Kumho IZen KW23 scores 71 vs 52 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Kumho IZen KW23 scores 71 vs 62 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Kumho IZen KW23 scores 73 vs 65 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Kumho IZen KW23 scores 70 vs 64 on dry.
Tire A · Kumho IZen KW23
Tire B · Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero 2
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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.