Tests 83 · 6 tests Owners 73 · 5 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 225/50 R17 (straight aquaplaning)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 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 6 + 10 road tests and 5 + 66 owner reviews. How we score
Cinturato Winter 3 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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77
Dry
Level77Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter 3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 8 tests 81 73 Reviews found online 72 82 Cinturato Winter 3: 60% × 80.8 + 40% × 71.6 = 77
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 81.9 = 77
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91
Wet
Cinturato Winter 3 +883Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter 3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 10 tests 100 80 Reviews found online 77 87 Cinturato Winter 3: 60% × 100 + 40% × 76.9 = 91
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 87.1 = 83
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78
Snow
Cinturato Winter 3 +1365Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter 3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 10 tests 80 56 Reviews found online 76 79 Cinturato Winter 3: 60% × 79.6 + 40% × 75.5 = 78
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.3 + 40% × 78.5 = 65
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67
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +774Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter 3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 1 tests 75 72 Reviews found online 62 76 Cinturato Winter 3: 40% × 74.9 + 60% × 61.8 = 67
Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72.2 + 60% × 75.7 = 74
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76
Noise
Cinturato Winter 3 +571Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter 3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 7 tests 83 64 Reviews found online ≈ 67 (est.) 82 Cinturato Winter 3: 60% × 82.8 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 76
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.4 + 40% × 81.6 = 71
No owner ratings of noise for Cinturato Winter 3. 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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72
Treadwear
Cinturato Winter 3 +864Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter 3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 3 tests 73 57 Reviews found online 71 75 Cinturato Winter 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 71.2 = 72
Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 57.1 + 40% × 74.9 = 64
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69
Handling (owners)
Winter Sottozero 3 +1483Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter 3 Winter Sottozero 3 Reviews found online 69 83 -
71
Efficiency
Winter Sottozero 3 +576Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter 3 Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 7 tests 71 76
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 78 | 73 |
| Dry | 77 | 77 |
| Wet | 91 | 83 |
| Snow | 78 | 65 |
| Comfort | 67 | 74 |
| Noise | 76 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 64 |
| Handling (owners) | 69 | 83 |
| Efficiency | 71 | 76 |
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
78
/ 100
Cinturato Winter 3
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.
| Discipline | Category | Cinturato Winter 3 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 97% #3/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 96% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #5/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 99% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 95% #7/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 94% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 86% #18/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #5/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #3/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 94% #22/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #9/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 97% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 97% #7/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 91% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 92% #8/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 97% #8/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 97% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wear | Treadwear | 80% #4/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test | 83% #13/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 93% #3/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Value | Cost | 63% #14/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test | 64% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #6/6 2027 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | #13/15 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Cinturato Winter 3
Pros
- Outstanding grip and confidence in deep snow, ice, and mountain passes
- Remarkably quiet and comfortable ride quality at low to moderate speeds
- Surprising dry and wet handling upgrades compared to certain summer or OE tires
Cons
- Noticeable increase in tire noise at higher speeds (typically above 100-110 km/h)
- Higher energy or fuel consumption noted on electric vehicles
- Loss of steering precision under high lateral forces due to narrow tread blocks
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 · Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 36 | 98 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 16″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
| Sizes in common | 28 | 28 |
Which one should you actually buy?
78
/ 100
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
73
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Winner: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 — better snow, wet and treadwear. Pick the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 if handling, comfort and efficiency matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 83 vs 69 on handling.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 scores 78 vs 65 on snow.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 scores 91 vs 83 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 scores 72 vs 64 on treadwear.
Tire A · Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
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Cinturato Winter 3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Which is better in the wet, Cinturato Winter 3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3, 91 vs 83 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Cinturato Winter 3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Neither, by our numbers: 77 vs 77 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is better in snow, Cinturato Winter 3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3, 78 vs 65 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Cinturato Winter 3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3, 76 vs 71 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Cinturato Winter 3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 74 vs 67 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Cinturato Winter 3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3, 72 vs 64 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Cinturato Winter 3 or Winter Sottozero 3?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 76 vs 71 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