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Head-to-head Updated

Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 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 3 + 10 road tests and 4 + 66 owner reviews. How we score

P Zero Winter 2 is ahead, 79–73

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Pirelli P Zero Winter 2
Tire APirelli

P Zero Winter 2

Winter

± 6

Tests 80 · 3 tests Owners 79 · 4 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test (wet handling (tester's mark))

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire BPirelli

Winter Sottozero 3

Winter

± 6

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.

  1. 78

    Dry

    P Zero Winter 2 +1
    77
    Why this score
    SourceP Zero Winter 2Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 8 tests7773
    Reviews found online8082

    P Zero Winter 2: 60% × 76.6 + 40% × 79.7 = 78

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 82.3 = 77

  2. 93

    Wet

    P Zero Winter 2 +10
    83
    Why this score
    SourceP Zero Winter 2Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 10 tests9981
    Reviews found online8587

    P Zero Winter 2: 60% × 99.1 + 40% × 84.9 = 93

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.7 + 40% × 87.4 = 83

  3. 71

    Snow

    P Zero Winter 2 +5
    66
    Why this score
    SourceP Zero Winter 2Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 10 tests6557
    Reviews found online8179

    P Zero Winter 2: 60% × 65 + 40% × 80.9 = 71

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.8 + 40% × 79.2 = 66

  4. 82

    Comfort

    P Zero Winter 2 +8
    74
    Why this score
    SourceP Zero Winter 2Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 1 tests8872
    Reviews found online7876

    P Zero Winter 2: 40% × 88.1 + 60% × 77.7 = 82

    Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72.3 + 60% × 75.9 = 74

  5. 77

    Noise

    P Zero Winter 2 +5
    72
    Why this score
    SourceP Zero Winter 2Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 7 tests8465
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)82

    P Zero Winter 2: 60% × 84.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 77

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.6 + 40% × 81.9 = 72

    No owner ratings of noise for P Zero Winter 2. 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.

  6. 74

    Treadwear

    P Zero Winter 2 +10
    64
    Why this score
    SourceP Zero Winter 2Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests7556
    Reviews found online7275

    P Zero Winter 2: 60% × 75 + 40% × 71.9 = 74

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.2 + 40% × 74.6 = 64

  7. 79

    Handling (owners)

    Winter Sottozero 3 +4
    83
    Why this score
    SourceP Zero Winter 2Winter Sottozero 3
    Reviews found online7983
  8. 69

    Efficiency

    Winter Sottozero 3 +7
    76
    Why this score
    SourceP Zero Winter 2Winter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 7 tests6976
Scores at a glance
CategoryPirelli P Zero Winter 2Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Relative Score 79 73
Dry 78 77
Wet 93 83
Snow 71 66
Comfort 82 74
Noise 77 72
Treadwear 74 64
Handling (owners) 79 83
Efficiency 69 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
± 6

P Zero Winter 2

± 6

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.

DisciplineCategoryP Zero Winter 2Winter Sottozero 3ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 97% #6/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 96% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #2/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 99% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 98% #3/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 94% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 100% #1/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 86% #18/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #1/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 100% #4/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 70% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 98% #4/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 94% #22/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 96% #5/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 97% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling (tester's mark) Snow 40% #4/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 80% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 96% #3/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 91% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 80% #2/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #2/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 97% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 86% #4/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 83% #13/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 93% #4/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #8/10 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test #5/20 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 47% #9/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test 64% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #4/18 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test #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 P Zero Winter 2

Pros

  • Phenomenal grip and traction on snow and ice
  • Sporty, responsive handling and immediate direction changes on wet and dry roads
  • Low noise levels for a winter tire

Cons

  • Faster tread wear when driven aggressively
  • Slightly less impressive performance in warm, soaking wet conditions above 3 degrees Celsius
  • Average performance in non-winter conditions
All owner themes in the P Zero Winter 2 review

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.
All owner themes in the Winter Sottozero 3 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available6598
Rim diameters18″ – 23″16″ – 21″
Tread depth—10/32″
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—50 psi
Sizes in common3030

Which one should you actually buy?

Pirelli P Zero Winter 2

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Winner: Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 — better wet, treadwear and comfort. Pick the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 if efficiency matters most to you.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 scores 93 vs 83 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 scores 74 vs 64 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 scores 82 vs 74 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 76 vs 69 on efficiency.

Tire A · Pirelli P Zero Winter 2
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Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
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P Zero Winter 2 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Which is better in the wet, P Zero Winter 2 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli P Zero Winter 2, 93 vs 83 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, P Zero Winter 2 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 77 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, P Zero Winter 2 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli P Zero Winter 2, 71 vs 66 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, P Zero Winter 2 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli P Zero Winter 2, 77 vs 72 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, P Zero Winter 2 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli P Zero Winter 2, 82 vs 74 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, P Zero Winter 2 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli P Zero Winter 2, 74 vs 64 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, P Zero Winter 2 or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 76 vs 69 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