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Head-to-head Updated

Pirelli Sottozero Serie II 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 0 + 10 road tests and 31 + 69 owner reviews. How we score

Winter Sottozero 3 leads, 74–71 Narrow edge

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Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire BPirelli

Winter Sottozero 3

Winter

± 6

Tests 67 · 10 tests Owners 80 · 69 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. 70

    Dry

    Winter Sottozero 3 +6
    76
    Why this score
    SourceSottozero Serie IIWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 8 tests≈ 70 (est.)73
    Reviews found online7281

    Sottozero Serie II: 60% × 69.5 (est.) + 40% × 71.8 = 70

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 80.7 = 76

    No road tests of dry for Sottozero Serie II. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

  2. 77

    Wet

    Winter Sottozero 3 +6
    83
    Why this score
    SourceSottozero Serie IIWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 10 tests≈ 75 (est.)80
    Reviews found online7987

    Sottozero Serie II: 60% × 75.4 (est.) + 40% × 79.2 = 77

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 86.5 = 83

    No road tests of wet for Sottozero Serie II. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 66

    Snow

    Sottozero Serie II +1
    65
    Why this score
    SourceSottozero Serie IIWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 10 tests≈ 68 (est.)56
    Reviews found online6379

    Sottozero Serie II: 60% × 68.2 (est.) + 40% × 63.4 = 66

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.4 + 40% × 78.9 = 65

    No road tests of snow for Sottozero Serie II. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 72

    Comfort

    Winter Sottozero 3 +1
    73
    Why this score
    SourceSottozero Serie IIWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 70 (est.)72
    Reviews found online7474

    Sottozero Serie II: 40% × 69.8 (est.) + 60% × 74.1 = 72

    Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72.1 + 60% × 74.4 = 73

    No road tests of comfort for Sottozero Serie II. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    71
    Why this score
    SourceSottozero Serie IIWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 7 tests–64
    Reviews found online–81

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.3 + 40% × 81.3 = 71

  6. 70

    Treadwear

    Sottozero Serie II +6
    64
    Why this score
    SourceSottozero Serie IIWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 3 tests≈ 68 (est.)57
    Reviews found online7275

    Sottozero Serie II: 60% × 68.3 (est.) + 40% × 71.6 = 70

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 57.1 + 40% × 74.6 = 64

    No road tests of treadwear for Sottozero Serie II. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 74

    Handling (owners)

    Winter Sottozero 3 +8
    82
    Why this score
    SourceSottozero Serie IIWinter Sottozero 3
    Reviews found online7482
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    76
    Why this score
    SourceSottozero Serie IIWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 7 tests–76
Scores at a glance
CategoryPirelli Sottozero Serie IIPirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Relative Score 71 74
Dry 70 76
Wet 77 83
Snow 66 65
Comfort 72 73
Noise – 71
Treadwear 70 64
Handling (owners) 74 82
Efficiency – 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 starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

Sottozero Serie II

± 6

Winter Sottozero 3

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

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.

DisciplineCategorySottozero Serie IIWinter Sottozero 3ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #2/9 2012 Auto Bild Performance 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 Sottozero Serie II

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and standing water grip with strong resistance to aquaplaning
  • Surprisingly confident, communicative handling and short braking distances on dry roads
  • High levels of ride comfort and remarkably low road noise, even on low-profile sizes

Cons

  • Subpar traction and grip in deep snow or severe ice according to a minority of reviewers
  • High initial purchase price
  • Soften up and exhibit slightly reduced predictability or increased noise in warmer temperatures above 7°C (45°F)
All owner themes in the Sottozero Serie II review

Tire B Winter Sottozero 3

Pros

  • Excellent wet and slush performance, with strong resistance to aquaplaning and confident, stable braking
  • Very good snow traction, with several owners saying it beat previous winter tires such as Nokian, Michelin and Sottozero 2, including on rear-wheel-drive and performance cars
  • Sharp, precise steering and dry grip that feels close to a summer tire in cold conditions, which fits its UHP character

Cons

  • Tread wear can be fast, especially when the tires are used in warm weather or all year. Some reported 3 mm left after about 27k km, and others reported wear near the indicator after 30,000 km
  • Road noise is higher than on summer tires, particularly on the highway, and a few said it increased as the tires wore. Others reported feedback becoming vague and the tires getting louder above about 15°C
  • Sidewalls can be vulnerable. Reviewers reported cuts from curb contact, tires that broke on rough roads, and bulges in the sidewall
All owner themes in the Winter Sottozero 3 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Pirelli Sottozero Serie II B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—98
Rim diameters—16″ – 21″
Tread depth—10/32″
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—50 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Pirelli Sottozero Serie II

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Narrow edge: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, dry and wet. Pick the Pirelli Sottozero Serie II if treadwear matters most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 82 vs 74 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Pirelli Sottozero Serie II scores 70 vs 64 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 76 vs 70 on dry.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 83 vs 77 on wet.

Tire A · Pirelli Sottozero Serie II
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Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
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Sottozero Serie II or Winter Sottozero 3?

Which is better in the wet, Sottozero Serie II or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 83 vs 77 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Sottozero Serie II or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 76 vs 70 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Sottozero Serie II or Winter Sottozero 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 66 vs 65 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Sottozero Serie II or Winter Sottozero 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 73 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Sottozero Serie II or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli Sottozero Serie II, 70 vs 64 on our treadwear 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