Tests 66 · 10 tests Owners 78 · 66 reviews
Best test result: #10 of 10 in 2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter Sottozero 3 is ahead, 72–67
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Tests – · none yet Owners 67 · 20 reviews
Best test result: #9 of 13 in 2010 Auto Zeitung 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.
-
75
Dry
Winter Sottozero 3 +768Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM-32 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 – Reviews found online 79 68 -
81
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +1269Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM-32 Professional tests (TWG score) 80 – Reviews found online 83 69 -
65
Snow
Blizzak LM-32 +368Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM-32 Professional tests (TWG score) 57 – Reviews found online 77 67 -
73
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +667Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM-32 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 74 64 -
67
Noise
Winter Sottozero 3 +166Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM-32 Professional tests (TWG score) 60 – Reviews found online 78 66 -
62
Treadwear
Blizzak LM-32 +567Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM-32 Professional tests (TWG score) 56 – Reviews found online 71 67 -
80
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +1664Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM-32 Reviews found online 80 64
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 67 |
| Dry | 75 | 68 |
| Wet | 81 | 69 |
| Snow | 65 | 68 |
| Comfort | 73 | 67 |
| Noise | 67 | 66 |
| Treadwear | 62 | 67 |
| Handling | 80 | 64 |
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
72
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
67
/ 100
Blizzak LM-32
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 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Blizzak LM-32 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 18% #10/10 · 2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 | 11% #9/13 · 2010 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +7.1 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A 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.
Tire B Blizzak LM-32
Pros
- Exceptional traction and reliability in deep snow and winter storms
- Stable and satisfying handling on cold, dry roads
- Good resistance to aquaplaning and solid durability/tread life reported by some users
Cons
- Poor and unpredictable wet weather grip, leading to wheel spin and sliding
- Noticeable road noise and humming that increases as the tread wears down
- Vague steering feel and lackluster performance under quick acceleration
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 98 | 35 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 21″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
67
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 if treadwear and snow matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 64 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 81 vs 69 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 75 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 73 vs 67 on comfort.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32
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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.