Tests 67 · 10 tests Owners 80 · 68 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 — 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 10 + 2 road tests and 68 + 11 owner reviews. How we score
Winter Sottozero 3 is ahead, 73–59
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Tests 71 · 2 tests Owners 46 · 11 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)
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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76
Dry
Winter Sottozero 3 +1660Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 2 tests 73 71 Reviews found online 82 42 Dry Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 100% 98% Dry Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 99% 99% Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 81.7 = 76
Blizzak LM001: 60% × 71.5 + 40% × 42 = 60
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83
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +1865Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) · 10 / 2 tests 80 75 Reviews found online 87 50 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 97% 95% Wet Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 94% 94% Wet Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 98% 97% Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.4 + 40% × 86.5 = 83
Blizzak LM001: 60% × 74.5 + 40% × 50.3 = 65
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65
Snow
Winter Sottozero 3 +560Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) · 10 / 2 tests 56 68 Reviews found online 79 48 Snow Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–1 94% 94% Snow Handling (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 97% 98% Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.5 + 40% × 78.8 = 65
Blizzak LM001: 60% × 68.5 + 40% × 48 = 60
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74
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +2351Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 72 ≈ 63 (est.) Reviews found online 75 43 Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72.1 + 60% × 74.5 = 74
Blizzak LM001: 40% × 63.4 (est.) + 60% × 42.6 = 51
No road tests of comfort for Blizzak LM001. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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71
Noise
Winter Sottozero 3 +1754Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 2 tests 64 71 Reviews found online 82 29 Noise (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 98% 98% Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.4 + 40% × 81.6 = 71
Blizzak LM001: 60% × 70.8 + 40% × 28.5 = 54
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64
Treadwear
Winter Sottozero 3 +856Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / – tests 57 ≈ 60 (est.) Reviews found online 75 49 Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 57.1 + 40% × 74.6 = 64
Blizzak LM001: 60% × 60.1 (est.) + 40% × 48.8 = 56
No road tests of treadwear for Blizzak LM001. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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82
Handling (owners)
Winter Sottozero 3 +2854Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Reviews found online 82 54 -
76
Efficiency
Winter Sottozero 3 +571Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 2 tests 76 71 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–1 95% 93%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 59 |
| Dry | 76 | 60 |
| Wet | 83 | 65 |
| Snow | 65 | 60 |
| Comfort | 74 | 51 |
| Noise | 71 | 54 |
| Treadwear | 64 | 56 |
| Handling (owners) | 82 | 54 |
| Efficiency | 76 | 71 |
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
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Important
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Less important
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
59
/ 100
Blizzak LM001
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.
In the overall rankings of 4 tests that ran both, Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 finished ahead 3 times and Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 1 times.
| Discipline | Category | Winter Sottozero 3 | Blizzak LM001 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% | 98% | +1.6 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% | 99% | −0.1 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15 |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 97% | 95% | +2.6 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 94% | 94% | +0.3 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% | 97% | +0.8 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15 |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% | 94% | −0.3 | 0–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% | 98% | −1.1 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15 |
| Noise | Noise | 98% | 98% | −0.1 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15 |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 95% | 93% | +2.6 | 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 51% | 61% | −9.8 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #7/10 | #6/10 | – | 3–1 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test · 195/65 R15 |
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 LM001
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow and icy conditions
- Precise handling and stability on cold, winter-affected roads
- Reliable braking performance in severe weather
Cons
- Rapid tread wear reported by some users
- High noise levels on dry asphalt
- Increased fuel consumption compared to other winter tires
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 98 | 69 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 21″ | 14″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | 50 psi |
| Sizes in common | 40 | 40 |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
59
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 82 vs 54 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 74 vs 51 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 83 vs 65 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 71 vs 54 on noise.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
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Winter Sottozero 3 or Blizzak LM001?
Which is better in the wet, Winter Sottozero 3 or Blizzak LM001?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 83 vs 65 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Winter Sottozero 3 or Blizzak LM001?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 76 vs 60 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Winter Sottozero 3 or Blizzak LM001?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 65 vs 60 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Winter Sottozero 3 or Blizzak LM001?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 71 vs 54 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Winter Sottozero 3 or Blizzak LM001?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 74 vs 51 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Winter Sottozero 3 or Blizzak LM001?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 64 vs 56 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Winter Sottozero 3 or Blizzak LM001?
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