Tests 66 · 10 tests Owners 78 · 66 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test (rolling resistance)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter Sottozero 3 is ahead, 72–63
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 71 · 2 tests Owners 54 · 11 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)
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 +1263Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 71 Reviews found online 79 51 Dry Braking (% of best) 99% 96% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 100% -
81
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +1368Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) 80 74 Reviews found online 83 58 Wet Braking (% of best) 99% 91% Wet Handling (% of best) 96% 97% -
65
Snow
Winter Sottozero 3 +362Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) 57 69 Reviews found online 77 51 Snow Braking (% of best) 93% 96% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 98% -
73
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +1261Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 74 52 -
67
Noise
Winter Sottozero 3 +1156Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) 60 71 Reviews found online 78 34 -
62
Treadwear
Level62Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Professional tests (TWG score) 56 – Reviews found online 71 60 -
80
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +2060Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Blizzak LM001 Reviews found online 80 60
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 63 |
| Dry | 75 | 63 |
| Wet | 81 | 68 |
| Snow | 65 | 62 |
| Comfort | 73 | 61 |
| Noise | 67 | 56 |
| Treadwear | 62 | 62 |
| Handling | 80 | 60 |
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.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
72
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
63
/ 100
Blizzak LM001
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 LM001 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #2/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 96% #10/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +3.1 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −1.0 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #11/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 98% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | −1.5 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 71% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 61% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +10.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 14% #7/15 · 2016 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | +10.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 93% #8/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 96% #7/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −3.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #3/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +1.1 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #2/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 89% #9/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +10.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% #3/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 91% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +8.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 96% #9/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 97% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | −1.4 | 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 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 |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
63
/ 100
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 60 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 81 vs 68 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 75 vs 63 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 73 vs 61 on comfort.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.