Tests 66 · 10 tests Owners 78 · 66 reviews
Best test result: #6 of 10 in 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Falken EuroWinter HS449 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter Sottozero 3 leads, 72–68 Narrow edge
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Tests – · none yet Owners 68 · 42 reviews
Best test result: #9 of 17 in 2020 Consumer Reports North America 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 +867Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 EuroWinter HS449 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 – Reviews found online 79 67 -
81
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +576Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 EuroWinter HS449 Professional tests (TWG score) 80 – Reviews found online 83 78 -
65
Snow
Level65Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 EuroWinter HS449 Professional tests (TWG score) 57 – Reviews found online 76 62 -
73
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +370Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 EuroWinter HS449 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 74 70 -
67
Noise
Winter Sottozero 3 +661Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 EuroWinter HS449 Professional tests (TWG score) 60 – Reviews found online 78 52 -
62
Treadwear
EuroWinter HS449 +365Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 EuroWinter HS449 Professional tests (TWG score) 56 – Reviews found online 71 65 -
80
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +1070Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 EuroWinter HS449 Reviews found online 80 70
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Falken EuroWinter HS449 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 68 |
| Dry | 75 | 67 |
| Wet | 81 | 76 |
| Snow | 65 | 65 |
| Comfort | 73 | 70 |
| Noise | 67 | 61 |
| Treadwear | 62 | 65 |
| Handling | 80 | 70 |
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
68
/ 100
EuroWinter HS449
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 | EuroWinter HS449 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 11% #9/17 · 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test | +5.6 | 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 EuroWinter HS449
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow, slush, and ice
- Strong value for money compared to premium brand winter tires
- Reliable and safe performance on wet and rainy roads with good hydroplaning resistance
Cons
- Faster tread wear or a softer rubber compound noted by some users
- Slightly reduced fuel economy or rolling resistance penalty
- Occasional reports of decreased grip or wheel spin on steep inclines and packed ice for certain 2WD setups
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Falken EuroWinter HS449 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 98 | 6 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 21″ | 16″ – 19″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | 44 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
68
/ 100
Falken EuroWinter HS449
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, dry and noise. Pick the Falken EuroWinter HS449 if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 70 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 75 vs 67 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 67 vs 61 on noise.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 81 vs 76 on wet.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Falken EuroWinter HS449
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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.