Tests 66 · 10 tests Owners 78 · 66 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter Sottozero 3 is ahead, 72–64
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Tests 67 · 4 tests Owners 59 · 8 reviews
Best test result: #3 of 20 in 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (price)
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 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 66 Reviews found online 79 58 Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 98% Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 98% -
81
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +1863Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 80 64 Reviews found online 83 62 Wet Braking (% of best) 89% 85% Wet Handling (% of best) 96% 93% -
65
Snow
Level65Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 57 71 Reviews found online 77 56 Snow Braking (% of best) 94% 94% Snow Handling (% of best) 95% 98% -
73
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +964Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 74 60 -
67
Noise
Level67Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 60 67 Reviews found online 78 – -
62
Treadwear
Winterhawk 3 +567Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winterhawk 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 56 70 Reviews found online 71 62 -
80
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +2258Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winterhawk 3 Reviews found online 80 58
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 64 |
| Dry | 75 | 63 |
| Wet | 81 | 63 |
| Snow | 65 | 65 |
| Comfort | 73 | 64 |
| Noise | 67 | 67 |
| Treadwear | 62 | 67 |
| Handling | 80 | 58 |
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
64
/ 100
Winterhawk 3
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 | Winterhawk 3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +2.5 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #10/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.2 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 84% #19/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +16.1 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 99% #4/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +2.3 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 71% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 87% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −15.5 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 65% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 80% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −14.2 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 70% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 72% #14/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −1.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 60% #5/11 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test R17 | 3% #32/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | +56.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 94% #21/30 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | +0.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 95% #18/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −2.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #3/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 92% #15/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +2.3 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 0% #14/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 89% #8/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 85% #29/44 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | +3.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 96% #9/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 93% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +3.3 | 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 Winterhawk 3
Pros
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise
- Good longevity and tread wear resistance
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Inconsistent or poor grip on snow and ice
- Unreliable wet weather performance and braking
- Pronounced understeering tendencies
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 98 | 39 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 21″ | 13″ – 18″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
64
/ 100
Firestone Winterhawk 3
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Firestone Winterhawk 3 if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 58 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 81 vs 63 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 64 on comfort.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Firestone Winterhawk 3
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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.