Tests 67 · 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 Hankook Winter i cept evo3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Too close to call: Winter Sottozero 3 and Winter i cept evo3 are level at 73.
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 73 · 16 tests Owners 74 · 22 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test (wet braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
76
Dry
Winter Sottozero 3 +175Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 76 Reviews found online 81 75 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 97% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 99% -
79
Wet
Winter i cept evo3 +281Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 77 83 Reviews found online 82 77 Wet Braking (% of best) 86% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) 95% 98% -
67
Snow
Winter i cept evo3 +1077Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 61 78 Reviews found online 77 76 Snow Braking (% of best) 94% 95% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 95% Snow Traction (% of best) 91% 94% -
73
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +568Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 71 Reviews found online 74 64 -
67
Noise
Winter Sottozero 3 +3532Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 59 10 Reviews found online 79 – -
63
Treadwear
Winter i cept evo3 +1275Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 57 76 Reviews found online 72 74 -
80
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +872Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i cept evo3 Reviews found online 80 72
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Hankook Winter i cept evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 73 |
| Dry | 76 | 75 |
| Wet | 79 | 81 |
| Snow | 67 | 77 |
| Comfort | 73 | 68 |
| Noise | 67 | 32 |
| Treadwear | 63 | 75 |
| Handling | 80 | 72 |
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
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
73
/ 100
Winter i cept evo3
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 | Winter i cept evo3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #4/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 97% #4/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #6/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | −0.5 | Same test |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 81% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +19.1 | Same test |
| Noise | Other | 96% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 97% #8/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | −1.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 54% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 90% #3/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | −36.0 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 45% #20/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 78% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | −33.4 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 61% #19/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 83% #14/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | −21.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 7% #14/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | +9.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% #22/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 95% #4/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −1.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #6/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 95% #16/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +3.8 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 91% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 94% #13/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −2.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #2/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 97% #4/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +2.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 91% #13/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | −1.3 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 0% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 86% #16/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −14.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | −3.6 | Same test |
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 Winter i cept evo3
Pros
- Exceptional wet grip and outstanding aquaplaning resistance
- Outstanding snow and ice traction providing high confidence in winter storms
- Great value for money compared to Tier-1 brands like Michelin or Goodyear
Cons
- Slightly increased noise levels or humming compared to summer tires
- Mixed feedback on ride comfort, with some finding them stiffer
- Longer braking distances reported by a few users in specific conditions
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Hankook Winter i cept evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 32 | — |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 21″ | — |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
73
/ 100
Hankook Winter i cept evo3
Too close to call: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 and Hankook Winter i cept evo3 are within 2 points overall. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is stronger on noise, handling and comfort. Hankook Winter i cept evo3 is stronger on treadwear and snow.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 67 vs 32 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 75 vs 63 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 77 vs 67 on snow.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 72 on handling.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Hankook Winter i cept evo3
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.