Tests 66 · 10 tests Owners 78 · 66 reviews
Best test result: #10 of 10 in 2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Hankook Winter i*cept RS — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter Sottozero 3 leads, 74–70 Narrow edge
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Tests – · none yet Owners 71 · 6 reviews
Best test result: #9 of 42 in 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking 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 +669Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i*cept RS Professional tests (TWG score) 73 – Reviews found online 79 69 -
81
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +1071Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i*cept RS Professional tests (TWG score) 80 – Reviews found online 83 72 -
65
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i*cept RS Professional tests (TWG score) 57 – Reviews found online 77 – -
73
Comfort
Winter Sottozero 3 +370Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i*cept RS Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 74 71 -
67
Noise
No comparison–Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i*cept RS Professional tests (TWG score) 60 – Reviews found online 78 – -
62
Treadwear
Winter i*cept RS +870Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i*cept RS Professional tests (TWG score) 56 – Reviews found online 71 73 -
80
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +872Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Winter i*cept RS Reviews found online 80 72
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Hankook Winter i*cept RS |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 70 |
| Dry | 75 | 69 |
| Wet | 81 | 71 |
| Snow | 65 | – |
| Comfort | 73 | 70 |
| Noise | 67 | – |
| Treadwear | 62 | 70 |
| 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
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Important
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
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Less important
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
70
/ 100
Winter i*cept RS
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 RS | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 18% #10/10 · 2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 | 11% #9/42 · 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test | +7.1 | 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 Winter i*cept RS
Pros
- Exceptional grip and performance in medium to heavy snow conditions
- Low rolling resistance contributing to great fuel economy
- Durable wear rate given the winter conditions
Cons
- Very soft rubber compound reduces performance and handling on dry, hot roads
- Less suited for extended high-speed motorway driving
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Hankook Winter i*cept RS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 98 | 17 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 21″ | 13″ – 16″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
70
/ 100
Hankook Winter i*cept RS
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better wet, handling and dry. Pick the Hankook Winter i*cept RS if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 81 vs 71 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 72 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Winter i*cept RS scores 70 vs 62 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 75 vs 69 on dry.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*cept RS
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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.