Tests 66 · 10 tests Owners 78 · 66 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (wet handling)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Michelin Alpin 5 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Alpin 5 leads, 75–72 Narrow edge
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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 +372Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 70 Reviews found online 79 74 Dry Braking (% of best) 95% 96% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 99% -
81
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +180Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 80 79 Reviews found online 83 83 Wet Braking (% of best) 86% 92% Wet Handling (% of best) 100% 98% -
65
Snow
Alpin 5 +772Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 57 69 Reviews found online 76 77 Snow Braking (% of best) 93% 95% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 96% -
73
Comfort
Level73Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 74 77 -
67
Noise
Winter Sottozero 3 +463Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 60 60 Reviews found online 78 – -
62
Treadwear
Alpin 5 +1779Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 56 80 Reviews found online 71 76 -
80
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +476Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 Alpin 5 Reviews found online 80 76
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Michelin Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 75 |
| Dry | 75 | 72 |
| Wet | 81 | 80 |
| Snow | 65 | 72 |
| Comfort | 73 | 73 |
| Noise | 67 | 63 |
| Treadwear | 62 | 79 |
| Handling | 80 | 76 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
75
/ 100
Alpin 5
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 | Alpin 5 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #7/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 96% #6/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −0.9 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.1 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 92% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 76% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +16.3 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #11/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 98% #6/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −1.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 51% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 68% #19/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −17.1 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 65% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 61% #10/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +4.7 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 83% #13/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −17.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 6% #18/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 20% #5/16 · 2017 ADAC SUV Winter Tyre Test - 215/65 R16 | −14.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 93% #8/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 95% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −2.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #6/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 96% #18/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +3.2 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #5/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −4.7 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 0% #13/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 86% #16/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 92% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −6.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #1/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.8 | 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 Alpin 5
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow and winter conditions
- Outstanding wet-weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
- High ride comfort and remarkably low noise levels for a winter tire
Cons
- Soft rubber compound struggles in warm temperatures (above 20°C–25°C), causing cornering smear
- Soft sidewalls reduce precision during aggressive dry handling
- Potential increase in noise and hardening of the rubber compound after 3 years of use
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Michelin Alpin 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 98 | 17 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 21″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
75
/ 100
Michelin Alpin 5
Winner: Michelin Alpin 5 — better treadwear and snow. Pick the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 if noise, handling and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 79 vs 62 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Alpin 5 scores 72 vs 65 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 67 vs 63 on noise.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 76 on handling.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Michelin Alpin 5
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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.