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 CrossClimate+ — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
CrossClimate+ is ahead, 77–72
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Tests 79 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 119 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 15 in 2019 Summer and All Season Tyre Test (dry handling)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
75
Dry
CrossClimate+ +1186Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 CrossClimate+ Professional tests (TWG score) 73 92 Reviews found online 79 76 Dry Braking (% of best) 96% 90% Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 100% -
81
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +180Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 CrossClimate+ Professional tests (TWG score) 80 80 Reviews found online 83 79 Wet Braking (% of best) 89% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) 100% 99% -
65
Snow
CrossClimate+ +368Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 CrossClimate+ Professional tests (TWG score) 57 65 Reviews found online 77 72 Snow Braking (% of best) 94% 94% Snow Handling (% of best) 97% 95% Snow Traction (% of best) 91% 100% -
73
Comfort
Level73Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 CrossClimate+ Professional tests (TWG score) 72 71 Reviews found online 74 76 -
67
Noise
Level67Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 CrossClimate+ Professional tests (TWG score) 60 63 Reviews found online 78 72 -
62
Treadwear
CrossClimate+ +1678Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 CrossClimate+ Professional tests (TWG score) 56 80 Reviews found online 71 75 -
80
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +773Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 CrossClimate+ Reviews found online 80 73
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Michelin CrossClimate+ |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 77 |
| Dry | 75 | 86 |
| Wet | 81 | 80 |
| Snow | 65 | 68 |
| Comfort | 73 | 73 |
| Noise | 67 | 67 |
| Treadwear | 62 | 78 |
| Handling | 80 | 73 |
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
77
/ 100
CrossClimate+
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 | CrossClimate+ | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 96% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 90% #2/4 · 2022 AutoView All-Season Tire Test R18 | +5.9 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #10/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 100% #1/15 · 2019 Summer and All Season Tyre Test | −2.0 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 92% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 92% #6/9 · 2018 AMS All Season Tyre Test | +0.4 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #10/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | −0.5 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 51% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 41% #10/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | +9.6 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 64% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 92% #3/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | −27.7 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 61% #19/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | −38.8 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/10 · 2015 AMS UHP Winter Tyre Test | 50% #2/7 · 2020 Sport Auto All Season Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% #22/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 94% #9/11 · 2020 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | −0.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #2/4 · 2022 AutoView All-Season Tire Test R18 | +2.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 91% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/11 · 2020 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | −8.5 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #2/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 93% #7/7 · 2020 Sport Auto All Season Tyre Test | +7.1 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 90% #2/4 · 2022 AutoView All-Season Tire Test R18 | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 70% #13/13 · 2019 Swedish Summer Tyre Test | +10.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 70% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 60% #13/13 · 2019 Swedish Summer Tyre Test | +10.0 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 0% #2/10 · 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 89% #8/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | −11.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #1/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/7 · 2020 Sport Auto All Season Tyre Test | +1.0 | 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 CrossClimate+
Pros
- Excellent traction and confidence in light to moderate snow and ice.
- Strong wet and dry road handling that rivals dedicated summer tires.
- Impressive tread longevity and durability over high mileage.
Cons
- Performance in wet conditions can diminish significantly as the tire wears.
- Increased road noise reported by some users compared to dedicated summer tires.
- Occasional reports of a harsh or 'bouncy' ride on certain vehicle suspensions.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Michelin CrossClimate+ |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | All Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 98 | 63 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 21″ | 13″ – 19″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
77
/ 100
Michelin CrossClimate+
Winner: Michelin CrossClimate+ — better treadwear, dry and snow. Pick the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 if handling matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 78 vs 62 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 86 vs 75 on dry.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 73 on handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin CrossClimate+ scores 68 vs 65 on snow.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Michelin CrossClimate+
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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.