Tests 67 · 10 tests Owners 80 · 68 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Michelin X Ice Snow — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 10 + 13 road tests and 68 + 20 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: Winter Sottozero 3 and X Ice Snow 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 70 · 13 tests Owners 78 · 20 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test (comfort (tester's mark))
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 +967Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 11 tests 73 65 Reviews found online 82 71 Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 81.7 = 76
X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 70.7 = 67
-
83
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +1271Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 10 / 12 tests 80 65 Reviews found online 87 79 Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.4 + 40% × 86.5 = 83
X Ice Snow: 60% × 64.9 + 40% × 79.2 = 71
-
65
Snow
X Ice Snow +1176Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 10 / 12 tests 56 73 Reviews found online 79 81 Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.5 + 40% × 78.8 = 65
X Ice Snow: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 81.1 = 76
-
74
Comfort
X Ice Snow +680Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests 72 81 Reviews found online 75 79 Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72.1 + 60% × 74.5 = 74
X Ice Snow: 40% × 81 + 60% × 78.8 = 80
-
71
Noise
X Ice Snow +475Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 8 tests 64 81 Reviews found online 82 ≈ 66 (est.) Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.4 + 40% × 81.6 = 71
X Ice Snow: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 75
No owner ratings of noise for X Ice Snow. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
-
64
Treadwear
X Ice Snow +1276Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / – tests 57 ≈ 72 (est.) Reviews found online 75 81 Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 57.1 + 40% × 74.6 = 64
X Ice Snow: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 81.4 = 76
No road tests of treadwear for X Ice Snow. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
-
82
Handling (owners)
Winter Sottozero 3 +775Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Reviews found online 82 75 -
76
Efficiency
X Ice Snow +177Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 6 tests 76 77
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 73 |
| Dry | 76 | 67 |
| Wet | 83 | 71 |
| Snow | 65 | 76 |
| Comfort | 74 | 80 |
| Noise | 71 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 64 | 76 |
| Handling (owners) | 82 | 75 |
| Efficiency | 76 | 77 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
73
/ 100
X Ice Snow
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
In the overall rankings of 1 tests that ran both, Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 finished ahead 0 times and Michelin X Ice Snow 1 times.
| Discipline | Category | Winter Sottozero 3 | X Ice Snow | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 96% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 81% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 92% #4/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 80% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 78% #5/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 94% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 75% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 86% #18/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 72% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #6/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 70% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 80% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% #22/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 69% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 86% #8/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling (tester's mark) | Snow | 80% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 56% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 91% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #6/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 97% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 97% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 54% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 50% #14/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #13/15 | #2/15 | – | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires · 215/60R16 |
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 X Ice Snow
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow, packed snow, and slush
- High confidence and predictable handling on icy and freezing roads
- Impressive tread wear longevity and minimal wear over multiple seasons
Cons
- Average performance on dry and wet pavement compared to dedicated non-winter tires
- Slightly noisier on dry pavement as the tread wears down
- Can feel slightly twitchy at the limit or less comfortable than older X-Ice generations
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 98 | 100 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 21″ | 13″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 61 | 61 |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
73
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
Too close to call: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 and Michelin X Ice Snow are within 2 points overall. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is stronger on wet, dry and handling. Michelin X Ice Snow is stronger on treadwear, snow and comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 83 vs 71 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 76 vs 64 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 76 vs 65 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 76 vs 67 on dry.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Winter Sottozero 3 or X Ice Snow?
Which is better in the wet, Winter Sottozero 3 or X Ice Snow?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 83 vs 71 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Winter Sottozero 3 or X Ice Snow?
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 76 vs 67 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Winter Sottozero 3 or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 76 vs 65 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Winter Sottozero 3 or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 75 vs 71 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Winter Sottozero 3 or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 80 vs 74 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Winter Sottozero 3 or X Ice Snow?
Michelin X Ice Snow, 76 vs 64 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Winter Sottozero 3 or X Ice Snow?
Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 77 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.
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.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology