Tests 66 · 10 tests Owners 78 · 66 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 11 in 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test (subj. comfort)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Michelin X Ice Snow — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Too close to call: Winter Sottozero 3 and X Ice Snow are level at 72.
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Tests 70 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 19 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (rolling resistance)
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 +867Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 73 65 Reviews found online 79 70 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 80% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 92% -
81
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +1269Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 80 64 Reviews found online 83 77 Wet Braking (% of best) 86% 82% Wet Handling (% of best) 100% 96% -
65
Snow
X Ice Snow +1176Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 57 73 Reviews found online 77 80 Snow Braking (% of best) 91% 89% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 90% Snow Traction (% of best) 91% 96% -
73
Comfort
X Ice Snow +780Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 72 82 Reviews found online 74 78 -
67
Noise
X Ice Snow +774Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 60 80 Reviews found online 78 – -
62
Treadwear
X Ice Snow +1072Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 56 – Reviews found online 71 76 -
80
Handling
Winter Sottozero 3 +674Why this score
Source Winter Sottozero 3 X Ice Snow Reviews found online 80 74
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 72 |
| Dry | 75 | 67 |
| Wet | 81 | 69 |
| Snow | 65 | 76 |
| Comfort | 73 | 80 |
| Noise | 67 | 74 |
| Treadwear | 62 | 72 |
| Handling | 80 | 74 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
72
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
72
/ 100
X Ice Snow
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 | X Ice Snow | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #4/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 80% #5/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | +18.0 | 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 | +6.9 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 84% #8/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −16.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 96% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 99% #7/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | −3.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 71% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 50% #14/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +21.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 11% #9/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 61% #8/17 · 2020 Test World Winter Tire Test R16 | −50.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 91% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 89% #6/8 · 2024 Moottori Winter Tire Test R16 | +2.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #3/10 · 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 90% #6/8 · 2024 Moottori Winter Tire Test R16 | +9.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 91% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #6/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | −4.3 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 87% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 89% #2/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | −1.8 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | −10.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 80% #3/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 80% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 56% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +23.8 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 70% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 80% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | −10.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 86% #18/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 82% #4/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | +4.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #4/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 96% #3/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +3.6 | 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 X Ice Snow
Pros
- Exceptional traction and lateral grip in deep snow and slush
- High level of confidence and stability on icy surfaces
- Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons
Cons
- Average performance and handling on dry or wet pavement
- Increased road noise as the tires wear over time
- Can feel slightly 'twitchy' or less stable at the absolute limit of handling
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 | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
72
/ 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 snow, treadwear and comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 81 vs 69 on wet.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 76 vs 65 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 72 vs 62 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 75 vs 67 on dry.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
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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.