Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 review
Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners
Owners 71 · 5 reviews analysed Road tests 81 · 4 tests
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The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 delivers exceptional winter capability, particularly shining in snow traction and dry handling while maintaining impressive comfort and quietness at lower speeds. However, mixed feedback regarding high-speed noise and efficiency, especially on electric vehicles, suggests performance varies depending on operating speeds and vehicle types.
Owners rate it 9.7 points lower than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews found online; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
How scores work
- Relative score
- 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
- Road tests
- 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
- Owner reviews
- 0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.
By owner reviews
71/100From 5 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.
By road tests
81/100Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 specs & sizes
Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.
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What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 5 owner reviews found online.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 delivers exceptional winter capability, particularly shining in snow traction and dry handling while maintaining impressive comfort and quietness at lower speeds. However, mixed feedback regarding high-speed noise and efficiency, especially on electric vehicles, suggests performance varies depending on operating speeds and vehicle types.
Pros
- Outstanding grip and confidence in deep snow, ice, and mountain passes
- Remarkably quiet and comfortable ride quality at low to moderate speeds
- Surprising dry and wet handling upgrades compared to certain summer or OE tires
- Reduced rear-end slip under acceleration on compatible electric vehicle setups
Cons
- Noticeable increase in tire noise at higher speeds (typically above 100-110 km/h)
- Higher energy or fuel consumption noted on electric vehicles
- Loss of steering precision under high lateral forces due to narrow tread blocks
- Increased sensitivity to crosswinds in certain vehicle applications
Worth knowing
- Users on electric vehicles like the VW ID.3 appreciated the low-speed silence enabled by PNCS noise reduction foam on 19-inch rims, though some noted elevated high-speed noise and increased consumption.
- Subaru Forester XT owners highlighted exceptional snow and ice traction, successfully managing steep slopes and slippery roundabouts.
Reviews from our readers
Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.
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4 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2027 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 · 215/65R17
6th of 6
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: NAF Motor
2026 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16
2nd of 11
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 11 | |
| Wet Circle | 2nd of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 9th of 11 | |
| Snow Traction | 5th of 11 | |
| Snow Handling | 3rd of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 11 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 11 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 2nd of 11 | |
| Noise | 7th of 11 |
Source: Auto Express
2026 ADAC Winter tire Test - 225/50 R17 · 225/50 R17
1st of 16
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 16 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 16 | |
| Snow Braking | 6th of 16 | |
| Snow Traction | 7th of 16 | |
| Ice Braking | 9th of 16 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 16 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 2nd of 16 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 16 | |
| Value | 13th of 16 | |
| Wear | 11th of 16 | |
| Fuel Consumption | 5th of 16 | |
| Abrasion | 11th of 16 | |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | 3rd of 16 |
Source: ADAC
2025 TUV Test of Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 vs Rivals · 225/45 R17
1st of 5
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 5 | |
| Wet Handling | 1st of 5 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 5 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 5 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 5 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 5 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 5 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 5 |
Source: TÜV
Other tires to consider
Ranked by our Relative score, weighed against how many reviews and tests stand behind it.
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