Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 review
Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners
Owners 78 · 66 reviews analysed Road tests 66 · 35 tests
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The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet, slushy, and cold dry conditions. Users consistently praise its sporty handling and confidence-inspiring grip, though it is frequently noted that the tire's performance and longevity are compromised if used in warm temperatures or during summer months.
Owners rate it 11.7 points higher 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
78/100From 66 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.
By road tests
66/100Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 specs & sizes
Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Tread depth | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 psi |
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What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 66 owner reviews found online.
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet, slushy, and cold dry conditions. Users consistently praise its sporty handling and confidence-inspiring grip, though it is frequently noted that the tire's performance and longevity are compromised if used in warm temperatures or during summer months.
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.
- Comfortable and relatively quiet ride quality.
- Aesthetically pleasing design with effective rim protection.
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.
- High price point compared to some competitors.
Worth knowing
- Drivers of high-torque, rear-wheel-drive performance vehicles report high satisfaction with the tire's ability to maintain traction and control.
- Users with staggered fitments on luxury sedans (e.g., BMW 5-series, M240i) note that the tire maintains its sporty character well in cold climates.
- Some owners of heavier vehicles or those with high-horsepower setups noted that the tire's longevity is significantly reduced under aggressive driving styles.
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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35 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires · 215/60R16
13th of 15
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Consumer Reports
2021 ADAC 17 Inch Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17
14th of 18
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: ADAC
2021 TÜV SÜD Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17
6th of 5
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: TÜV SÜD
2020 ADAC Winter tire Test - 235/55 R17 · 235/55 R17
9th of 13
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: ADAC
2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter tire Test · 245/45 R18
19th of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 16th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 17th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 11th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 18th of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 18th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 12th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 1st of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 15th of 20 | |
| Noise | 11th of 20 | |
| Value | 20th of 20 | |
| Wear | 13th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 5th of 20 |
Source: Auto Bild
2020 Winter tire Market Overview - 52 tire Braking Test · 245/45 R18
20th of 48
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 18th of 48 | |
| Snow Braking | 22nd of 48 |
Source: Auto Bild
2020 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18
10th of 11
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 · 225/40R18
10th of 10
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild Sportscars
2019 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17
9th of 12
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Express
2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch tire Test · 225/45 R17
18th of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 6th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 13th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 7th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 20th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 20th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 8th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 16th of 20 | |
| Noise | 13th of 20 | |
| Value | 19th of 20 | |
| Price | 13th of 20 | |
| Wear | 19th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 14th of 20 |
Source: Auto Bild
2019 Winter tire Test Market Overview · 225/45 R17
16th of 45
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 6th of 45 | |
| Snow Braking | 24th of 45 |
Source: Auto Bild
2019 AMS Winter SUV tire Test · 215/55 R17
9th of 11
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 9th of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 7th of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 10th of 11 | |
| Snow Braking | 10th of 11 | |
| Snow Handling | 8th of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 7th of 11 | |
| Straight Aqua | 10th of 11 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 6th of 11 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 2nd of 11 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 6th of 11 | |
| Noise | 11th of 11 | |
| Price | 8th of 11 | |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 8th of 11 |
Source: Auto Motor und Sport
2019 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/55R17
5th of 11
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Zeitung
2018 Autobild UHP Winter tire Test · 195/65 R15
7th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 8th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 9th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 1st of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 10 | |
| Noise | 4th of 10 | |
| Price | 9th of 10 |
Source: Auto Bild
2017 Sport Auto Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18
6th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 7th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 7th of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 8th of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 6th of 10 |
Source: Sport Auto
2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter tire Test · 225/55 R17
4th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 7th of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 6th of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 3rd of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 10 | |
| Noise | 10th of 10 |
Source: Auto Bild
2017 50 Winter tire Shoot Out · 225/50 R17
8th of 45
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2017 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17
18th of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 1st of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 1st of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 10th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 20th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 18th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 15th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 20 | |
| Noise | 10th of 20 | |
| Value | 20th of 20 | |
| Wear | 19th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 20th of 20 |
Source: Auto Bild
2017 235/55 R17 SUV Winter tire Test · 235/55 R17
4th of 8
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2017 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17
6th of 8
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Express
2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18
6th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 4th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 7th of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 8th of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 6th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 8th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 10 | |
| Noise | 8th of 10 |
Source: Auto Motor und Sport
2016 Sport Auto Winter tire Test · 235/40 R18
4th of 6
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Sport Auto
2016 AutoBild Winter UHP tire Test · 245/40 R18
4th of 8
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2016 ADAC Winter tire Test - 225/45 R17 · 225/45 R17
2nd of 13
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: ADAC
2015 AMS UHP Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17
2nd of 10
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Motor und Sport
2015 ACE 17 Inch Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17
6th of 8
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: ACE
2015 Sport Auto 19 Inch Winter tire Test · 235/35 R19
3rd of 7
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Sport Auto
2015 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17
6th of 8
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Express
2015 Auto Bild Performance Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18
3rd of 8
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2014 AutoBild 235/35 R19 Winter tire Test · 235/35 R19
1st of 6
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2014 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17
7th of 16
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2014 50 Winter tire Braking Overview · 225/50 R17
1st of 48
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2013 Auto Bild Sports Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17
1st of 9
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2013 AMS Sports Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17
2nd of 8
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Motor und Sport
2013 ADAC Winter tire Test - 225/45 R17 · 225/45 R17
11th of 15
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: ADAC
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 compared
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