Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is a Ultra High Performance Winter tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.
Tire review data from 48 tire reviews averaging 84% over 635,786 miles driven, and 34 tests with an average result of 7th.
| First On Market | March 2013 |
| Wheel Size | 16 - 21" |
| Width | 195 - 355mm |
| Profile | 25 - 65 |
| Rolling Resistance | B - D |
| Wet Grip | A - C |
| Noise (dB) | 68 - 75 |
| Winter Rating | 3PMSF Rated |
The Winter Sottozero 3 is ranked 16th of 43 Winter Ultra High Performance tires.
In Depth Tire Comparisons
Tests Included
34
Best Result
1st
Worst Result
20th
Average Result
7th
Latest Tire Test Results
2021 ADAC 17 Inch Winter Tire Test
12th of 18 tires
- Good dry braking, best drivability in the snow.
- Low drivability in the dry, weak in the wet.
2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test
19th of 21 tires
- Good in the snow and dry, low fuel use.
- Average wet grip, high price, high wear.
2021 Tire Tests
- 12th 2021 ADAC 17 Inch Winter Tire Test (225/50 R17)
2020 Tire Tests
- 9th 2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 235/55 R17 (235/55 R17)
- 19th 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test (245/45 R18)
- 20th 2020 Winter Tire Market Overview - 52 Tire Braking Test (245/45 R18)
2019 Tire Tests
- 8th 2019 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (225/45 R17)
- 9th 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tire Test (215/55 R17)
- 16th 2019 Winter Tire Test Market Overview (225/45 R17)
- 18th 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tire Test (225/45 R17)
2018 Tire Tests
- 7th 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tire Test (245/45 R18)
2017 Tire Tests
- 4th 2017 235/55 R17 SUV Winter Tire Test (235/55 R17)
- 4th 2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test (225/55 R17)
- 5th 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tire Test (225/40 R18)
- 6th 2017 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (225/45 R17)
- 6th 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (225/40 R18)
- 8th 2017 50 Winter Tire Shoot Out (225/50 R17)
- 18th 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (225/50 R17)
2016 Tire Tests
- 2nd 2016 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/45 R17 (225/45 R17)
- 4th 2016 AutoBild Winter UHP Tire Test (245/40 R18)
- 4th 2016 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (235/40 R18)
2015 Tire Tests
- 2nd 2015 AMS UHP Winter Tire Test (225/50 R17)
- 3rd 2015 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test (225/40 R18)
- 3rd 2015 Sport Auto 19 Inch Winter Tire Test (235/35 R19)
- 6th 2015 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (225/45 R17)
- 6th 2015 ACE 17 Inch Winter Tire Test (225/50 R17)
2014 Tire Tests
- 1st 2014 50 Winter Tire Braking Overview (225/50 R17)
- 1st 2014 AutoBild 235/35 R19 Winter Tire Test (235/35 R19)
- 7th 2014 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (225/50 R17)
2013 Tire Tests
- 1st 2013 Auto Bild Sports Winter Tire Test (225/50 R17)
- 2nd 2013 AMS Sports Winter Tire Test (225/50 R17)
- 11th 2013 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/45 R17 (225/45 R17)
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 - 94%
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P - 90%
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S - 89%
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 - 88%
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 - 88%
Vredestein Wintrac Pro - 88%| Size | Fuel | Wet | Noise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 inch | |||
| 205/60R16 96 H XL | C | B | 72 |
| 205/55R16 91 H | D | B | 72 |
| 205/55R16 91 H | D | B | 71 |
| 205/60R16 96 H XL | C | B | 72 |
| 205/55R16 91 H | D | B | 71 |
| 205/60R16 92 H | C | B | 71 |
| 205/60R16 92 H | D | B | 71 |
| 205/60R16 96 H XL | C | B | 72 |
| 205/60R16 96 H XL | C | B | 72 |
| 215/60R16 95 H | D | B | 72 |
| 205/60R16 96 H XL | C | B | 68 |
| 215/60R16 99 H XL | C | B | 72 |
| 205/60R16 96 H XL | C | B | 68 |
| 205/55R16 91 H | C | B | 68 |
| 17 inch | |||
| 225/45R17 94 V XL | C | B | 72 |
| 225/50R17 98 H XL | D | B | 72 |
| 225/45R17 91 H | C | B | 70 |
| 215/55R17 98 H XL | C | B | 72 |
| 225/60R17 99 H | C | B | 72 |
| 225/50R17 98 H XL | B | B | 72 |
| 225/45R17 91 H | C | B | 72 |
| 225/45R17 94 H XL | C | B | 70 |
| 225/50R17 98 H XL | B | B | 70 |
| 215/45R17 91 H XL | D | B | 72 |
| 205/50R17 93 H XL | C | B | 71 |
| 225/60R17 99 H | C | B | 69 |
| 225/45R17 91 H | C | B | 69 |
| 215/55R17 98 H XL | C | B | 72 |
| 225/45R17 91 H | C | B | 72 |
| 225/50R17 94 H | D | B | 72 |
| 205/50R17 93 V XL | D | B | 72 |
| 225/50R17 98 H XL | C | B | 68 |
| 225/45R17 94 H XL | C | B | 72 |
| 225/50R17 98 H XL | C | B | 72 |
| 225/45R17 94 V XL | C | B | 72 |
| 215/55R17 98 V XL | C | B | 72 |
| 205/50R17 93 V XL | C | B | 72 |
| 215/55R17 94 H | C | B | 72 |
| 225/50R17 94 H | C | B | 72 |
| 225/50R17 98 V XL | C | B | 72 |
| 18 inch | |||
| 225/40R18 92 V XL | C | B | 72 |
| 225/40R18 92 V XL | C | B | 70 |
| 225/40R18 92 V XL | D | B | 72 |
| 245/40R18 97 H XL | D | B | 72 |
| 255/35R18 94 V XL | C | B | 73 |
| 225/40R18 92 V XL | D | B | 72 |
| 225/40R18 92 V XL | D | B | 72 |
| 245/40R18 97 V XL | D | B | 70 |
| 245/45R18 96 V | C | B | 72 |
| 245/45R18 100 V XL | D | B | 72 |
| 245/40R18 97 V XL | D | B | 72 |
| 245/45R18 100 V XL | C | B | 72 |
| 245/45R18 100 V XL | B | B | 72 |
| 225/40R18 92 V XL | D | B | 72 |
| 245/45R18 100 H XL | C | A | 72 |
| 225/40R18 92 H XL | D | B | 72 |
| 245/40R18 97 V XL | D | B | 72 |
| 19 inch | |||
| 235/35R19 91 V XL | D | B | 72 |
| 235/35R19 91 V XL | D | B | 72 |
| 235/35R19 91 W XL | C | B | 72 |
| 235/35R19 91 W XL | C | B | 72 |
| 20 inch | |||
| 255/45R20 105 V XL | C | B | 73 |
Questions and Answers for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
2017-02-15 - I have a se of four Sottozero 3 tires on my Mazda 6 Estate. These are just four months old. When I brake the car experiences juddering through the brake pedal with less judder through the steering wheel but judder nonetheless. This is more severe as speed ncreases. have had the car checked thoroughly including a brake test and the car passed the MOT test recently. No mechanical faults are evident. Why am I experiencing this judder as I find it unbelievable that Pirelli would make a tire that does this !
It would be surprising if the tire is at fault. Sometimes, with certain tire patterns and car suspension you can get "stepping" on the tire, where the tread wears unevenly and causes noise and vibration, but it would have to be severe to be caused by a tire like the SottoZero3. A more likely cause would be a very slightly warped brake disc which would only show up when braking.
2019-11-11 - I was wondering if the difference between the Sottozero 3 and the Sottozero 3 Runflat could be explained, or at least more tangible. I know there will be a noticeable difference, but any clue on how noticable? If I choose to order the winterset they come on Run Flats as most products of MINI/BMW.
Runflat vs non-runflat is difficult, as it varies by brand. I've not tested these back to back, but as a rule you'll lose a significant amount of comfort and noise, and usually there's a slight reduction in grip too.
Ask a question
We will never publish or share your email address| Size | Price Range | |
|---|---|---|
| 225/40 R19 | $313.78 - $313.78 (1 Prices) | Compare Prices >> |
| 225/45 R17 | $182.99 - $227.93 (4 Prices) | Compare Prices >> |
| 225/45 R18 | $183.99 - $275.43 (9 Prices) | Compare Prices >> |
| 225/50 R17 | $160.97 - $252.98 (3 Prices) | Compare Prices >> |
| 225/55 R16 | $159.49 - $167.97 (3 Prices) | Compare Prices >> |
| 235/45 R17 | $238.74 - $238.74 (1 Prices) | Compare Prices >> |
| 275/40 R18 | $383.99 - $657.96 (5 Prices) | Compare Prices >> |
| Available in 57 tire sizes - View all. | ||
Top 3 Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 Reviews
Given 89%
while driving a
Audi a3 s line
(225/45 R18) on
a combination of roads
for 62,000
average miles
These are the only winter tires I have used on my car. My new car was registered in January 2015 and I had the tires fitted on a different set of alloys. Almost 9 years later, I am going to replace them with the exactly the same tire ! They have been an excellent all round winter tire, used every year from November to April (5 months) If you use them all year round, then I do believe they wear quite fast in the summer months.
Grip has been very good in the dry, wet and snow/ice. Handling has also been very good indeed. Comfort has been adequate, since my tire mechanic told me that all winter tires are quite noisy compared to the best summer tires.
Highly recommended in my opinion.
Grip has been very good in the dry, wet and snow/ice. Handling has also been very good indeed. Comfort has been adequate, since my tire mechanic told me that all winter tires are quite noisy compared to the best summer tires.
Highly recommended in my opinion.
Given 84%
while driving a
Honda CRV
(225/60 R18) on
a combination of roads
for 5,000
average miles
Excellent winter/Snow and ice and wet tire, performance, very responsive too (I immediately noticed the response change, changing from "Saferich" summer tire)
These sottozero 3 tires are expensive, but they Really deliver in the winter,
I will keep to These tires for many winters to come
Dean
These sottozero 3 tires are expensive, but they Really deliver in the winter,
I will keep to These tires for many winters to come
Dean
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Latest Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 Reviews
Given 81%
while driving a
BMW M240i
(255/35 R19) on
a combination of roads
for 5,000
spirited miles
Great overall UHP winter tire. They go on my 2022 BMW M240i xDrive in the fall and come off in the spring using 2 sets of identical wheels year-round. During the summer I run on Michelin PS4S so for several days each year I get to A/B compare this tire against one of the best tires ever made. The only difference in the tires being the front winters are 225/40/19's and the front summers are 245/35/19's. Rears are all 255/35/19's as I run a staggered setup. The major differences between the two tires are the road noise (higher on the Pirelli's) and a little more "sway" in the Pirelli's when pushing the car around bends. What I find impressive though is how well the Pirelli's communicate what they are doing. They have a very linear and predictable feel like the PS4S so I always know how much grip I have left which makes using them in winter more enjoyable as you can really drive the car as intended in the dry. The tires also don't need to be warmed up and feel compliant right out of the gate on a cold start and go. In the rain they behave as expected and hydroplane less than the PS4S do when driving in heavy rain with water accumulation on the road. I also had the chance to drive over a challenging mountain pass road during a snow storm in my first winter on them and really got to experience the difference. The tire was very predictable and kept me out of trouble. Combined with AWD, I felt completely safe and confident and drove right through the storm without any issues.
Given 83%
while driving a
Porsche
(285/35 R20) on
mostly town
for 6,000
spirited miles
Outstanding dry performance , which is 85% of our winter driving in northern metropolitan cities . The snow and ice is 80% as good as a snow /ice only low performance tire . But with my AWD sedan that is fine . Love these . P285 on back ; P245 on front . I am a car conniseur and could buy any tire period and i choose these . Mine are W rated look for that , though the V rated are great too I am sure .
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Given 93%
while driving a
Peugeot 3008
(215/60 R16) on
a combination of roads
for 2,000
average miles
Best winter tires I have driven yet! They are so soft and comfortable (non run-flat) I love driving my car in the winter more than ever. Responsive, great handling and you never loose control even on snow or ice. I am talking about regular driving in a regular car (not performance and drifting or racing) but a family Peugeot 3008. I have confidence climbing on hills or uphill without doubt.
Previously I had driven Michelins (also not bad but comfort and noise is so much better with these), Sava, Tigar and Sailun. Sotozzero 3 were the absolute best among all my previous tires. Highly recommended.
Previously I had driven Michelins (also not bad but comfort and noise is so much better with these), Sava, Tigar and Sailun. Sotozzero 3 were the absolute best among all my previous tires. Highly recommended.
Given 96%
while driving a
Chevrolet
(245/40 R20) on
mostly country roads
for 250
spirited miles
Driving a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro RS with staggered fitment. 245/40/20 up front and 275/35/20 on the back. I swapped over from Continentals Extreme Contact DWS06+ early-mid November and got a bit of dry driving bellow 50 degrees. In the dry and rainy conditions, they handle extremely similar to the Continentals, similar traction, sound, and handling around corners. We got a snow storm during Thanksgiving weekend and got some snow/ice driving early! The massive surprise is driving on Ice, you can feel the tires biting into the ice and giving you some tractions, although it feels rough compared to driving on snow. But the rough-ish ride on ice makes acts as an indicator for when you've cleared the ice and back on snow/pavement. The tires also grab and go in snow/slush, providing a comfortable ride that gives you plenty of feedback to what kind/type of snow your tires are hitting. Overall, these tires have done great and haven't made me regret buying them in any condition. Weather its dry conditions before snow falls and you need to quickly accelerate, driving in rainy conditions, or safely driving a muscle car through a snow storm, Pirelli Sottozero 3's have got you covered!
Given 89%
while driving a
Audi a3 s line
(225/45 R18) on
a combination of roads
for 62,000
average miles
These are the only winter tires I have used on my car. My new car was registered in January 2015 and I had the tires fitted on a different set of alloys. Almost 9 years later, I am going to replace them with the exactly the same tire ! They have been an excellent all round winter tire, used every year from November to April (5 months) If you use them all year round, then I do believe they wear quite fast in the summer months.
Grip has been very good in the dry, wet and snow/ice. Handling has also been very good indeed. Comfort has been adequate, since my tire mechanic told me that all winter tires are quite noisy compared to the best summer tires.
Highly recommended in my opinion.
Grip has been very good in the dry, wet and snow/ice. Handling has also been very good indeed. Comfort has been adequate, since my tire mechanic told me that all winter tires are quite noisy compared to the best summer tires.
Highly recommended in my opinion.
Given 89%
while driving a
Audi a3 s line
(225/45 R18) on
a combination of roads
for 62,000
average miles
These are the only winter tires I have used on my car. My new car was registered in January 2015 and I had the tires fitted on a different set of alloys. Almost 9 years later, I am going to replace them with the exactly the same tire ! They have been an excellent all round winter tire, used every year from November to April (5 months) If you use them all year round, then I do believe they wear quite fast in the summer months.
Grip has been very good in the dry, wet and snow/ice. Handling has also been very good indeed. Comfort has been adequate, since my tire mechanic told me that all winter tires are quite noisy compared to the best summer tires.
Highly recommended in my opinion.
Grip has been very good in the dry, wet and snow/ice. Handling has also been very good indeed. Comfort has been adequate, since my tire mechanic told me that all winter tires are quite noisy compared to the best summer tires.
Highly recommended in my opinion.
Given 53%
while driving a
Mercedes Benz E 200 ( W210 )
(275/40 R18) on
mostly town
for 6,000
average miles
I have this tire part of the original equipment from the car. I didn't know when I imported the car from Germany it already has European winter tire attached so I bought another set to cover it since the car arrived during winter in Finland.
I fit the tire during spring 2021 and since then has covered 1 winter and 2 summer. So around 10,000 kms driven already. When I got the tire mostly has around 5,0 - 5,5 mm thread depth. Now it went down to 4,5 mm front tires and 3,0-3,5 mm rear tires. My car is RWD and has wider rear tires hence the 275 width.
In the spring, summer and autumn the tire held pretty well even during rain and on wet motorways. Sometimes I can feel the aquaplanning but if you are aware and slow down a bit there wasn't any problem still maneuverable. On smooth asphalt it gives quiet noise level but on a little bit harsher surface the noise level goes up quite a lot.
In the winter however it is particularly bad, especially for Nordic winter, which I understand it is not what this tire is intended for. But the rear of my car always wiggling everywhere on every corner, as the temperature dips to under -10 C the tire struggle to grip even it has compact snow layer not on ice.
My winter set has same European winter tire spec from Dunlop Wintersport 4D and it still perform better despite 1 year older and has same thread depth. So comparing both tire sets and considering that both of them are not in their natural habitat I can say that the Pirelli one perform worse in this condition.
If I live in central European country I would consider buying this Pirelli if there are no other comparable branded options.
Given 43%
while driving a
Ford Mondeo Titanium 2.0 TCDI
(235/45 R17) on
a combination of roads
for 5,000
easy going miles
One of the worst tires I have ever driven.
After 7-8 thousands km start steering wheel vibrations, changed my front tires with Fulda much better. Then my both rear wheels got baloons o the side profile of the tire, of course trow them in the bin.
I suggest you not to buy Pirelli Sottozero 3!
Given 86%
while driving a
Volkswagen Golf MK7 GTI
(225/45 R17) on
mostly town
for 10,000
spirited miles
Braking is the big difference here. Will buy again.
Given 92%
while driving a
BMW 320D xDrive Gran Turismo
(225/55 R17) on
a combination of roads
for 18,000
spirited miles
Got these on BMW xdrive GT (f34). Safety is my concern so I don't care about the wear. I put them on when its generally drops 10°C) as expected - these are winter tires. Have tested on snow of +15cms and I really trust them both on cornering and braking, where all-wheel-drive is not in case.
I'd recommend these tires without any glitch. They cost a bit more comparing to others, but 50 cm braking distance would make a real cost and time/life if you can't stop. If you have the budget, these are the trustable winter tires that would worth.
Given 94%
while driving a
BMW 316d
(225/45 R17) on
a combination of roads
for 4,000
spirited miles
I fitted these this winter and i love them, although being RFT comfort is still good, not much rougher than non RFT i imagine that standard is very comfortable, dry grip is as expected good as winter tire gets, but the best part is wet and slush grip, i am really surprised by the level of confidence i get from them, even on rwd car, snow traction is excellent, compared to Nokian WR D3 i had before and i was quite satified with them, these are in another galaxy when it comes to putting your confidence in tire to keep you safe.
Given 80%
while driving a
Mercedes Benz C250 CDI Blutec
(225/40 R19) on
a combination of roads
for 12,509
average miles
I am impressed! These tires have got me through two winters and look like they are capable of another 2-3. Usually go on around October when temperatures are below 7 degree C. Off by May the following year. Very assuring in wet conditions. Especially when snow melts and becomes sludge. Handle mud quite well too. Ice grip is good. I find when the tires have been driven a while then they grip even more. Same brand on the rear axle and these inspire confidence. You cannot get too excited with them as the traction light says hello. It’s nice to see the look on faces when they think a rear wheel drive car will struggle or stay on the drive. Run flat form doesn’t feel too jarring or noisy. Very good tires and that’s coming from a tire snob. Once scrubbed in these were pleasant and haven’t let me down.
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