79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
77/100
9 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Kumho WinterCraft WP72 vs Pirelli Sottozero Serie II — Compared (May 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
80/100
31 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Sottozero Serie II — better handling, comfort and wet. Pick the Kumho WinterCraft WP72 if snow matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
6 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Sottozero Serie II leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP72 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 84 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Sottozero Serie II leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP72 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 86 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterCraft WP72 leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP72 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 67 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Sottozero Serie II leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP72 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 86 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Sottozero Serie II leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP72 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 81 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Sottozero Serie II leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP72 | Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 81 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho WinterCraft WP72 | Pirelli Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 79 | 81 |
| Dry | 82 | 84 |
| Wet | 78 | 86 |
| Snow | 86 | 67 |
| Comfort | 77 | 86 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 81 |
| Handling | 71 | 81 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
79
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Kumho WinterCraft WP72 is widely regarded as a high-value performance winter tire that balances dry and wet road handling with competent snow traction. While most users praise its comfort, low noise levels, and affordability compared to premium alternatives, some report concerns regarding high-speed stability and potential issues with tire uniformity.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium winter tire brands
- Impressive noise suppression and ride comfort
- Strong performance on dry and wet surfaces
- Reliable traction in typical winter snow and slush conditions
Cons
- Vague handling and stability at higher highway speeds
- Reports of soft sidewalls leading to a 'jelly' feel
- Potential for flat-spotting and balancing issues
- Diminishing snow grip as the tread wears down
Observations
- Users with heavy EVs and RWD vehicles report good snow traction, though some note minor slippage during aggressive cornering on wet surfaces.
- Performance-oriented vehicles like the Subaru BRZ and Tesla Model 3 find the tire to be a capable, budget-friendly alternative to extreme winter tires.
The Pirelli Sottozero Serie II is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in cold, wet, and slushy conditions, often surprising users with its stability and comfort. While it is frequently praised for its dry-road handling and longevity, opinions on its deep snow and ice performance are polarized, with some users finding it transformative for rear-wheel-drive vehicles and others noting limited traction in heavy snow.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to aquaplaning
- Strong dry-road handling and braking characteristics for a winter tire
- High level of comfort and low road noise
- Impressive tread life and durability even when used in warmer temperatures
- Predictable and stable handling in cold, sub-zero climates
Cons
- Inconsistent performance in deep snow or on steep, icy inclines
- High price point compared to competitors
- Performance degradation in temperatures consistently above 7°C (45°F)
- Some reports of limited traction from a standstill in heavy snow
Observations
- Users with high-torque rear-wheel-drive vehicles (e.g., BMW 740d, Mercedes E-Class) report that the tire significantly improves winter drivability and safety.
- Owners of performance vehicles (Porsche, Maserati) frequently note that the tire maintains a sporty, responsive feel on dry pavement, leading some to use them as year-round tires in temperate climates.
- Drivers using low-profile, 20-inch fitments report high satisfaction with ride comfort and noise levels compared to summer performance tires.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho WinterCraft WP72 | B · Pirelli Sottozero Serie II |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
79
/ 100
Kumho
81
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Sottozero Serie II — better handling, comfort and wet. Pick the Kumho WinterCraft WP72 if snow matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Kumho WinterCraft WP72 scores 86 vs 67 on snow.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II scores 81 vs 71 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II scores 86 vs 77 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II scores 86 vs 78 on wet.
Tire A · Kumho WinterCraft WP72
Tire B · Pirelli Sottozero Serie II
More comparisons
Also compared with
Kumho WinterCraft WP72 also compared with
Pirelli Sottozero Serie II also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.