73
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
70/100
10 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — Compared (September 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
80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
76/100
6 professional tests
User signal (40%)
85/100
61 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better noise, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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Category breakdown
7 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)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 88 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 89 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 96% | 96% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 100% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 87 | 77 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 90 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 95% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 97% | 96% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM001 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 71 |
| Tire Rack owners | 86 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 92% | 91% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 95% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 79 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 26
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 33 | 38 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 78 | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM001 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 80 |
| Dry | 83 | 89 |
| Wet | 82 | 83 |
| Snow | 77 | 76 |
| Comfort | 70 | 79 |
| Noise | 36 | 62 |
| Treadwear | 78 | 81 |
| Handling | 76 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Tire A
80
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
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 | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 96% #10/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #7/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +0.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #8/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -0.9 | Same test |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 85% #8/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -14.8 | Same test |
| Noise | Other | 95% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 94% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 84% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -16.2 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 7% #14/18 · 2021 ADAC 17 Inch Winter Tyre Test | +9.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 92% #8/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 91% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +0.7 | Same test |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 95% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +3.5 | Same test |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 87% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +12.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 95% #9/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | -3.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #9/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in deep snow and icy conditions, offering drivers significant confidence in adverse weather. While it receives high praise for its traction and handling, user experiences are polarized regarding its longevity, noise levels, and performance on wet or dry pavement.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow and icy conditions
- Precise handling and stability on cold, winter-affected roads
- Reliable braking performance in severe weather
- Satisfactory comfort levels for a dedicated winter tire
Cons
- Rapid tread wear reported by some users
- High noise levels on dry asphalt
- Increased fuel consumption compared to other winter tires
- Inconsistent wet-weather performance on certain vehicle types
Observations
- High-torque or high-performance vehicles (e.g., DB11, tuned GTI) may experience increased traction control intervention or accelerated wear.
- Compatibility issues noted with specific AWD platforms like the Subaru Forester, where premature wear was reported.
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.
Observations
- 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.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 10 | 32 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 20″ | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | 50 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Bridgestone
80
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better noise, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 62 vs 36 on noise.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 87 vs 76 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 79 vs 70 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 89 vs 83 on dry.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
More comparisons
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Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 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.