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.
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Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
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Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
| Source | X-Ice Xi3 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 88 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 89 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
| Source | X-Ice Xi3 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 77 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 90 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
| Source | X-Ice Xi3 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 71 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
| Source | X-Ice Xi3 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 79 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
| Source | X-Ice Xi3 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 38 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
| Source | X-Ice Xi3 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
| Source | X-Ice Xi3 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 61 | 87 |
| Category | Michelin X-Ice Xi3 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 82 |
| Dry | 80 | 89 |
| Wet | 74 | 83 |
| Snow | 81 | 76 |
| Comfort | 80 | 79 |
| Noise | – | 62 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 81 |
| Handling | 61 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Tire A
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/17 · 2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter Tyre Test | 14% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +5.7 | Different tests |
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Michelin X-Ice Xi3 is widely regarded as a durable, quiet, and comfortable winter tire that excels in dry, cold conditions and on hard-packed snow. While many users praise its exceptional tread life and stability, a segment of the user base reports inconsistent performance in deep snow or on wet ice, noting a lack of steering precision and a 'squirmy' feel on dry pavement.
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.
| Attribute | A · Michelin X-Ice Xi3 | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | — | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | — | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 32 |
| Rim diameters | — | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Michelin
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, dry and wet. Pick the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 if snow matters most to you.
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 87 vs 61 on handling.
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 89 vs 80 on dry.
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 83 vs 74 on wet.
Michelin X-Ice Xi3 scores 81 vs 76 on snow.
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.
