74
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
73/100
6 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Nexen WinGuard 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
82
/ 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 handling, dry and wet. Pick the Nexen WinGuard if snow matters most to you.
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 22
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 88 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 89 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 77 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 90 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinGuard leads by 24
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 71 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 79 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 38 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 27
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Nexen WinGuard | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 82 |
| Dry | 67 | 89 |
| Wet | 65 | 83 |
| Snow | 100 | 76 |
| Comfort | 72 | 79 |
| Noise | – | 62 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 81 |
| Handling | 60 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
Tire A
82
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Nexen WinGuard is generally regarded as a capable budget-friendly winter tire that provides a significant performance upgrade over summer tires in cold and snowy conditions. While most users report reliable traction and confidence-inspiring handling in winter environments, some reviewers note that its performance on ice and in warmer temperatures is limited compared to premium alternatives.
Pros
- Strong traction and handling in snow-covered conditions
- Noticeable improvement in grip over summer tires in cold weather
- Confidence-inspiring braking performance on mountain passes
- High value-for-money proposition
Cons
- Mediocre performance on ice
- Poor dry-weather handling when temperatures exceed 10°C
- Occasional difficulty with uphill starts in deep snow
Observations
- Users report that the tire performs best when temperatures remain consistently below 4°C.
- Performance is noted to be highly effective for mountain driving and steep inclines, though traction can be inconsistent during initial acceleration from a standstill.
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 · Nexen WinGuard | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 32 |
| Rim diameters | — | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Nexen
82
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, dry and wet. Pick the Nexen WinGuard if snow matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 87 vs 60 on handling.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Nexen WinGuard scores 100 vs 76 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 89 vs 67 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 83 vs 65 on wet.
Tire A · Nexen WinGuard
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
More comparisons
Also compared with
Nexen WinGuard also compared with
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.