81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
81/100
7 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II 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.
VerdictToo close to call: Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 are within 2 points overall. Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II is stronger on snow. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is stronger on dry, comfort and handling.
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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 9
Why this score
| Source | SNOWCONTROL Serie II | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 88 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 89 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | SNOWCONTROL Serie II | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 77 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 90 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
SNOWCONTROL Serie II leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | SNOWCONTROL Serie II | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 71 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | SNOWCONTROL Serie II | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 79 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SNOWCONTROL Serie II | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 38 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 98 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
SNOWCONTROL Serie II leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | SNOWCONTROL Serie II | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 100 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | SNOWCONTROL Serie II | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 82 |
| Dry | 80 | 89 |
| Wet | 80 | 83 |
| Snow | 89 | 76 |
| Comfort | 72 | 79 |
| Noise | – | 62 |
| Treadwear | 83 | 81 |
| Handling | 81 | 87 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
81
/ 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 Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II is highly regarded for its exceptional winter performance, particularly in snow and ice conditions where it provides reliable traction and braking control. While users consistently praise its longevity and safety, the tire is frequently noted for producing higher levels of road noise compared to standard tires.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance on snow and ice
- Impressive tread longevity and durability over multiple seasons
- High level of driver confidence and vehicle control in adverse weather
- Reliable performance even after several years of use
Cons
- Noticeable road noise during operation
- Higher price point relative to some competitors
- Mixed value perception among some users
Observations
- Users operating smaller vehicles, such as the Renault Modus, reported excellent hill-climbing capability in heavy snow conditions.
- The tire maintains consistent performance characteristics across both city driving and long-distance winter travel, including extreme arctic conditions.
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 · Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter High Performance 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?
81
/ 100
Pirelli
82
/ 100
Pirelli
Too close to call: Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 are within 2 points overall. Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II is stronger on snow. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is stronger on dry, comfort and handling.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II scores 89 vs 76 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 89 vs 80 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 79 vs 72 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 87 vs 81 on handling.
Tire A · Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
More comparisons
Also compared with
Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II 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.