83
/ 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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Toyo SNOWPROX S 942 — 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
83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
81/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 and Toyo SNOWPROX S 942 are within 2 points overall. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is stronger on handling and dry. Toyo SNOWPROX S 942 is stronger on comfort and treadwear.
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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 | Winter Sottozero 3 | SNOWPROX S 942 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 88 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | SNOWPROX S 942 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 90 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | 98 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | SNOWPROX S 942 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 71 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
SNOWPROX S 942 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | SNOWPROX S 942 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 90 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | SNOWPROX S 942 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 38 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 98 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
SNOWPROX S 942 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | SNOWPROX S 942 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 77 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 86 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | SNOWPROX S 942 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 74 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Toyo SNOWPROX S 942 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 83 |
| Dry | 89 | 80 |
| Wet | 83 | 82 |
| Snow | 76 | – |
| Comfort | 79 | 90 |
| Noise | 62 | – |
| Treadwear | 81 | 86 |
| Handling | 87 | 74 |
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
83
/ 100
Tire A
83
/ 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 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.
The Toyo SNOWPROX S 942 is generally regarded as a high-value winter tire that excels in wet, slushy, and moderate snow conditions. While most users praise its progressive handling and impressive grip in varied winter weather, there is a notable divide regarding its performance in extreme sub-zero temperatures and on hard-packed ice.
Pros
- Exceptional grip in wet, slushy, and muddy conditions
- High value for money compared to premium competitors
- Predictable and progressive handling characteristics
- Strong performance in moderate snowfall
Cons
- Noticeable road noise at highway speeds
- Reported loss of traction in extreme cold (below -5°C)
- Inconsistent performance on hard-packed ice
- Ride comfort could be improved
Observations
- Users operating in alpine regions report reliable performance across diverse winter terrains.
- The tire's M+S profile contributes to increased cabin noise, particularly noticeable during high-speed highway driving.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Toyo SNOWPROX S 942 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Premium Touring 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?
83
/ 100
Pirelli
83
/ 100
Toyo
Too close to call: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 and Toyo SNOWPROX S 942 are within 2 points overall. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is stronger on handling and dry. Toyo SNOWPROX S 942 is stronger on comfort and treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 87 vs 74 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Toyo SNOWPROX S 942 scores 90 vs 79 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 89 vs 80 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Toyo SNOWPROX S 942 scores 86 vs 81 on treadwear.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Toyo SNOWPROX S 942
More comparisons
Also compared with
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 also compared with
Toyo SNOWPROX S 942 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.