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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Yokohama W.Drive — 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
76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
71/100
14 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, snow and wet. Pick the Yokohama W.Drive if noise 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)
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 88 | 98 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 77 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 100% | 100% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 100% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 77 |
| Tire Rack owners | 90 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 71 |
| SimpleTire owners | 98 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 93% | 90% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 95% | 94% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 71 | 67 |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 55 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 99% | 86% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 95% | 100% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 77 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
W.Drive leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 38 | 81 |
| SimpleTire owners | 98 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 77 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 71 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Yokohama W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 76 |
| Dry | 89 | 89 |
| Wet | 83 | 75 |
| Snow | 76 | 62 |
| Comfort | 79 | 77 |
| Noise | 62 | 81 |
| Treadwear | 81 | 78 |
| Handling | 87 | 71 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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
80
/ 100
Tire A
76
/ 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 | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #2/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 84% #8/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +16.1 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 94% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 99% #2/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -4.5 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 81% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 63% #2/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +17.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 11% #9/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 13% #8/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -1.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #10/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 86% #9/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +12.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 95% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #9/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -5.2 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #2/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 92% #8/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +7.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 93% #6/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 90% #7/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +3.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 94% #7/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.7 | Different tests |
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 Yokohama W Drive presents a polarizing user experience, with performance heavily dependent on vehicle drivetrain and driving style. While many owners report excellent traction in snow and ice, providing a transformative winter driving experience, a significant subset of users—particularly those with high-torque rear-wheel-drive vehicles—report severe handling instability and safety concerns.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and mobility in snow and ice conditions.
- Strong dry-road handling performance, often described as comparable to summer tires.
- Impressive tread longevity when maintained at proper inflation pressures.
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality for most users.
Cons
- Significant instability and lack of rear-end grip reported on high-torque, rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
- Inconsistent performance on greasy or wet road surfaces.
- Reports of excessive road noise and harsh ride quality from some users.
- High sensitivity to tire pressure, leading to rapid wear if not monitored.
Observations
- Users of high-torque BMW models (535d, 335d) reported severe traction issues and fishtailing, suggesting a potential mismatch between the tire's compound and high-torque RWD platforms.
- Quattro (AWD) users reported high satisfaction, noting the tires provided reliable grip and durability across varied conditions.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Yokohama W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | High Performance Winter tire |
| 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?
80
/ 100
Pirelli
76
/ 100
Yokohama
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better handling, snow and wet. Pick the Yokohama W.Drive if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Yokohama W.Drive scores 81 vs 62 on noise.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 87 vs 71 on handling.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 76 vs 62 on snow.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 83 vs 75 on wet.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Yokohama W.Drive
More comparisons
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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.