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 BluEarth Winter V905 — 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
5 professional tests
User signal (40%)
87/100
15 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better noise and comfort. Pick the Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 if snow matters most to you.
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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 1
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | BluEarth Winter V905 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 88 | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 91 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 100% | 100% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | BluEarth Winter V905 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 76 |
| Tire Rack owners | 90 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 89 |
| SimpleTire owners | 98 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 86% | 90% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 95% | 96% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
BluEarth Winter V905 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | BluEarth Winter V905 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 71 | 70 |
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 92 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 94% | 92% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 97% | 96% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 81% | 90% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | BluEarth Winter V905 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | 56 |
| Tire Rack owners | 84 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 83 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | BluEarth Winter V905 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 38 | 47 |
| SimpleTire owners | 98 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Sottozero 3 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | BluEarth Winter V905 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 77 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 100 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sottozero 3 | BluEarth Winter V905 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 76 |
| Dry | 89 | 88 |
| Wet | 83 | 81 |
| Snow | 76 | 79 |
| Comfort | 79 | 67 |
| Noise | 62 | 47 |
| Treadwear | 81 | 80 |
| Handling | 87 | 87 |
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% #1/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #10/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 99% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -1 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 84% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +16.3 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 94% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 95% #15/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -1.1 | Same test |
| Price | Other | 81% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 76% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +4.8 | Same test |
| Value | Other | 100% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 85% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +14.6 | Same test |
| Wear | Other | 70% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 56% #14/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +14.5 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 7% #14/18 · 2021 ADAC 17 Inch Winter Tyre Test | 5% #20/51 · 2018 51 Winter Tyre Shootout | +2.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 92% #19/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +2.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #18/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +1 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 81% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 90% #2/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test | -9.2 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #2/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 91% #12/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +8.8 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 80% #5/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test | +10 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 90% #3/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test | -10 | Different tests |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 80% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 60% #8/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test | +20 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 70% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test | -30 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #5/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0% #6/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 86% #18/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 90% #16/44 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | -3.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -1.2 | 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 BluEarth Winter V905 is widely regarded as a high-performing winter tire that excels in cold, wet, and snowy conditions, offering handling characteristics that closely mimic summer tires. While most users praise its traction and confidence-inspiring grip on varied surfaces, some report concerns regarding tread longevity and increased road noise compared to other premium alternatives.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and handling on snow and ice
- Strong performance on cold, wet, and dry pavement
- High level of steering precision and road feedback
- Competitive price-to-performance ratio
Cons
- Reports of higher-than-average road noise
- Mixed feedback on tread longevity, with some users noting rapid wear
- Occasional understeer in wet conditions when temperatures are higher
- Reduced performance in deep slush compared to packed snow
Observations
- Users running these on performance-oriented vehicles like the Honda Civic Type R and BMW 330 Touring report high satisfaction with handling and grip.
- Drivers of 4x4 SUVs noted the tire holds up well under demanding, high-mileage usage, though some smaller vehicle owners reported faster wear on the front axle.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | B · Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 32 | 4 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 21″ | 18″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 10/32″ | 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | 50 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Pirelli
76
/ 100
Yokohama
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — better noise and comfort. Pick the Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 if snow matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 62 vs 47 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 79 vs 67 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 scores 79 vs 76 on snow.
Tire A · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire B · Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905
More comparisons
Also compared with
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 also compared with
Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 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.