Updated September 2026
Pirelli Cinturato C3 review
The Pirelli Cinturato C3 is highly regarded for its exceptional handling, safety, and wet-weather performance, positioning it as a top-tier choice in the touring segment. While most users praise its quiet ride and comfort, the tire offers a more engaging, sporty driving dynamic compared to some of its direct competitors.
Relative score
89/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
93/100
13 reviews
Road tests
89/100
11 published tests
Scores
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
By owner reviews
93%
Would buy again
93%
Dry
Wet
Comfort
Treadwear
Handling
By road tests
89.2%From owners
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 13 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Pirelli Cinturato C3 is highly regarded for its exceptional handling, safety, and wet-weather performance, positioning it as a top-tier choice in the touring segment. While most users praise its quiet ride and comfort, the tire offers a more engaging, sporty driving dynamic compared to some of its direct competitors.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and stability in both wet and dry conditions
- Highly responsive and precise steering feedback
- Strong safety performance, particularly regarding braking and anti-skid capabilities
- Generally low noise levels and high ride comfort
- Robust build quality and durability against road hazards
Cons
- Conflicting reports regarding noise levels, with some users finding them loud
- Potential for significant decrease in fuel economy compared to previous tires
- Less plush ride quality compared to dedicated comfort-focused tires like the Michelin Primacy
- Steering precision noted as slightly inferior to dedicated sport tires
Worth knowing
- Users report the tire performs well across various vehicle types, including sedans like the BMW and Honda Civic.
- The tire maintains high comfort levels even when switching from Standard Load (SL) to Extra Load (XL) specifications.
Test results
11 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
The BEST Summer tires for 2026 Tested and Rated · 225/45 R17
1st of 12
Best: Dry Braking · 1st
Weakest: Noise · 12th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 12 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 12 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 12 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 12 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 8th of 12 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 12 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 10th of 12 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 6th of 12 | |
| Noise | 12th of 12 |
2026 Motor Summer tire Test · 225/45 R17
2nd of 9
Best: Dry Braking · 1st
Weakest: Curved Aquaplaning · 8th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 9 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 9 | |
| Wet Circle | 2nd of 9 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 9 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 9 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 7th of 9 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 9 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 8th of 9 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 4th of 9 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 4th of 9 | |
| Noise | 8th of 9 |
2026 Vi Bilagare Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16
2nd of 10
Best: Wet Handling · 1st
Weakest: Rough Noise · 10th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 1st of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 10 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 2nd of 10 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 7th of 10 | |
| Subj. Noise | 8th of 10 | |
| Rough Noise | 10th of 10 | |
| Fuel Consumption | 10th of 10 |
2026 Autobild Summer tire Test · 245/45 R19
5th of 20
Best: Wet Handling · 2nd
Weakest: Noise · 20th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 7th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 10th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 6th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 7th of 20 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 12th of 20 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 9th of 20 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 3rd of 20 | |
| Noise | 20th of 20 | |
| Value | 16th of 20 | |
| Wear | 7th of 20 | |
| Abrasion | 4th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 11th of 20 |
2026 ADAC Summer tire Test · 225/50R17
2nd of 16
Best: Straight Aqua · 2nd
Weakest: Fuel Consumption · 13th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 16 | |
| Dry Braking | 4th of 16 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 16 | |
| Wear | 4th of 16 | |
| Fuel Consumption | 13th of 16 | |
| Abrasion | 8th of 16 | |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | 4th of 16 |
2026 Auto Express Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16
5th of 8
Best: Wet Braking · 2nd
Weakest: Wet Circle · 8th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 8 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 8 | |
| Wet Circle | 8th of 8 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 8 | |
| Dry Handling | 6th of 8 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 7th of 8 | |
| Straight Aqua | 4th of 8 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 4th of 8 | |
| Noise | 5th of 8 |
2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer tire Test · 235/45 R18
3rd of 10
Best: Wet Handling · 2nd
Weakest: Noise · 10th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 2nd of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 3rd of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 6th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 6th of 10 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 2nd of 10 | |
| Noise | 10th of 10 | |
| Value | 7th of 10 | |
| Wear | 3rd of 10 | |
| Abrasion | 4th of 10 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 7th of 10 |
2026 Summer Braking Super tire Test - How do 52 tires Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? · 245/45 R19
7th of 50
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 50 | |
| Dry Braking | 8th of 50 |
2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring tire Test · 205/55 R17
2nd of 7
Best: Subj. Comfort · 1st
Weakest: Wet Braking · 3rd
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 7 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 7 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 2nd of 7 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 1st of 7 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 2nd of 7 | |
| Subj. Noise | 1st of 7 |
2025 Al Volante Summer tire Test · 225/55 R18
1st of 7
Best: Wet Handling · 1st
Weakest: Rolling Resistance · 3rd
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 1st of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 7 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 2nd of 7 | |
| Noise | 3rd of 7 |
The Best Touring tires for 2025 Tested · 225/50 R17
1st of 7
Best: Curved Aquaplaning · 1st
Weakest: Subj. Comfort · 5th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 7 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 7 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 1st of 7 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 5th of 7 | |
| Noise | 4th of 7 |