Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 review
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 is highly regarded for its exceptional grip in snow and ice, often outperforming competitors in challenging winter conditions. While users praise its dry and wet handling capabilities, some note concerns regarding sidewall durability and increased noise levels at higher speeds.
Owners rate it 10.4 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
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
91.8%By road tests
81.4%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 13 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 is highly regarded for its exceptional grip in snow and ice, often outperforming competitors in challenging winter conditions. While users praise its dry and wet handling capabilities, some note concerns regarding sidewall durability and increased noise levels at higher speeds.
Pros
- Superior traction and confidence on snow and ice-covered surfaces
- Excellent dry and wet handling characteristics
- Low noise levels at moderate speeds, particularly with PNCS technology
- Strong performance under hard acceleration and cornering
Cons
- Vulnerable sidewalls prone to damage from curb impacts
- Increased road noise at highway speeds (above 100-110 km/h)
- Potential for reduced fuel efficiency on electric vehicles
- Loss of steering precision during aggressive cornering
Worth knowing
- Electric vehicle users reported higher energy consumption and increased noise at highway speeds compared to dedicated EV-optimized summer tires.
- High-performance vehicle owners appreciate the tire's ability to maintain grip under significant torque, though they caution against sidewall fragility.
- The 19-inch fitment with PNCS (Pirelli Noise Cancelling System) is noted for being remarkably quiet at lower speeds.
2 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2026 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16
2nd of 11
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 11 | |
| Wet Circle | 2nd of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 9th of 11 | |
| Snow Traction | 5th of 11 | |
| Snow Handling | 3rd of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 11 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 11 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 2nd of 11 | |
| Noise | 7th of 11 |
2025 TUV Test of Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 vs Rivals · 225/45 R17
1st of 5
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 5 | |
| Wet Handling | 1st of 5 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 5 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 5 | |
| Snow Traction | 1st of 5 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 5 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 5 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 5 |