Sava Eskimo S3 review
The Sava Eskimo S3 is widely regarded as a specialized budget winter tire that excels in deep snow and ice conditions but shows significant performance limitations on wet pavement. While users consistently praise its exceptional value and longevity, many note that its wet-weather grip degrades noticeably as the tire ages, making it a polarizing choice for regions with milder, rain-heavy winters.
Owners rate it 50.7 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
75%By road tests
24.3%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 34 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Sava Eskimo S3 is widely regarded as a specialized budget winter tire that excels in deep snow and ice conditions but shows significant performance limitations on wet pavement. While users consistently praise its exceptional value and longevity, many note that its wet-weather grip degrades noticeably as the tire ages, making it a polarizing choice for regions with milder, rain-heavy winters.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and handling in deep snow and ice
- High value-for-money ratio
- Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons
- Reliable performance in sub-zero temperatures
Cons
- Poor wet-weather braking and grip
- Performance degradation on wet surfaces as the tire ages
- Increased road noise at higher speeds
- Soft sidewalls which can impact handling precision
Worth knowing
- Users with lightweight vehicles, such as the Toyota Yaris, reported more predictable handling and fewer issues with wet-weather traction compared to heavier vehicles.
- Drivers of mid-sized sedans like the VW Golf and Honda Accord noted that while the tire is capable, it is better suited for moderate driving styles rather than high-speed cornering.
3 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter tire Test · 185/65 R15
14th of 16
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2018 ADAC Winter tire Test - 175/65 R14 · 175/65 R14
8th of 12
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2017 ADAC Winter tire Test - 195/65 R15
15th of 16
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wear | 3rd of 16 | |
| Dry Handling | 8th of 16 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 8th of 16 | |
| Dry Braking | 8th of 16 | |
| Straight Aquaplaning | 8th of 16 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 8th of 16 | |
| Wet Braking | 8th of 16 | |
| Wet Handling | 8th of 16 | |
| Snow Braking | 2nd of 16 | |
| Snow Traction | 2nd of 16 | |
| Snow Handling | 2nd of 16 | |
| Ice Braking | 2nd of 16 | |
| Ice Handling | 2nd of 16 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 6th of 16 | |
| Inside Noise level | 6th of 16 | |
| Side G-Force on Wet surface | 8th of 16 |