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PirelliWinter Sottozero 3
  • PirelliWinter Sottozero 3
  • PirelliWinter Sottozero 3
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The Winter Sottozero 3 is Pirelli's third generation Sottozero (Italian for below zero) Performance Winter / Snow tire developed for the drivers of premium, high performance vehicles who will face challenging wintertime road conditions as they drive their cars year-round. The Winter Sottozero 3 was developed with the philosophy that winter / snow tires must perform in a variety of unpredictable weather conditions. Designed to provide traction and handling in cool, cold, dry, wet and wintry conditions, Winter Sottozero 3 tires are designed not just as snow tires, but as seasonal tires suitable for the cold weather and freezing road conditions.

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3Winter Sottozero 3 tires use an innovative compound with specialized polymers that improve the tread rubber compound's mechanical, thermal and dynamic properties. The compound is molded into a directional pattern that features an enlarged contact patch comprised of arrow-shaped center blocks and more rounded shoulders to expel water and slush. High-density 3D sipe technology improves braking performance and snow-to-snow traction. The tire's internal structure includes twin steel belts reinforced by spirally wrapped polyamide that enhances thermal stability and makes the tires less sensitive to road and air temperature changes.

Winter Sottozero 3 winter / snow tires meet the industry's severe snow service requirements and are branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.

Install Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 tires in sets of four only.

Due to the traction capabilities of Winter Sottozero 3 tires, Pirelli recommends using them only in sets of four to provide the best handling characteristics and tire performance.

Related Information: What is the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol (3PMSF)?

Tire Rack Test Results Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Performance Winter Tires with the Right Balance of Performance(04:52)

Performance Winter / Snow tires, for sports car drivers in the lower snow belt, are designed to strike a more even balance between traction in winter's snow, slush and ice vs. handling/traction on clear roads.

Can the new Dunlop and Pirelli tires in the category go head-to-head with the favorites from Bridgestone and Michelin? We found out.

Read the Full Test Report

View All Winter Test Results

Ratings Charts & Reviews PirelliWinter Sottozero 3

Tire Category: Performance Winter / Snow

Consumer Surveys

 
Best in Category
Miles Reported
Recommended
Treadwear
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Good
95%
1.9M
8.0 - Good
9.0 - Excellent
9.0 Hydroplaning Resistance
9.0 Wet Traction
8.8 - Excellent
8.7 Corner Stability
8.9 Dry Traction
8.7 Steering Response
8.5 - Good
9.0 Light Snow Traction
8.4 Deep Snow Traction
7.9 Ice Traction
8.4 - Good
8.7 Ride Quality
8.0 Noise
7.7 - Good

Pirelli Reviews

Customers praise the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 for outstanding winter performance, with snow traction (9-10 scores) and deep snow grip frequently highlighted as exceptional. Ice traction earns very good ratings (7-10), though a few note slightly reduced confidence on pure ice compared to deeper snow. Wet and dry traction both show strong 8-10 scores, with responsive handling in cold conditions. Ride comfort receives consistent praise (7-10) for smoothness, while treadwear ratings (7-10) suggest durability aligns well with seasonal use patterns. Winter-focused drivers appreciate its balanced traction across snowy and slushy roads, though a small subset mention wanting sharper ice performance for extreme conditions.

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Customers Like:

237 reviews mention "Wet Traction"

  • 231 positive
  • 6 negative

Customers consistently rate wet traction as excellent, with most scoring 9s and 10s. The Winter Sottozero 3 delivers confident grip on wet winter roads, maintaining reliable performance in challenging conditions.

March 05, 2022
(Verified Purchase)
2.6 out of 5 Star Rating
2.6 out of 5

Only Winter Snow MS Option for 2020 Tesla Model Y, Overly Great Wet Grip - No Tread Depth for Hydro Plane. The Tire are Superior Until They Give Up Instantly to all Hydro Changes.

Only Winter Snow MS Option for 2020 Tesla Model Y , Overly Great Wet Grip - No Tread Depth for Hydro Plane. The Tire are Superior Until They Give Up Instantly to all Hydro Changes. Use less on Ice and Slush Conditions. The Tires give You Confidence beyond Tread Depth.

Tire Wear : Will not make 1 Winter Season. Buy a Second Set for Rear of Model Y. Tires Are Too Thin And Soft on Inside Edges. I would buy any other set of Winter Tires Made for Tesla Y P. Recommend Any Other Tire. Safer on Summer Continental Tires.

Vehicle: 2020 Tesla Model Y Performance 255/45-19
Miles Driven on Tires: 8,000
Driving Conditions: Mostly Highway
Location: BOISE, ID
Driving Style: Average

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December 08, 2023
(Verified Purchase)
4.5 out of 5 Star Rating
4.5 out of 5

...However, this is a performance winter tire that handles much better in dry and wet conditions.

Ice traction is noticeably not as refined as my previous tires, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3. However, this is a performance winter tire that handles much better in dry and wet conditions.

Vehicle: 2019 Tesla Model 3 AWD 235/45-18
Miles Driven on Tires: 500
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: FALL CITY, WA
Driving Style: Spirited

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236 reviews mention "Winter Traction"

  • 219 positive
  • 17 negative

Customers praise the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3's winter traction, with most snow and deep snow scores at 9-10. Ice traction shows strong 7-10 ratings for most, though a few note variability. Excellent snow grip and confident deep snow performance highlight its winter capabilities.

February 23, 2014
(Verified Purchase)
4.2 out of 5 Star Rating
4.2 out of 5

...They are plenty capable of propelling my Subaru Legacy 2.5GT through over a foot of snow, although they are obviously aided by the AWD system's viscous limited slip differentials in this task. At speed, they maintain traction and stability through slush and shallow snow on the road...

These tires are excellent for winter-rated rubber on dry and wet roads, with progressive and predictable traction loss as you approach their limit while cornering. They are plenty capable of propelling my Subaru Legacy 2.5GT through over a foot of snow, although they are obviously aided by the AWD system's viscous limited slip differentials in this task. At speed, they maintain traction and stability through slush and shallow snow on the road.

On light snow and ice, they brake well but not as well as a fully dedicated snow/winter tire. This is to be expected, however, as these are designed for performance cars in areas with milder winters, where snows happens but infrequently. The trade off is far superior dry and wet traction than fully dedicated winter tires, with handling and braking comparable to some summer tires. Steering response compared to a summer tire is noticeably slower, due to the softer winter rubber compound.

Regardless, these will allow you to enjoy your car throughout the winter months without sacrificing much of the handling, braking, and cornering enjoyed on summer tires during the rest of the year. I highly recommend them, and they are a great deal for the price.

Vehicle: 2008 Subaru Legacy Sedan 2.5 GT Limited With OE Metal Valve Stems
Miles Driven on Tires: 3,500
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: RICHMOND, VA
Driving Style: Spirited

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March 05, 2015
(Verified Purchase)
4.8 out of 5 Star Rating
4.8 out of 5

...These tires are absolutely AMAZING; in light snow, in deep snow, on ice, and in freezing rain! Today, I drove in 7-8 inches of snow, with 1 inch of ice mixed in, and the car handled perfectly. No sliding, solid braking with a short stopping distance close to dry weather conditions...

I live in Southeast PA, and my 3 season tires are Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3s (which I've also reviewed). I purchased the Sottozero 3 for below freezing driving months, frequently harsh winters, and to retain the sporty driving characteristics of my car when road road conditions are good. It's not easy to find a winter tire that is good in many road conditions and temperatures. After talking with Tire Rack, we went with this tire for the Infiniti Q50.

These tires are absolutely AMAZING; in light snow, deep snow, ice, and freezing rain! Today, I drove in 7-8 inches of snow, with 1 inch of ice mixed in, and the car handled perfectly. No sliding, solid braking with a short stopping distance close to dry weather conditions. The Sottozeros pushed their way through deep, unplowed, snow with no difficulties. I saw cars, trucks,and SUVs sliding on and off of the road... and the Q50 was firmly planted. My traction control light never even went on during a two hour drive in these conditions; whether I was taking a sharp turn or going up a ramp or a hill from a dead stop. No problem.

As for dry and wet driving conditions; they are excellent as well. They really don't feel like winter tires when you are driving on clear days. I've tested them from 7 to 60 degrees F and they work very well. They are quiet, handling is exceptional, as is braking, with minimal to no hydroplaning in heavy rain.

The only downside, which I'm fine with, is that the car is about 2 mpG less fuel efficient than with the A/S 3s. That's a price I'd gladly play in exchange for the great traction and enjoyable driving. I can't recommend these tires any higher. Thanks Pirelli for making these and for Tire Rack recommending them. I never thought I would enjoy driving on days like today!

Vehicle: 2014 Infiniti Q50 3.7 Premium
Miles Driven on Tires: 3,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: SPRING GROVE, PA
Driving Style: Spirited

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April 09, 2016
(Verified Purchase)
4.3 out of 5 Star Rating
4.3 out of 5

...These tires handled everything the weather threw at them with aplomb, including dry roads, wet roads, slush, packed snow, and ongoing heavy snowfall road conditions... I could confidently pass slower vehicles on a 2+1 road in an ongoing snowstorm, even where the passing lane was essentially unplowed and without cleared tracks...

This is a superb performance winter tire. Living in the DC metropolitan area, winters are mostly dry or wet rather than snowy, but serious snowfall does occur (not to mention road trips where snow is to be expected). These tires handled everything the weather threw at them with aplomb, including dry roads, wet roads, slush, packed snow, and ongoing heavy snowfall road conditions. One still can't drive in the snow like it's dry pavement, of course, but these tires are remarkably stable, grippy, and secure; I could confidently pass slower vehicles on a "2+1" road in an ongoing snowstorm, even where the passing lane was essentially unplowed and without cleared tracks. During the time I had these tires on, the car's stability control system only had to engage -briefly- a handful of times, which is very different from the regular tires in snow. For consistently serious winter conditions, a heavier duty (i.e., non-performance) snow tire is superior, but these tires are a great match for the road conditions I encounter.

The price for the winter traction is that on dry & wet roads, these tires are not quite as sharp as the regular tires: in particular, steering response is a little slower, though the car is still accurate and stable; it's a difference of degree, not of kind, and it might not even be noticeable on a car with less razor-sharp steering. There may be a small increase in road noise, but I did not notice any decline in ride comfort. All in all, the gains in capability on winter roads far outweigh the losses on dry/wet roads.

In summary, I'm extremely happy with these tires and heartily recommend them.

Vehicle: 2011 BMW 328i Sedan Base Model
Miles Driven on Tires: 1,750
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: SILVER SPRING, MD
Driving Style: Average

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248 reviews mention "Dry Traction"

  • 239 positive
  • 9 negative

Customers consistently rate the Winter Sottozero 3's dry traction highly, with most scores being 9s and 10s. The tire delivers excellent dry grip and responsive handling, performing reliably even when winter conditions transition to drier surfaces.

November 28, 2018
5 out of 5 Star Rating
5 out of 5

...They even have great traction when the temp is well below zero, make almost no road noise, and in the dry are tight and handle great...

My name is Anthony I live in Connecticut. Last year I leased a BMW M4 Comp pack. I have a 32 mile commute to work everyday with hills and sharp curves, so i was a little worried about driving it in the snow. I have driven in Blizzards with heavy snow, Ice and slush. The worst storm was a 13 inch snowstorm we had in January 2018, the snow was above the bumper and i still had traction to accelerate, stop and turn. I am seriously amazed at how it turns a low, rear wheel drive sports car into a snowmobile. They even have great traction when the temp is well below zero, make almost no road noise, and in the dry are tight and handle great. This is all with a car that with the OEM wheels and tires will not even leave the parking lot with anything more then a dusting. I highly recommend this tire to anyone with a daily sports car or any daily rear wheel drive vehicle. Thank you pirelli!!

Vehicle: 2017 BMW M4 Coupe Competition Pkg
Miles Driven on Tires: 15,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: DANBURY, CT
Driving Style: Spirited

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April 03, 2017
(Verified Purchase)
4.8 out of 5 Star Rating
4.8 out of 5

...In the dry (both summer/winter) these will hold corners extremely well and give plenty of warning letting you know your closing in on the limit with some squeeling however are progressive, and predictable...

Call me crazy, however, these are one of the best performing tires I have ever owned. I run the Michelin pilot sports on both my 2008 VW Jetta Wolfsburg 2.0T FSI, DSG w/K04 S3 Turbocharger upgrade, and supercharged 1994 Classic NA Mazda Miata as summer tires and these on the Jetta for the winter. The Michelin Pilot Super Sports are at the top of their category and easily the benchmark performance Summer tire hands down. That said and after many years experience with the pilot super sports I was blown away with how the Pirellis handle!! I have been so impressed I have left the Pirellies on the car for the entire summer!!! The Pirellies should be sild as ALL SEASON PERFORMANCE TIRES instead of just winter performance. The Pirellies performance and handling is supperb and are easily what the Pilot Super Sports would be if Michelin made a winter version of the PSSs. I LOVE THESE TIRES!!! Yes the pilots will hold grip when cornering longer however taking into account that these are in fact snow tires I am amazed!! In the dry (both summer/winter) these will hold corners extremely well and give plenty of warning letting you know your closing in on the limit with some squeeling however are progressive, and predictable. Treadwear has been excellent besting the Pilots and Conties of past by a large margin. So far I have one full year and 22,000 miles on these, they are at the wear bars however still did brilliantly in our surprise March winter storm. With just a little tread left they pulled through the snow just fine without even a hint of instability. Now I do have a limited slip differential however ltd slip difs arent any good if you dont have grip as such I attest the still great traction to the Pirellies. They have about 3k mi. of usage left in them however I will need to drive with caution on wet roads since so little tread left at this point. The wet traction has been great yet with any tire as they wear down wet traction will decline while dry traction will increase.

Vehicle: 2008 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan Wolfsburg Edition
Miles Driven on Tires: 22,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: REISTERSTOWN, MD
Driving Style: Spirited

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254 reviews mention "Ride Quality"

  • 240 positive
  • 14 negative

Most customers rate ride comfort 9-10, praising smooth winter performance. Noise levels generally score 7-10, with some noting minor cabin sound increases in harsh conditions.

March 30, 2021
(Verified Purchase)
4.6 out of 5 Star Rating
4.6 out of 5

...Quiet and somewhat comfortable to drive, it has incredible performance in dry and snowy conditions...

The SottoZero3 is a pleasant surprise. Quiet and somewhat comfortable to drive, it has incredible performance in dry and snowy conditions. The issue is the walls weakness to potholes. If they are unavoidable in your area during winter, you're likely going to find that a bubble will develop, as did on one of my four tires.

Vehicle: 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
Miles Driven on Tires: 7,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: PHILADELPHIA, PA
Driving Style: Easy Going

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January 23, 2017
(Verified Purchase)
4.5 out of 5 Star Rating
4.5 out of 5

...I cannot tell the difference between these snow tires and the summer tires as far as the ride and comfort...

So far they have served me well. I cannot tell the difference between these snow tires and the summer tires as far as the ride and comfort. They did skid a little in 4 inches of snow, but for a rear wheel drive car that is acceptable.

Vehicle: 2015 Jaguar XK Coupe
Miles Driven on Tires: 500
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: NORTHBROOK, IL
Driving Style: Average

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January 02, 2020
(Verified Purchase)
4.9 out of 5 Star Rating
4.9 out of 5

Didn't put many miles on it yet, however already I have experienced excellent combination of performance and ride comfort... Ride comfort has been exceptional as well for my daily commute to work...

Didn't put many miles on it yet, however already I have experienced excellent combination of performance and ride comfort. With my "spirited driving" I have observed solid performance under hard acceleration, braking and cornering under cold temperatures below 32 F. Ride comfort has been exceptional as well for my daily commute to work. On the negative side the tire noise is louder than the Michelin X-Ice and Bridgestone Blizzak's in comparison. Also I cannot comment on the treadwear at this moment due to the low milleage so far. I recommend them for those that are looking to continue their spirited driving and continue getting the most out of the vehicles performance during the winter months .

Vehicle: 1998 BMW M3 Sedan
Miles Driven on Tires: 900
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: PITTSBURGH, PA
Driving Style: Spirited

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184 reviews mention "Treadwear"

  • 148 positive
  • 36 negative

Most customers rate treadwear with 9s and 10s, highlighting excellent durability in winter conditions. While some lower scores exist, the majority praise impressive tread life for reliable winter performance.

February 26, 2019
(Verified Purchase)
4.6 out of 5 Star Rating
4.6 out of 5

...The tread wear is very good in my opinion. I put 14k on my GT on these tires and the fronts are still like new and the rears are about half down in tread but plenty left and I drive pretty aggressively in dry conditions...

I have a set of Sottozero 3's for two Maserati's (my 2014 GT and my wife's 2014 Ghibli). These tires are fantastic. They take no time at all to get a little heat into them and get and stay soft in real subzero temps. I live in Westchester, NY and we range from slushy 32 degree snow to -7F ice and these tires really shine in the winter. The tread wear is very good in my opinion. I put 14k on my GT on these tires and the fronts are still like new and the rears are about half down in tread but plenty left and I drive pretty aggressively in dry conditions. The initial turn-in response is a little softer but that's to be expected, and particularly as I went down to 18" rims for the winter wheel set (down from 20" with PZero OEM). The ride is great and road noise is very low and quiet. Love these tires. I used to have a set of Michelin Pilot Alpin several years ago on a 535i rear drive and these tires are much much better in my opinion.

Vehicle: 2014 Maserati GranTurismo Coupe Sport
Miles Driven on Tires: 14,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY
Driving Style: Spirited

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August 04, 2017
4.3 out of 5 Star Rating
4.3 out of 5

...Tires have held up really well was considering I drive them in summer too... At the end of there life they got really noisy though...

Even though this is a winter tire I have had it on my have for 4 years straight summer and winter. Tires have held up really was considering I drive them in summer too. Probably the best snow tires I have purchased, I was looking for a tire that would give good performance year round and perform good in snow. These have definetally lived up too that. At the end of there life they got really noisy though. I would definetally buy them again.

Vehicle: 2008 Acura TL Automatic Transmission
Miles Driven on Tires: 35,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: SLINGER, WI
Driving Style: Average

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Consumer Reviews

Media Gallery

A Closer Look: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3(00:34)

Designed not just as snow tires, but as seasonal tires suitable for the cold weather and freezing road conditions. Find out what makes the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 do what it does for the drivers of high performance vehicles.

View All Winter Test Results

Performance Winter Tires with the Right Balance of Performance(04:52)

Performance Winter / Snow tires, for sports car drivers in the lower snow belt, are designed to strike a more even balance between traction in winter's snow, slush and ice vs. handling/traction on clear roads.

Can the new Dunlop and Pirelli tires in the category go head-to-head with the favorites from Bridgestone and Michelin? We found out.

Read the Full Test Report

View All Winter Test Results

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