Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 Reviews - Page 2

Given 94% while driving a BMW 316d (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 4,000 spirited miles
I fitted these this winter and i love them, although being RFT comfort is still good, not much rougher than non RFT i imagine that standard is very comfortable, dry grip is as expected good as winter tire gets, but the best part is wet and slush grip, i am really surprised by the level of confidence i get from them, even on rwd car, snow traction is excellent, compared to Nokian WR D3 i had before and i was quite satified with them, these are in another galaxy when it comes to putting your confidence in tire to keep you safe.
Helpful 27 - tyre reviewed on May 11, 2021
Given 80% while driving a Mercedes Benz C250 CDI Blutec (225/40 R19) on a combination of roads for 12,509 average miles
I am impressed! These tyres have got me through two winters and look like they are capable of another 2-3. Usually go on around October when temperatures are below 7 degree C. Off by May the following year. Very assuring in wet conditions. Especially when snow melts and becomes sludge. Handle mud quite well too. Ice grip is good. I find when the tyres have been driven a while then they grip even more. Same brand on the rear axle and these inspire confidence. You cannot get too excited with them as the traction light says hello. It’s nice to see the look on faces when they think a rear wheel drive car will struggle or stay on the drive. Run flat form doesn’t feel too jarring or noisy. Very good tyres and that’s coming from a tyre snob. Once scrubbed in these were pleasant and haven’t let me down.
Helpful 21 - tyre reviewed on April 18, 2021
Given 82% while driving a Audi (225/50 R17) on a combination of roads for 3,000 spirited miles
Very good grip on dirty roads.
Helpful 19 - tyre reviewed on March 17, 2021
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Given 88% while driving a Jaguar XF S (285/35 R20 W) on a combination of roads for 7,000 spirited miles
A very good winter tyre, gives you more confidence in the wet and when there is a spell of cold weather. Very good in the wet.
Helpful 21 - tyre reviewed on November 10, 2020
Given 89% while driving a BMW X1 X Drive (225/55 R18 H) on a combination of roads for 10,000 spirited miles
Love driving with this tire. Predictable drift performance in snow and great snow grips in straight lines. This tire gives me so much confidence in the snow that I actually look forward to having snow on the road first time in my life! Was able to keep around 70 to 80% of my dry speed in the snow with this tire and pull off some crazy tight drift U turns and drift thanks to it’s predictability. Dry and wet performance when there’s no snow are really good as well.
Helpful 22 - tyre reviewed on November 2, 2020
Given 84% while driving a (225/60 R16 H) on a combination of roads for 40,000 average miles
Hello from Italy! Winter tires with sporty character, essentially good and reliable in all conditions. Precise both in the dry and with the rain, these tires show good resistance to aquaplaning, safe breaking, confident road feedback and fairly good subjective handling. With snow they ensure good traction, good road holding and satisfying stopping distance. Not too bad on ice, although not excellent, they tend however to lose some stability and traction as snow melts, becomes wet or muddy. This behavior occurs usually progressive and predictable, so one can compensate in time. Good wear despite spirited driving (after three seasons, about 40000 km, still usable). Not too much noisy, fairly good comfort. Average fuel consumption. Relative expensive but, all in all, money were well spent.
Helpful 37 - tyre reviewed on June 16, 2020
Given 100% while driving a BMW 525D (225/45 R17) on for 0 miles
Excellent!
Helpful 24 - tyre reviewed on May 4, 2020
Given 87% while driving a Alfa Romeo 147 (215/45 R17 H) on a combination of roads for 7 spirited miles
Great winter UHP tire. Surprisingly quiet and comfortable, yet very good grip on dry and wet. Wear is acceptable for this class of tires, it is average. For the huge amounts of grip, the price that is to be paid is a bit of rolling resistance comparing to summer tires, but it is absolutely normal. Increase of fuel consumption can be also attributed to lower ambient temperatures so it doesn’t have to be tires fault entirely. And God it handles well! Not a cheap product, but boy, you are approaching a Ferrari/Bentley/Lambo OEM fitment territory, so don’t expect it will cost peanuts.
Helpful 25 - tyre reviewed on April 3, 2020
Given 93% while driving a Peugeot 208 1.6 vti (205/45 R17 V) on a combination of roads for 8,000 average miles
Bought these for my late 2015 208 GTI, and they are absolutely amazing, they are good in the dry and not too bad in the wet, in the snow they are utterly amazing in fact the 208 in the last 2 bouts of heavy snow the south of England had this Feb (2019) and last year in March (2018) the car was just unstoppable...it drove and stopped like it was just on a wet road... it had more grip than my 4x4 Grand Cherokee with proper Cooper AT3 chunky tyres! I would absolutely recommend them and will be buying a set for our F11 BMW 528i for winter.
Helpful 25 - tyre reviewed on September 15, 2019
Given 90% while driving a Audi A4 1.8T Quattro (235/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 9,000 spirited miles
After reaching 4mm of thread left from my Nokians WRD4, I searched for a tire with better thread wear, even if the nokians are absolute awesome winter tyres. I eventually chose the Pirellis Winter Sottozero 3. After one winter with them, I can say that they feel like a very good summer tyre on dry roads with temperatures beneath 15 grades celsius, on wet they perform excellent, they are very silent and the steering is very precise, even though they give a pretty decent confort ride. However, on snow and ice, they are not as good as the Nokians were, but you can have a normal drive with a little more care. However, they are far better than many other brands. And, the most important aspect, after one winter and 11000kms made, they lost only 1mm of thread! (The nokians lost 3 in the first winter). I would definitely buy them again.
Helpful 17 - tyre reviewed on April 7, 2019
Given 61% while driving a SEAT Leon Cupra ST 290 (FWD) (235/35 R19 W) on mostly country roads for 1,000 spirited miles
This is an excellent winter tire but... They are pretty much fabulous on every surface except... they don't last on B category roads and break easily. It's hard not to be dissapointed given the price you have to pay. I check my tire pressure every 2 weeks so it's not a matter of not taking care. I had no problems with my summer tires so far (Michelins) but I lost two winter Pirellis within 2 months so I'm questioning their endurance. I won't buy them again.
Helpful 40 - tyre reviewed on December 14, 2018
Given 84% while driving a BMW M235i (225/45 R17) on mostly country roads for 7,000 spirited miles
Two winters on my M235i: 320 BHP & RWD, so very sensitive to grip and handling in wet and snow. Multiple trips down to the Alps for winter skiing. Previous car was a 330d with Pirelli Sottozero Winter Serie-II for comparison. I've also had Vredestein, Dunlop and Michelin Alpins on previous cars.

Really an outstanding winter tyre for performance car if you're certain to find yourself on snow. If you weren't certain of an Alpine ski trip or likely snow then consider the Serie-II, which handles slightly better in the dry. But the S3 is better than the Serie-II in heavy rain and standing water (the penalty is the 'chunkiness' makes it a bit noisier). The S3s did snowy hill starts and slow, windy uphill roads without recourse to chains so really pleased with them. Very good resistance to aquaplaning back in the UK winter rain and didn't let me down even during lapses of concentration in the cold and wet.

Definitely would buy these again when the time comes.
Helpful 23 - tyre reviewed on November 7, 2018