Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
- TR Score
- 7.9/10
- Owners say
- 91% · 4
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 77% · 5
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 finished ahead 4 times and the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro not once. The Cinturato Winter 3 lasted 30.3% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 for almost all drivers: it's the proven safer, higher-performing winter tire with standout wet braking and stronger aquaplaning reserves, plus better projected wear. Consider the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro only if upfront/score-based “value” is the overriding priority and you drive mainly on cold, dry roads with little rain and minimal snow-because the test data shows meaningful safety compromises in wet stopping and aquaplaning, and weak winter handling margins.
Where the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro is stronger
- Generally good ride comfort and competitive cabin/pass-by noise in parts of testing (e.g., 9.0 comfort points and 71.0 dB in Auto Bild Sportscars)
- Can feel stable and predictable on dry roads in some reporting, with at least one small win on dry handling (Auto Bild Allrad: 111.9 vs 111.5 km/h)
- Decent wet-handling pace relative to some premium tires in qualitative notes, despite weak wet braking
Where the Cinturato Winter 3 is stronger
- Class-leading wet braking across all shared tests (e.g., 49.3 m vs 65.2 m in Auto Bild Sportscars; wins wet braking in all 4 tests)
- Much stronger aquaplaning safety margins, especially in ADAC (straight 85.0 vs 75.2 km/h; curved 3.2 vs 2.4 m/s²) and consistently ahead elsewhere
- High overall test performance and consistency (wins AvD and ADAC outright; top-tier finishes in both Auto Bild tests)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
EUROWINTER HS02 Pro vs Cinturato Winter 3 at a glance
| Category | EUROWINTER HS02 Pro | Gap | Cinturato Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won4 shared tests | 0 | 4 | |
| Dry6 measurements | 1 | The Cinturato Winter 3 stopped 2.6% shorter in the dry (4 tests) | 5 |
| Wet14 measurements | 0 | The Cinturato Winter 3 stopped 10.9% shorter in the wet (4 tests) | 14 |
| Snow11 measurements | 0 | The Cinturato Winter 3 stopped 3.8% shorter on snow (4 tests) | 11 |
| Ice1 measurement | 0 | 1 | |
| Comfort5 measurements | 2 | The Cinturato Winter 3 was 1.1 dB quieter (3 tests) | 3 |
| Value7 measurements | 0 | The Cinturato Winter 3 lasted 30.3% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) | 6 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 7.9/10 | The Cinturato Winter 3 by 1.3 | 9.2/10 |
| Owner rating4 and 5 reviews | 91% | The EUROWINTER HS02 Pro by 14 points | 77% |
| Pricein the 4 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Cinturato Winter 3 was dearer in 4 of 4 | +26.9% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 110 | 14 sizes made in both | 36 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 4 tests in 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | EUROWINTER HS02 Pro | Field | Cinturato Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test | P11 of 12 | P4 of 12 | |
| 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Winter Tire Test | P6 of 10 | P2 of 10 | |
| 2026 AvD Winter Tire Test | P11 of 15 | P1 of 15 | |
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 | P11 of 16 | P1 of 16 |
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
Not ahead on any measurement here
Cinturato Winter 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 85%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 5 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
Cinturato Winter 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
Cinturato Winter 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro 91% from 4 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 3 77% from 5. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | EUROWINTER HS02 Pro | Gap | Cinturato Winter 3 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 144 | 2.6% | 140 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 64.9 | 0.2% | 65.1 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 163 | 10.9% | 143 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 135 | 6.3% | 126 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 47.3 | 1.6% | 48.1 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 16.33 | 1.3% | 16.11 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 45.4 | 10% | 49.9 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 7.8 | 23.6% | 9.7 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 76 | 3.8% | 74 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 648 | 3.4% | 671 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 32.7 | 1.2% | 33.1 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 12.7 | 4.4% | 13.3 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 60 | 1.6% | 59 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.1% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 72.1 | 1.1 dB | 71.03 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 20,834 | 30.3% | 27,114 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 8.58 | 4.8% | 8.16 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.5 | = | 5.5 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 88 | 9.1% | 80 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro scores 7.9 and the Cinturato Winter 3 9.2 out of 10.
| EUROWINTER HS02 Pro | Category | Cinturato Winter 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | Dry | 90 | ||
| 66 | Wet | 100 | ||
| 57 | Comfort | 69 | ||
| 18 | Value | 44 | ||
| 23 | Snow | 72 | ||
| 53 | Ice | 40 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| EUROWINTER HS02 Pro | Category | Cinturato Winter 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.8 | Dry Grip | 8.6 | ||
| 9.5 | Wet Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 6.5 | Road Feedback | 7 | ||
| 9 | Handling | 7.6 | ||
| 8 | Wear | 8.5 | ||
| 9 | Comfort | 6.4 | ||
| 9.5 | Snow Grip | 9.5 | ||
| 9 | Ice Grip | 9 | ||
Owners rate the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro 91% from 4 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 3 77% from 5. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
- 91%from 4 reviews
- 18,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 4 EUROWINTER HS02 Pro reviewsReally solid tires, I didn't expect them to be good through snow however they performed very well. But they're even better on dry and wet roads.
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
- 77%from 5 reviews
- 60%would buy again
- 11,000 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally rate the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 positively, highlighting strong winter capability and a confident, planted feel in snow/ice as well as reassuring grip in wet conditions. Several also note good overall handling and comfort, with some reporting impressive quietness at lower speeds (especially with PNCS). The most consistent drawback is increased road noise as speeds rise (around 100-110 km/h and above), and a couple of users report higher energy consumption on EVs versus summer tires.
- Strong snow and ice traction
- Confident grip and stability in wet conditions
- Good dry-road handling for a winter tire
- Comfortable ride and generally refined feel (noted by multiple users)
- Noticeable road noise at higher speeds (around 100-110 km/h and above)
- Higher energy consumption/rolling resistance versus summer tires (reported on EVs)
Summarised by AI from 5 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 5 Cinturato Winter 3 reviewsCompared to the previous tire (Michelin Alpin 6), the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 offers more grip on snow.
I haven’t yet reached the limit in dry or wet conditions to provide an objective evaluation in those scenarios, but I notice that as lateral forces increase, the steering loses precision, accompanied by a clearly noticeable noise, typical of a winter tire “working”.
I believe this is due to the relatively narrow tread blocks. The car has also become more sensitive to crosswinds, as well as to road camber.
It is a safe tire, but not a particularly fun or precise one.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 110 sizes of the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro and 36 of the Cinturato Winter 3, 14 of them made in both.
| Category | EUROWINTER HS02 Pro | Cinturato Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 110 sizes, 16 to 22 inch | 36 sizes, 16 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 14 sizes 225/45 R17225/50 R17225/55 R17225/60 R17225/65 R17235/55 R17225/40 R18225/45 R18225/50 R18225/55 R18225/60 R18225/45 R19and 2 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B96%C4% | A58%B42% |
| EU label rolling resistance | D51%C44%B5% | C61%B39% |
| EU label noise | 70-74 dB B97%A3% | 72 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 134 of 134 | 36 of 36 |
| On the market since | 2022 | 2025 |
| Replaced | - | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 (2021) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Cinturato Winter 3 was the dearer tire in 4 of the 4 tests that listed prices, by 26.9% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This comparison pits two very different takes on a modern “European winter” tire against each other: the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro (a more performance-leaning UHP winter) versus the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 (a premium-touring winter positioned squarely around safety and everyday confidence). Both are aimed at passenger cars, but their shared test history shows they don't land in the same place when conditions turn ugly-especially in the wet.
Across four major 2026 group tests (Auto Bild Sportscars, Auto Bild Allrad, AvD and ADAC), the Pirelli is consistently a front-runner (1st/15 AvD, 1st/16 ADAC, 2nd/10 Auto Bild Allrad, 4th/12 Auto Bild Sportscars). The Falken, by contrast, sits in the lower half every time (11th/12, 6th/10, 11th/15, 11th/16) and is explicitly discouraged by Auto Bild Sportscars and fails ADAC due to weak winter performance. The data makes this less a “close call” and more a question of whether Falken's purchase-price/value upside is worth meaningful safety and capability compromises.
Conclusion
If you drive in typical Central European winter conditions-cold rain, standing water, slush, and occasional snow-the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 is the clear choice on the evidence. It wins all four shared tests overall, and its biggest advantage is repeatable, test-to-test wet safety: for example, Auto Bild Sportscars shows a huge wet-braking gap (49.3 m Pirelli vs 65.2 m Falken), and ADAC shows materially better aquaplaning margins (straight aquaplaning 85.0 km/h vs 75.2 km/h; curved aquaplaning 3.2 vs 2.4 m/s²). That wet dominance is exactly what most winter miles are driven in for many regions-and it's why both ADAC and AvD crown the Pirelli as the overall winner.
The Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro's story is mixed: it can feel comfortable and can post respectable dry/wet handling speeds in places, but it repeatedly gives away the safety-critical metrics (wet braking and aquaplaning) and it is consistently weaker in winter discipline performance, especially snow behavior in the ADAC report (where poor snow handling drags the overall grade down). Even where it looks “OK” on paper in isolated areas (comfort/noise, one dry-handling result), it doesn't build into a convincing all-round package.
Value is the Falken's main argument: it scores better on the provided “value” metrics in AvD and ADAC (lower cost index), which may matter if you drive mostly on dry/cold roads with minimal precipitation and only rare snow. The practical takeaway, though, is simple: a winter tire's job is to protect you on the worst days, and the Pirelli's repeatable wet stopping power and higher aquaplaning reserves make it the safer, more confidence-inspiring purchase for the vast majority of drivers.
EUROWINTER HS02 Pro vs Cinturato Winter 3: your questions
Is the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro or the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 the better tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 finished ahead 4 times and the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro scores 7.9 and the Cinturato Winter 3 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro or the Cinturato Winter 3?
The Cinturato Winter 3 led 14 of the 14 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 10.9% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Cinturato Winter 3 led 5 of the 6 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.6% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Cinturato Winter 3 led 11 of the 11 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.8% shorter on snow across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Cinturato Winter 3 lasted 30.3% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) and had 4.8% lower rolling resistance (3 tests). Owners rate wear 8/10 for the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro and 8.5/10 for the Cinturato Winter 3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Cinturato Winter 3 was 1.1 dB quieter (3 tests). Owners rate comfort 9/10 for the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro and 6.4/10 for the Cinturato Winter 3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro 91% from 4 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 3 77% from 5.
Which is more expensive?
In the 4 tests that listed prices, the Cinturato Winter 3 was the dearer tire in 4 of them, by 26.9% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The EUROWINTER HS02 Pro is made in 110 sizes (16 to 22 inch) and the Cinturato Winter 3 in 36 (16 to 20 inch). 14 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro is graded B for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Cinturato Winter 3 A and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The Cinturato Winter 3 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2025, the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro in 2022. The Cinturato Winter 3 replaced the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Review the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro Review the Cinturato Winter 3
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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