Pirelli Ice Zero 2 vs Continental IceContact 3
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental IceContact 3 finished ahead 3 times and the Ice Zero 2 twice. The Ice Zero 2 was stronger in wet and comfort, the IceContact 3 in ice and value.
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 5 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Ice Zero 2
IceContact 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. 3 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Ice Zero 2
IceContact 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
Ice Zero 2
IceContact 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Ice Zero 2 64% from 3 reviews and the IceContact 3 79% from 3. 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. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.
| Measurement | Ice Zero 2 | Gap | IceContact 3 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Level | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 101 | 1.3% | 103 | 1-2 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 16.7% | scored | 1-0 |
| Wet Ice Zero 2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 112 | 3.1% | 116 | 3-0 |
| Wet Handling s | 40.27 | 1.4% | 39.69 | 0-3 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 8.3% | scored | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 40.8 | 3.6% | 39.4 | 2-0 |
| Snow Level | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 122 | 0.7% | 122 | 0-2 |
| Snow Traction s | 5.07 | 1% | 5.12 | 2-0 |
| Snow Handling s | 64.42 | 0.1% | 64.27 | 1-1 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Ice IceContact 3 ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 97 | 6.4% | 96 | 1-2 |
| Ice Traction s | 4.04 | 1.7% | 4.06 | 1-1 |
| Ice Handling s | 59.56 | 7.6% | 55.02 | 0-2 |
| Subj. Ice Handling pts | scored | 14.3% | scored | 0-1 |
| Comfort Ice Zero 2 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Subj. Noise pts | scored | = | scored | 2-1 |
| Value IceContact 3 ahead | ||||
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 5.85 | 1.1% | 5.79 | 0-2 |
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.
Head to head in 5 tests, 2020 to 2025
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 | Ice Zero 2 | Field | IceContact 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test | P4 of 8 | P3 of 8 | |
| 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test | P6 of 7 | P2 of 7 | |
| The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 | P1 of 6 | P6 of 6 | |
| 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test | P4 of 9 | P6 of 9 | |
| 2020 Studded Winter Tire Test | P5 of 8 | P2 of 8 |
Ice Zero 2 vs IceContact 3: your questions
Is the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 or the Continental IceContact 3 the better tire?
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental IceContact 3 finished ahead 3 times and the Ice Zero 2 twice. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ice Zero 2 scores 8.4 and the IceContact 3 9.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Ice Zero 2 or the IceContact 3?
The Ice Zero 2 led 6 of the 10 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.1% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the Ice Zero 2 and the IceContact 3.
Which is better in snow?
Across the shared tests the snow measurements are split 3-3 between the Ice Zero 2 and the IceContact 3.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The IceContact 3 used 1.1% less fuel (2 tests). Owners rate wear 5.7/10 for the Ice Zero 2 and 5/10 for the IceContact 3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 5.7/10 for the Ice Zero 2 and 7.3/10 for the IceContact 3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Ice Zero 2 64% from 3 reviews and the IceContact 3 79% from 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the IceContact 3 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 9.2% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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Every Pirelli vs Continental test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tires →
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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.
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.