Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 vs Vredestein Wintrac Pro
In the 9 independent tests that ran both tires, the Vredestein Wintrac Pro finished ahead 9 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 not once. The Winter Sottozero 3 was stronger in comfort and value, the Wintrac Pro in dry, wet and snow.
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 9 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter Sottozero 3
Wintrac Pro
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 95%: 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
Winter Sottozero 3
Wintrac Pro
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
Winter Sottozero 3
Wintrac Pro
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59 reviews and the Wintrac Pro 87% from 30. 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 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Gap | Wintrac Pro | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Wintrac Pro ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 143 | 0.1% | 143 | 2-1 |
| Dry Handling mph | 60.6 | 0.6% | 60.9 | 0-3 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 25% | scored | 0-1 |
| Wet Wintrac Pro ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 133 | 4.4% | 126 | 0-6 |
| Wet Handling mph | 44 | 3.9% | 45.7 | 0-4 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 42.9% | scored | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 48.7 | 1.1% | 49.1 | 1-3 |
| Snow Wintrac Pro ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 87 | 3.8% | 84 | 0-6 |
| Snow Traction lbf | 635 | 1.6% | 645 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling mph | 38.6 | 1.9% | 39.4 | 1-3 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Comfort Winter Sottozero 3 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 12.5% | scored | 1-0 |
| Noise dB | 71.55 | 0.1 dB | 71.48 | 2-2 |
| Value Winter Sottozero 3 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 23,566 | 7.9% | 25,349 | 0-2 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 7.91 | 10.6% | 8.85 | 4-0 |
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 9 tests, 2018 to 2021
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 | Winter Sottozero 3 | Field | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 ADAC 17 Inch Winter Tire Test | P12 of 18 | P5 of 18 | |
| 2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 235/55 R17 | P9 of 13 | P5 of 13 | |
| 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test | P19 of 20 | P12 of 20 | |
| 2020 Winter Tire Market Overview - 52 Tire Braking Test | P20 of 51 | P6 of 51 | |
| 2019 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P8 of 12 | P5 of 12 | |
| 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tire Test | P18 of 20 | P6 of 20 | |
| 2019 Winter Tire Test Market Overview | P16 of 53 | P6 of 53 | |
| 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tire Test | P9 of 11 | P3 of 11 | |
| 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tire Test | P7 of 10 | P1 of 10 |
Winter Sottozero 3 vs Wintrac Pro: your questions
Is the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 or the Vredestein Wintrac Pro the better tire?
In the 9 independent tests that ran both tires, the Vredestein Wintrac Pro finished ahead 9 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter Sottozero 3 scores 7.9 and the Wintrac Pro 9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter Sottozero 3 or the Wintrac Pro?
The Wintrac Pro led 14 of the 15 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.4% shorter in the wet across 6 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Wintrac Pro led 5 of the 9 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 0.6% higher speed on the dry handling course across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Wintrac Pro led 10 of the 12 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.8% shorter on snow across 6 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winter Sottozero 3 had 10.6% lower rolling resistance (4 tests); the Wintrac Pro lasted 7.9% longer in the wear tests (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Winter Sottozero 3 and 8.7/10 for the Wintrac Pro.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.6/10 for the Winter Sottozero 3 and 8.7/10 for the Wintrac Pro.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59 reviews and the Wintrac Pro 87% from 30. 81% of Winter Sottozero 3 owners would buy it again, against 93% for the Wintrac Pro.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the Winter Sottozero 3 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 4.3% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter Sottozero 3 is made in 98 sizes (16 to 21 inch) and the Wintrac Pro in 119 (17 to 22 inch). 67 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter Sottozero 3 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Wintrac Pro B and D.
Which is the newer tire?
The Wintrac Pro is the newer design: it reached the market in 2018, the Winter Sottozero 3 in 2013. The Wintrac Pro replaced the Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S.
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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.
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.