Test Charts / TUV

2025 TUV Test of Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 vs Rivals

Compare each discipline in the tested size. See the measured result, position and gap to the best tire, then read the verdict for the trade-offs behind the finishing order.

Tested size: 225/45 R17
Tires tested: 5
Disciplines: 8
Test vehicle: VW Golf

Read the measurements, not just the rank

Lower is better for braking distances and lap times; higher is better for subjective scores and aquaplaning speed. Bars start at zero. Read the gap alongside the position: adjacent tires can be separated by very different margins.

Positions and gaps always refer to the full test field within each group. Selecting tires does not recalculate rankings or change the best-in-test benchmark.

Dry

Dry Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	129 ft	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	130 ft	+1 ft
3Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	131 ft	+2 ft
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	133 ft	+4 ft
5Michelin Alpin 7	135 ft	+6 ft

The difference between best and worst was 4.6% (6 ft ≈ 0.4 Car Lengths).

Wet

Wet Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	112 ft	Best
2Bridgestone Blizzak 6	112 ft	0 ft
3Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	115 ft	+3 ft
4Continental WinterContact TS 870	115 ft	+3 ft
5Michelin Alpin 7	121 ft	+9 ft

The difference between best and worst was 8.5% (9 ft ≈ 0.6 Car Lengths).

Wet Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	85 s	Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	85.9 s	+0.90 s
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	87.7 s	+2.70 s
4Bridgestone Blizzak 6	90 s	+5.00 s
5Michelin Alpin 7	92.3 s	+7.30 s

The difference between best and worst was 8.6% (7.3 s).

Straight Aqua
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	53.4 mph	Best
2Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	51.2 mph	-2.2 mph
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	49.2 mph	-4.2 mph
4Michelin Alpin 7	48.5 mph	-4.9 mph
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6	46.8 mph	-6.6 mph

The difference between best and worst was 12.4% (6.6 mph).

Snow

Snow Braking
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	57 ft	Best
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	59 ft	+2 ft
2Michelin Alpin 7	59 ft	+2 ft
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	60 ft	+3 ft
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6	62 ft	+5 ft

The difference between best and worst was 7.4% (5 ft).

Snow Traction
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	3 s	Best
2Continental WinterContact TS 870	3.11 s	+0.11 s
3Michelin Alpin 7	3.13 s	+0.13 s
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	3.15 s	+0.15 s
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6	3.23 s	+0.23 s

The difference between best and worst was 7.7% (0.23 s).

Snow Handling
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best
1Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	80 s	Best
2Michelin Alpin 7	81.1 s	+1.10 s
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	81.7 s	+1.70 s
4Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	83.2 s	+3.20 s
5Bridgestone Blizzak 6	85.4 s	+5.40 s

The difference between best and worst was 6.8% (5.4 s).

Value

Rolling Resistance
Position / Tire	Result	Gap to best	Extra fuel / year
1Bridgestone Blizzak 6	6.6 kg/t	Best	$0
2Michelin Alpin 7	6.9 kg/t	+0.30 kg/t	$13
3Continental WinterContact TS 870	7.2 kg/t	+0.60 kg/t	$27
4Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3	7.5 kg/t	+0.90 kg/t	$40
5Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3	8.1 kg/t	+1.50 kg/t	$67

The difference between best and worst was 22.7% (1.5 kg / t). Over 12,000 miles a year at $3.60/gal, the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 uses about 19 gal ($67) more fuel than the Bridgestone Blizzak 6.

Adjust the assumptions

Calculated estimates, not additional measurements. Use the controls to explore the assumptions. These calculators use the full test field, independently of your tire selection above.

Gas/Diesel Electric

Annual Mileage

12,000 mi

km (L)

miles (US gal)

Fuel Price

$3.60/gal

GBP (£)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

Set my vehicle consumption

Estimates based on typical driving conditions. Rolling resistance accounts for approximately 20% of IC vehicle fuel consumption and 25% of EV energy consumption. Actual savings vary based on driving style, vehicle weight, road conditions, and tire age. For comparative purposes only. Lifetime savings based on a 40,000km / 25,000 mile tread life.

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