Tested 30 times by independent publications, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 has taken 13 test wins with an average finish of 2nd. Its strongest discipline is Dry Braking, beating 90% of the field across 30 tests; its weakest is Snow Braking, at 36% across 26 tests.
2026 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test P2 of 15
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 shares second place and is rated exemplary. It matches the winner's standard in the wet, in the dry and on cost, and only gives ground on snow, making it a well-balanced choice for drivers in milder climates.
Where the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tires. Field beaten is the share of the other tires it outranked in that measurement.
| Discipline | Tests | Avg finish | Field beaten | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | ||||
| Dry Braking Strong | 30 | P2.2 of 13.1 | 90% | 10 |
| Dry Handling | 22 | P4.2 of 10.7 | 65% | 2 |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 9 | P3.4 of 8.9 | 71% | 3 |
| Subj. Road Score | 1 | P5 of 9 | 50% | - |
| Subj. Fun | 1 | P2 of 4 | 67% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 30 | P3.7 of 13.1 | 72% | 1 |
| Wet Braking - Low Grip | 1 | P3 of 5 | 50% | - |
| Wet Braking - Cool | 1 | P1 of 9 | 100% | 1 |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | 2 | P7 of 16 | 60% | - |
| Wet Handling | 24 | P4.2 of 10.6 | 69% | 3 |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 9 | P2.9 of 8.9 | 78% | 1 |
| Wet Circle | 17 | P4.5 of 11.5 | 66% | - |
| Straight Aqua | 27 | P2.6 of 11 | 86% | 13 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 23 | P3.2 of 11.3 | 82% | 9 |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking Weak | 26 | P7.4 of 10.8 | 36% | 1 |
| Snow Traction | 26 | P3.6 of 10.8 | 71% | 3 |
| Snow Handling | 23 | P4.3 of 10.1 | 61% | 1 |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 7 | P3.4 of 8.7 | 71% | 1 |
| Snow Circle | 4 | P4 of 10 | 58% | - |
| Snow Slalom | 11 | P4.4 of 11.6 | 70% | 1 |
| Ice | ||||
| Ice Braking | 4 | P6 of 12 | 49% | - |
| Ice Traction | 2 | P2 of 8 | 88% | 1 |
| Comfort | ||||
| Subj. Comfort | 12 | P3.3 of 9.5 | 71% | 4 |
| Subj. Noise | 3 | P4 of 9 | 67% | - |
| Noise | 22 | P6.1 of 11.8 | 52% | - |
| Value | ||||
| Wear | 8 | P7.8 of 12.8 | 40% | - |
| Value | 7 | P9.9 of 12.1 | 21% | - |
| Rolling Resistance | 25 | P5.8 of 10.5 | 47% | 1 |
| Fuel Consumption | 3 | P7.3 of 15.7 | 56% | - |
| Abrasion | 6 | P7.2 of 14.5 | 54% | - |
Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.
| Tire | Tests | Wins | Avg finish | Field beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2 Predecessor | 13 | 0 | 6th | 56% |
| Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 This tire | 30 | 13 | 2nd | 82% |
Drawn from 31 tests. Updated October 27, 2026.
Across 31 independent tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 repeatedly behaves like a “summer-leaning” all-season tire with standout safety margins in the dry and in standing water, translating into consistently elite overall results (average overall position 2.7, including 2 test wins and 3 “Highly recommended” awards). It very frequently posts front-rank dry stopping power (e.g. 1st of 10 in dry braking and 1st in dry handling in the 2026 Auto Zeitung test; 1st of 9 in dry braking in 2026 Die Reifentester; 1st of 7 in both dry braking and dry handling in Tire Reviews 2024), and it is one of the category's most consistent aquaplaning performers (multiple straight and/or curved aquaplaning wins, including 1st/1st in both aquaplaning tests in Auto Bild 2025, and 1st/1st in both aquaplaning tests in Tire Reviews 2025/26). Testers also repeatedly praise its handling character and steering, describing “sporty balance”, “very good feedback” and “precise steering”, and noting grip that “ran out gradually rather than all at once”.
The main, recurring exceptions are winter braking and running costs. Snow braking is the most common dynamic weak point, ranging from mid-pack to bottom-of-class results (e.g. 15th of 16 in 2025 ADAC snow braking; 14th of 17 in 2025 Auto Bild; last/near-last in several write-ups), even when snow traction/handling can be genuinely strong in some sizes and tests (e.g. 1st for snow traction, snow handling and snow slalom in the 2026 Auto Bild EV test). Efficiency is also a frequent drawback: rolling resistance is often reported as high (including last of 10 in 2026 Auto Express, and “highest rolling resistance” in the 2026 TÜV benchmark), and wear/value can suffer in some long-run scoring systems (e.g. 12th of 15 for wear and 15th of 15 for value in 2024 Auto Bild 225/50 R17), even though other tests show more acceptable mileage predictions.
best curved aquaplaning and the highest comfort score, plus a straight-aquaplaning result just 0.03 km/h from first- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
best tire for aquaplaning both straight and in bends- 2026 Autobild Mini All Season Test (2026)
resisting straight-line aquaplaning by a clear margin- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
best tire here in deep water, topping the straight aquaplaning test and finishing second in the curved test- 2026 AMS All Season Tire Test - 195/55 R16 (2026)
Best dry braking- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 has the shortest dry braking- 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 (2026)
with the shortest dry braking- 2026 Autobild Mini All Season Test (2026)
set the shortest dry stopping distance of the nine- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
stopped shorter than every winter tire in both wet and dry braking- 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2026)
generating the highest lateral grip of any tire in the curved aquaplaning test- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
the second-fastest wet handling lap- 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 (2026)
second place on the wet circle- 2026 Autobild Mini All Season Test (2026)
with precise steering- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
sporty balance, very good feedback and plenty of grip- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
the best steering feel in the group- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
good steering weight, linearity and useful character- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
largely precise and secure at the limit in the dry- 2026 ADAC All Season Tire Test - 185/65 R15 (2026)
On both the dry and the wet handling tracks it was one of only two tires the testers rated in the top bracket- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
set the fastest dry handling lap- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
one of my favorite tires on the road, with good steering weight, linearity and useful character- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
largely precise and secure at the limit in the dry- 2026 ADAC All Season Tire Test - 185/65 R15 (2026)
stopped shorter than every winter tire in both wet and dry braking- 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2026)
It stopped shortest in both the wet and the dry by a clear margin- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
won the key wet braking test- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
fourth-shortest wet braking of the all-season tires- 2026 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test (2026)
in the top half for wet braking- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV All Season Tire Test (2026)
the snow and aquaplaning benchmark of the test, leading snow traction, snow grip- 2026 AutoBild All Season Tire Test for EVs (215/55 R18) (2026)
held its own in the snow tests, finishing in the leading group for both handling and traction- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
its snow results would have placed it comfortably in the middle of the winter field- 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2026)
On snow it had some of the strongest traction in the test- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
third in snow traction- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
stays safe on wet roads- 2026 ADAC All Season Tire Test - 185/65 R15 (2026)
the best candidate on wet surfaces- 2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tire Test (2025)
convincing grip in wet conditions, consistently placing near the top in all wet-weather tests- 2025 Autobild Crossover SUV All Season Test (2025)
It also scores best on wet roads, delivering good results in both braking and handling with strong grip and control- 2025 ADAC All Season Tire Test (2025)
exceptional balance across all weather conditions- 2025 AutoBild All Season Tire Test (2025)
finished last in snow braking- The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 (2026)
Snow braking was its weak spot, with only the Delinte stopping further- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV All Season Tire Test (2026)
and is fourth in every snow test- 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 (2026)
It is fourth for snow braking- 2026 Autobild Mini All Season Test (2026)
Snow braking is similarly mid-pack- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
It has the highest rolling resistance- 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 (2026)
its rolling resistance is second highest in the test- 2026 AMS All Season Tire Test - 195/55 R16 (2026)
the highest rolling resistance in the test- 2026 Auto Express All Season Tire Test (2026)
rolling resistance is only average for this group- 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 (2026)
rolling resistance was towards the bottom of the group- 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2026)
its projected tread life was among the lower in the group- 2026 AutoBild All Season Tire Test for EVs (215/55 R18) (2026)
its predicted tread life trailed the longest-lasting tires here- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
above-average wear rate- 2025 AutoBild All Season Tire Test (2025)
highest wear resulting in lowest overall value- The Best All Season Tires for 2024 (2024)
and is fourth in every snow test- 2026 TUV Test Report Goodyear Vector All Season 4 (2026)
slightly weaker snow handling than the front-runners- 2026 ADAC All Season Tire Test - 185/65 R15 (2026)
lower half in the slalom- 2026 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test (2026)
one of the slower snow handling laps- 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test (2026)
Every tester write-up on the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 (27 tests) and 69 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 shares second place and is rated exemplary. It matches the winner's standard in the wet, in the dry and on cost, and only gives ground on snow, making it a well-balanced choice for drivers in milder climates.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 finishes fifth and is rated good, a balanced tire whose snow braking is its main shortcoming.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 finishes third and is the tire to choose if the reason you are buying an all-season is snow. Nothing else here combines that level of snow traction and handling with the best aquaplaning resistance in the test. The trade is efficiency and a slightly ordinary showing on warm wet roads, so it makes most sense for hilly or genuinely wintry areas rather than for a city car that rarely leaves flat tarmac.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 is the clear overall test winner and also carried the magazine's price/performance recommendation. It is the best tire here for warm-weather wet and dry grip and does enough on snow to stay safe, which makes it the best fit for the milder winters and hotter summers this test was built around.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 won the 2026 Auto Express all-season test, keeping the title it took in their previous one. It won both of the main wet tests, braking and the handling lap, and wet performance makes up half of Auto Express's overall score. It also stayed close to the leaders on snow and in the dry, and it was the tire the testers most enjoyed driving. Its weak point is rolling resistance, the highest in the test.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 takes third with several genuine wins: best dry braking, best curved aquaplaning and the highest comfort score, plus a straight-aquaplaning result just 0.03 km/h from first. It was also one of my favorite tires on the road, with good steering weight, linearity and useful character. The compromise is that its wet braking and handling did not reach the strongest group, and it finished last in snow braking despite remaining competitive in snow traction and handling. It suits drivers who want a comfortable, engaging all-season tire with excellent standing-water resistance and strong dry performance.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 won this test on breadth. It leads or nearly leads dry braking, dry handling, wet handling and both aquaplaning tests, and it never drops to the back of the field anywhere, snow included. For a driver who wants an all season tire that does not blunt a quick car in warm weather, this is the one.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3 shares second place and is a well-rounded all-season tire that only narrowly misses the top, chiefly because it cannot match the winner on winter grip. For drivers who spend more time on wet and dry roads than in deep snow it is an easy tire to recommend.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 took third as the standout choice for snow and wet-weather safety. Buyers prioritising cold-weather grip will be very well served; those after the keenest handling or the longest life less so.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 sets the benchmark for aquaplaning resistance, with the highest straight-line floating speed and the highest lateral acceleration in the curved aquaplaning test. It also posts the shortest dry braking distance of the group. On wet roads it is competitive in handling and circle pace but only fourth in wet braking. Snow performance is mid-pack, with the second-fastest slalom time but fourth place in snow braking and snow handling. Rolling resistance is mid-table. The strongest reason to pick this tire is its wet-weather safety margin in standing water.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3 is described as the "compromise ace" of the test, delivering strong results across all test disciplines without any notable slip-ups. This tire demonstrates convincing grip in wet conditions, consistently placing near the top in all wet-weather tests. The testers could not identify any significant weaknesses, making it an excellent choice for drivers seeking a well-rounded all-season solution that excels everywhere rather than specializing in one area.
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 excels in wet with class-leading Wet Handling and Straight Aqua, backed by strong Dry Braking and Wet Braking. Its snow results are notably weaker, ranking 3rd–4th across Snow Braking, Snow Traction, and Snow Handling, and it posts the poorest Rolling Resistance (5th, 81.8%). The profile suits wet and dry priorities over winter efficiency.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3 strikes the golden middle ground and masters all test disciplines confidently. It demonstrates the best performance in the wet chapter overall, being the fastest in wet handling and second-fastest on dry surfaces. The tire delivers excellent rolling comfort and maintains composed behavior across all conditions. Pirelli has achieved what the testers call an exemplary compromise, successfully balancing the conflicting development goals that plague all-season tires. The tire offers sporty drivers crisp handling and maximum driving enjoyment while maintaining strong winter capabilities, making it the clear test winner despite being in the mid-price range.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 won the 2025 Auto Express all-season test, repeating its win from the previous year. It was never lower than joint fourth in any test, led the dry braking, and matched strong wet results with the best snow traction and snow handling in the field. The testers also rated it the most rewarding tire to drive.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF 3 emerges as the overall test winner, demonstrating exceptional balance across all weather conditions. This tire excels as a sovereign all-rounder with well-balanced performance in every weather situation, showcasing particularly sporty handling characteristics. Its strength lies in being a true all-weather specialist that delivers consistent, predictable performance whether on dry, wet, or snowy surfaces. The only notable weakness is its above-average wear rate, which may impact long-term ownership costs despite its excellent performance capabilities.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 wins another test. There's not much this tire can't do. It had the best grip in the dry with the shortest dry braking and quickest dry handling lap, it was essentially tied best in wet braking and very close in wet handling, it had the best aquaplaning resistance in both straight and curved, it had the best snow handling, one of the lowest noise levels and good comfort. I guess to answer my own question, it can't be best in rolling resistance as it was 5th overall, 10% off the conti, and it was 8% off the conti in snow traction but everything else was excellent.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 (Highly Recommended) is the genuine all-rounder of this group, taking class wins in dry braking, wet handling, straight and curved aquaplaning and snow braking — more outright wins than any other tire in the test. The weaknesses are middling rather than glaring: third in dry handling, third in most of the remaining snow tests, third for comfort and third for rolling resistance. If you want a single tire that is strong everywhere without a real weak point and especially confident in standing water, the SF3 is the most logical choice in the test.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 narrowly misses a "good" result for driving safety but achieves a good rating for its environmental performance, securing a just-good overall score. It is the top-performing tire in the test on dry roads, offering precise steering, good handling at the limit, and nearly a "very good" rating for its short braking distance. It also scores best on wet roads, delivering good results in both braking and handling with strong grip and control, though its aquaplaning resistance is only rated as satisfactory. However, its performance dips on winter roads; braking and handling on snow are merely satisfactory as it struggles to combine longitudinal and cornering forces effectively. It does, however, earn good ratings for traction on snow and braking on ice. Environmentally, the tire performs well, with good projected mileage, low abrasion, low weight, and minimal impact on fuel consumption.
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 emerges as the overall test winner with an "exemplary" rating. This tire demonstrates exceptional balance across all driving conditions, performing as the best candidate on wet surfaces while matching the top competitors on dry pavement. The Pirelli offers excellent safety reserves for both handling and braking across all road conditions, making it a standout performer. However, it comes with a high price point and shows slightly weaker performance on snow compared to the equally exemplary Michelin.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 is at its best on cool roads. The Pirelli is calm and steers fairly well on wet roads, even if the lateral grip isn't the best. On dry roads, the Pirelli is easy to drive, although the feeling is poor. The test warns to watch out for the Pirelli's long braking distances on dry roads. The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3's tire noise is moderate, but when it gets hot, its performance gets worse across the board. It scored 7.8 points.
The new Pirelli took first place, showing major improvements over its previous model with wins across snow, wet, and dry conditions. Snow performance included leading traction scores despite placing sixth in braking, and third in handling with good adjustability but lighter steering feel. Wet testing showed shared first in braking, second and third in aquaplaning tests, and third in circuit times with strong turn-in and traction. The tire placed fifth in wet circle tests though margins were tight. Dry performance impressed with shortest braking distance - half a meter better than second place - and equal third in handling, showing summer-tire-like precision. Rolling resistance scores were on the higher side.
Exemplary.
It's a strong win for the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3. Pirelli have been rapidly evolving their aftermarket line of tires recently, and the SF series has been through multiple iterations to get to this point, and it's been worth it. The tire was joint best in the dry, the best in the wet, second best overall in the snow, good on ice, comfortable and had the second best rolling resistance. It's a hugely impressive tire.
The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 would have been the test winner if I hadn't tested wear, and honestly, was my favorite tire to drive on. It was the best in the dry, one of the best in the wet, very good around snow handling and its rolling resistance was plenty good enough too. The fact it has high wear might not be an issue for some, plus it's not much higher cost per 1000km than the Michelin, but if wear is important to you, then this is not the tire to buy. Certainly the most summer feeling of all season tire which will be appealing to some
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