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Pirelli Cinturato C3 - Test Results

Test Statistics

10

Tests Completed

2nd

Average Position

1st

Best Result

7th

Worst Result

Performance Analysis

Pirelli Cinturato C3 - Official Image

Across 10 summer-tire tests, the Pirelli Cinturato C3 shows consistently premium, near-top overall capability (average overall position 2.4) with two test wins. Its performance pattern is clearly skewed toward high safety margins and strong dynamic ability: repeated front-running results in dry braking and wet handling/grip keep it in the top tier even in large-field tests (e.g., 4th/20 Auto Bild, 7th/50 braking mega test).

The main trade-offs are refinement and efficiency. Multiple tests place it near the bottom for external/rough noise and only mid-to-lower tier for rolling resistance/fuel consumption. Wet lateral/aquaplaning is generally good but not uniformly class-leading-there are notable outliers in wet circle and curved aquaplaning in the 225/45 R17 tests, suggesting its wet lateral performance can be more size/setup sensitive than its braking and handling balance.

Performance Strengths
  • Dry Braking & Dry Safety Strong
    • 1st/9 dry braking (35.7 m) in 2026 Motor Summer Tire Test
    • 1st/12 dry braking (35.75 m) in 2026 'BEST Summer Tires for 2026' test
    • 2nd/10 dry braking (+0.6%) in 2026 Auto Zeitung 18 inch test
    • 1st/7 dry braking (34.13 m) in 2025 Best Touring Tires test
  • Wet Handling & Lateral Grip (non-aquaplaning) Strong
    • 1st/10 wet handling and 1st/10 wet circle in 2026 Vi Bilagare test
    • 2nd/20 wet handling (+0.2%) and 1st/20 subjective wet handling in 2026 Auto Bild test
    • 2nd/13 wet handling (+0.6%) in 2026 'BEST Summer Tires for 2026' test
    • 1st/7 wet handling in 2025 Al Volante test
  • Aquaplaning Resistance (primarily straight-line) Moderate
    • 1st/16 straight aquaplaning (79.7 km/h) in 2026 ADAC test
    • Top-tier straight aquaplaning results across several tests: 3rd/12 (+2.5%) in 2026 'BEST Summer Tires for 2026' and 2nd/7 (+1.0%) in 2025 Die ReifenTester
    • 1st/7 curved aquaplaning (2.6 m/sec²) in 2025 Best Touring Tires test
  • Overall Competitiveness / Awards Strong
    • Overall 1st/9 with identical top score (shared top spot) in 2026 Motor test
    • Test winner 1/13 in 2026 'BEST Summer Tires for 2026' test
    • Test winner 1/7 in 2025 Best Touring Tires test
    • Strong large-field showing: 4th/20 in 2026 Auto Bild summer tire test
Performance Weaknesses
  • Noise (external/rough noise and subjective noise) Strong
    • 20th/20 noise (75.2 dB, +6.5%) in 2026 Auto Bild test
    • 13th/13 noise (+5%) in 2026 'BEST Summer Tires for 2026' test
    • 10th/10 rough noise (74.7 dB) and 8th/10 subjective noise in 2026 Vi Bilagare test
    • 10th/10 noise (+5.9%) in 2026 Auto Zeitung test
  • Efficiency (Rolling Resistance / Fuel Consumption) Strong
    • 7th/9 rolling resistance (+29.4%) in 2026 Motor test
    • 8th/13 rolling resistance (+28%) in 2026 'BEST Summer Tires for 2026' test
    • 12th/16 fuel consumption (+5.6%) in 2026 ADAC test
    • 10th/10 fuel consumption (+8.7%) in 2026 Vi Bilagare test
  • Wet Circle & Curved Aquaplaning Consistency (size/setup sensitivity) Moderate
    • 8th/9 wet circle (+12%) and 8th/9 curved aquaplaning (+11.2%) in 2026 Motor test (225/45 R17)
    • 10th/12 curved aquaplaning (+12.8%) in 2026 'BEST Summer Tires for 2026' test (225/45 R17)
    • 9th/20 curved aquaplaning (+12.8%) in 2026 Auto Bild test (245/45 R19)
  • Value/Price Positioning Minor
    • 16th/20 value (Price/1000, +42.5%) in 2026 Auto Bild test
    • 7th/10 value (Price/1000, +37.8%) in 2026 Auto Zeitung test
Performance Over Time

Test History

1
of 9
2026 Motor Summer Tire Test

2026

The Pirelli Cinturato C3 matches Continental's overall score and shares the top position. It performs well on both dry and wet tarmac, providing precise steering response and short braking distance...
Strong:
Dry Braking, Dry Handling, Wet Braking, Wet Circle, Wet Handling
Weak:
Noise, Curved Aquaplaning
View Test
2
of 10
2026 Vi Bilagare Summer Tire Test

2026
Winner: Continental PremiumContact 7

Pirelli Cinturato C3 has the most curve-happy character in the test. It is clearly the fastest around the wet handling circuit, combining strong lateral grip with sharp turn-in. Steering response i...
Strong:
Subj. Dry Handling, Wet Braking, Wet Circle, Wet Handling
Weak:
Rough Noise, Fuel Consumption
View Test
4
of 20
2026 Autobild Summer Tire Test

2026
Winner: Hankook Ventus Evo

The Pirelli Cinturato C3 shares fourth place with an emphasis on wet performance - wet handling and lateral grip scores are among the best in the test. Dry braking is also competitive. Rolling comf...
Strong:
Subj. Wet Handling, Wet Handling
Weak:
Noise
View Test
1
of 13
The BEST Summer Tires for 2026 Tested and Rated Winner

2026

The Pirelli Cinturato C3 finished joint wins the test with the Continental Premium Contact 7. The C3 was best in dry braking and stayed right at the front across the wet tests, including near-best ...
Strong:
Dry Braking, Dry Handling, Subj. Dry Handling, Subj. Wet Handling, Wet Braking, Wet Circle, Wet Handling
Weak:
Noise
View Test
2
of 16
2026 ADAC Summer Tire Test

2026
Winner: Continental PremiumContact 7

Pirelli’s Cinturato (C3) finishes just behind Continental. According to the test report, it secures a good rating for both safety and environmental balance, earning a clear recommendation. On dry...
Strong:
Straight Aqua
View Test
3
of 10
2026 Auto Zeitung 18 Inch Summer Tire Test

2026
Winner: Continental PremiumContact 7

The Pirelli Cinturato C3 finishes just one point behind the Goodyear in the overall ranking, and its strength is a very even spread of results with no real weak areas. On wet roads it is the second...
Strong:
Subj. Comfort, Dry Braking, Dry Handling, Subj. Wet Handling, Wet Circle, Wet Handling
Weak:
Noise
View Test
7
of 50
2026 Summer Braking Super Tire Test - How do 52 Tires Perform in Wet and Dry Braking?

2026
Winner: Linglong Sport Master

View Test
2
of 7
2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tire Test

2025
Winner: Falken ZIEX ZE320

Pirelli’s fresh C3 proved a very strong second overall. The tire offered precise steering, balanced side‑grip build‑up and predictable behaviour under load changes. Testers called it a protot...
Strong:
Subj. Comfort, Subj. Noise, Dry Braking, Subj. Dry Handling, Straight Aqua, Subj. Wet Handling
View Test
1
of 7
2025 Al Volante Summer Tire Test

2025

The Pirelli Cinturato (C3) emerged as the overall winner in our comprehensive test. This well-balanced tire excels in both wet and dry conditions with outstanding stability and predictable handling...
Strong:
Dry Braking, Curved Aquaplaning, Straight Aqua, Wet Braking, Wet Handling
View Test
1
of 7
The Best Touring Tires for 2025 Tested Winner

2025

The new Cinturato C3 is an excellent upgrade to the P7 C2. This tire had no real weaknesses, just a string of excellent performances across both wet and dry tests. While it might not have the absol...
Strong:
Dry Braking, Dry Handling, Subj. Dry Handling, Curved Aquaplaning, Wet Braking
View Test