Tested 7 times by independent publications, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 has taken 3 test wins with an average finish of 2nd. Its strongest discipline is Straight Aqua, beating 86% of the field across 6 tests; its weakest is Rolling Resistance, at 52% across 6 tests.
2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test P4 of 12
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 shared fourth place and was rated good. It is the pick for wet braking and solid on dry roads, with snow handling its weakest point.
Where the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 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 | 7 | P3.3 of 11.7 | 75% | - |
| Dry Handling | 3 | P8 of 12.3 | 38% | - |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 1 | P3 of 9 | 75% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 7 | P2.3 of 11.7 | 83% | 3 |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | 1 | P2 of 16 | 93% | - |
| Wet Handling | 5 | P2.4 of 10.2 | 88% | 2 |
| Wet Circle | 2 | P2.5 of 12 | 87% | - |
| Straight Aqua Strong | 6 | P2.5 of 11.2 | 86% | 3 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 4 | P3.8 of 13.3 | 76% | 1 |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking | 7 | P4.9 of 11.6 | 66% | 1 |
| Snow Traction | 6 | P4.7 of 11 | 68% | 1 |
| Snow Handling | 5 | P4.4 of 10 | 66% | 1 |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 1 | P7 of 9 | 25% | - |
| Snow Slalom | 2 | P5.5 of 11.5 | 58% | - |
| Ice | ||||
| Ice Braking | 1 | P9 of 16 | 47% | - |
| Comfort | ||||
| Subj. Comfort | 3 | P5.3 of 10.3 | 56% | - |
| Subj. Noise | 1 | P1 of 9 | 100% | 1 |
| Noise | 5 | P4.8 of 12.4 | 64% | - |
| Value | ||||
| Wear | 2 | P7.5 of 15.5 | 56% | - |
| Value | 2 | P13.5 of 15 | 11% | - |
| Rolling Resistance Weak | 6 | P5.2 of 11 | 52% | - |
| Fuel Consumption | 1 | P4 of 16 | 80% | - |
| Abrasion | 1 | P11 of 16 | 33% | - |
Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bridgestone Blizzak 6
7 shared: 6 ahead, 1 behind
Compare with Blizzak 6 |
7 | 6 | 1 | - | 86% |
 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
7 shared: 5 ahead, 2 behind
Compare with UltraGrip Performance 3 |
7 | 5 | 2 | - | 71% |
 Michelin Alpin 7
5 shared: 5 ahead, 0 behind
Compare with Alpin 7 |
5 | 5 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind
Compare with EUROWINTER HS02 Pro |
4 | 4 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Hankook Winter I cept RS3
4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind
Compare with Winter I cept RS3 |
4 | 4 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Continental WinterContact TS 870
4 shared: 3 ahead, 1 behind
Compare with WinterContact TS 870 |
4 | 3 | 1 | - | 75% |
 Linglong Sport Master Winter
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Dunlop Winter
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.
| Tire | Tests | Wins | Avg finish | Field beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 Predecessor | 21 | 1 | 7th | 53% |
| Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 This tire | 7 | 3 | 2nd | 87% |
Drawn from 7 tests. Updated October 27, 2026.
Across seven independent winter tire tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 shows a very clear pattern: it is repeatedly among the very best on wet roads, often converting that into overall podiums and outright wins. It won the 2026 ADAC 225/50 R17 test (1/16) and the 2026 AvD test (1/15), shared 2nd in the 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV test (2/10) and took 2nd in the 2026 Auto Express test (2/11). Testers consistently highlight outstanding wet braking and wet control (e.g. ADAC: joint-shortest wet braking on asphalt and best aquaplaning; Auto Bild Sportscars: shortest wet braking and the only winter tire to out-brake the summer reference; Auto Bild Allrad: “best winter tire in the wet”). Aquaplaning performance is also frequently singled out as a key strength (multiple #1-#2 results and repeated praise in write-ups), while dry braking is usually strong enough to keep it near the front overall.
The main exceptions are on drier, more handling-led disciplines and some winter-surface metrics. Dry handling is regularly described as less convincing (Auto Express: 10th of 13, +7.3% from best; Auto Bild Allrad: 8th of 11, +3.1%), even when its dry braking is competitive (ADAC: 3rd/16, +1.4%; Tire Reviews 2026/27: 2nd/9, +0.4%). In snow and ice it is generally safe and capable but not consistently class-leading in these Central European winter fields (e.g. ADAC snow braking 6th/16 and ice braking 9th/16; Auto Bild Sportscars snow handling 9th/12). Efficiency and ownership metrics are mixed: rolling resistance ranges from strong (Auto Bild Sportscars 3rd/13) to weaker (Tire Reviews 2026/27: 8th/9), and ADAC/AvD both flag compromises in wear/cost despite strong overall safety.
stopped shortest of all in the wet, the only winter tire to out-brake the summer reference- 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test (2026)
It braked shortest of the ten,- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Winter Tire Test (2026)
shared the shortest wet braking on asphalt- 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 (2026)
topping straight-line aquaplaning and running second in the curved test- 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2026)
resisted straight aquaplaning better than any other tire- 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 (2026)
and was second only to the Hankook among them in straight-line aquaplaning- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Winter Tire Test (2026)
precise, communicative steering on dry roads and on the wet handling course- 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 (2026)
tying for the fastest wet handling lap- 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2026)
led the winter tires on the wet circle- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Winter Tire Test (2026)
It was second in dry braking- 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2026)
the third-best winter tire in dry braking- 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test (2026)
stopped third-shortest in the dry- 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 (2026)
was the best winter tire in the wet- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Winter Tire Test (2026)
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 was the strongest tire in the wet- 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 (2026)
precise, communicative steering on dry roads- 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 (2026)
testers praised its positive turn-in, traction and stability at the limit- 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2026)
had low rolling resistance- 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test (2026)
low fuel consumption- 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 (2026)
it was well down the order on the dry handling lap- 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2026)
On dry roads the Pirelli was less convincing, in the lower half of the field for dry handling,- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Winter Tire Test (2026)
ninth of twelve on the snow handling course- 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test (2026)
and its snow braking was also in the lower half- 2026 Auto Bild Allrad SUV Winter Tire Test (2026)
in the lower half for ice braking- 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 (2026)
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 shared fourth place and was rated good. It is the pick for wet braking and solid on dry roads, with snow handling its weakest point.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 shares second place overall and earned Auto Bild's exemplary verdict. It is the choice for drivers who mostly see cold, wet roads, with snow ability that is good if not class-leading.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 finishes third, and on grip alone it was the most consistent tire in the test. It was right at the front in dry braking, wet handling and aquaplaning, just behind the leaders in the snow, and it gave me the sharpest turn-in in the wet with a rear that never got unsettled. Fuel use matters more and more, though, and its higher rolling resistance costs it ground on the Continental. It is third with or without rolling resistance in the weighting, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a very capable, confident winter tire.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 is AvD's test winner, rated very good, finishing level with the Michelin on stars and ahead on AvD's unrounded score. It is the strongest tire here on wet and dry roads and does everything needed on snow, which makes it the best all-round choice in the test for drivers who see more rain than snow.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 is the overall test winner. It had the best driving safety of any tire in the test, built mainly on outstanding wet performance, and backed that up with safe, balanced behavior on dry roads and in winter conditions. Tread life and abrasion are its only real compromises.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 finished second and came very close to the winner. It is a genuinely strong wet tire with dry pace to match, and only its mid-field snow braking keeps it off the top step.
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