Tested 6 times by independent publications, the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 has taken 3 test wins with an average finish of 2nd. Its strongest discipline is Subj. Comfort, beating 87% of the field across 5 tests; its weakest is Straight Aqua, at 34% across 5 tests.
2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test P3 of 20
The Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 shares third place and an 'exemplary' verdict. It is the strongest tire here for wet and dry grip, with snow performance a step behind the leaders.
Where the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 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 | 3 | P5 of 13.7 | 60% | - |
| Dry Handling | 3 | P2.7 of 13.7 | 82% | - |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 2 | P2.5 of 8 | 79% | - |
| Subj. Road Score | 1 | P2 of 6 | 80% | - |
| Dry Lane Change | 1 | P2 of 6 | 80% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 4 | P2.3 of 22.8 | 84% | 3 |
| Wet Braking - Cool | 1 | P5 of 9 | 50% | - |
| Wet Handling | 3 | P1.7 of 13.7 | 94% | 1 |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 4 | P1 of 6.8 | 100% | 4 |
| Wet Circle | 2 | P1.5 of 16 | 98% | 1 |
| Straight Aqua Weak | 5 | P8.2 of 10.4 | 34% | - |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 2 | P10.5 of 15.5 | 47% | - |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking | 4 | P8.3 of 17.8 | 65% | 1 |
| Snow Traction | 3 | P6 of 13.7 | 72% | 1 |
| Snow Handling | 3 | P4.3 of 13.7 | 76% | 1 |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 4 | P2.8 of 6.8 | 74% | 2 |
| Snow Circle | 1 | P5 of 10 | 56% | - |
| Snow Slalom | 1 | P4 of 22 | 86% | - |
| Ice | ||||
| Ice Braking | 1 | P3 of 9 | 75% | - |
| Ice Traction | 1 | P1 of 9 | 100% | 1 |
| Subj. Ice Handling | 2 | P4 of 5.5 | 38% | - |
| Comfort | ||||
| Subj. Comfort Strong | 5 | P2.4 of 9.4 | 87% | 3 |
| Noise | 3 | P2.7 of 13.7 | 90% | 1 |
| Value | ||||
| Wear | 2 | P7.5 of 15 | 57% | - |
| Value | 2 | P14 of 15 | 8% | - |
| Rolling Resistance | 3 | P7 of 13 | 50% | - |
| Fuel Consumption | 2 | P5 of 5.5 | 13% | - |
| Abrasion | 1 | P5 of 10 | 56% | - |
Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
6 shared: 4 ahead, 2 behind
|
6 | 4 | 2 | - | 67% |
 Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
6 shared: 4 ahead, 2 behind
|
6 | 4 | 2 | - | 67% |
 Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
5 shared: 1 ahead, 3 behind
|
5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 25% |
 Bridgestone Blizzak 6
4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind
|
4 | 4 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Maxxis Premitra Snow WP6
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
|
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Vredestein Wintrac Pro+
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 P Zero Winter Predecessor | 1 | 0 | 9th | 27% |
| Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 This tire | 6 | 3 | 2nd | 80% |
Drawn from 5 tests. Updated October 28, 2026.
The Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 has a strong record on wet and dry roads. It was joint test winner in the 2024 Tire Reviews test, first of five Central European tires in Teknikens Värld's 2025 test and third of ten in Auto Zeitung's 2025 test. In the latter it led wet braking at 48.6 meters and wet handling, while finishing second in dry handling. It also led Auto Bild's 2026 braking qualifier, stopping from wet-road speed in 33 meters, and the testers praised its short wet stop. Teknikens Värld praised its asphalt stability and precision. Snow traction was strong in both the 2024 Tire Reviews and 2025 Auto Zeitung tests.
There are exceptions. It finished fourth of six Central European tires in Teknikens Värld's 2026 test, with the lowest ice handling score and the highest fuel consumption in its class. The same publication warned about ice grip in 2025, although it ranked second of five in its class for ice handling. Rolling resistance drew criticism in three write-ups, but was third of ten in Auto Zeitung's 2025 test. Aquaplaning resistance was praised by Teknikens Värld, making its ninth of ten for straight-line resistance in Auto Zeitung's test unusual. Snow handling also varied: it led its class in 2025, but Auto Zeitung noted clear understeer and Teknikens Värld ranked it fourth of six in 2026.
had the shortest wet braking in the test- 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (2026)
absolute shortest braking distance at 159 feet- 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tire Test (2025)
was the fastest winter tire on the wet handling course and the wet circle- 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (2026)
full marks in wet handling- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
offering excellent wet and dry handling- The BEST Performance Winter Tires for 2024 / 2025 (2024)
On dry roads it shared the fastest handling of the winter tires- 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (2026)
In dry conditions, the Pirelli maintains its flawless performance- 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tire Test (2025)
offering excellent wet and dry handling- The BEST Performance Winter Tires for 2024 / 2025 (2024)
excelled in snow performance, winning all snow tests- The BEST Performance Winter Tires for 2024 / 2025 (2024)
It was also among the most comfortable and stable tires- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
The stability and precision on asphalt are outstanding- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
and had the third-shortest braking- 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (2026)
high aquaplaning resistance- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
aquaplaning resistance is excellent- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
near-exemplary grip and handling- 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tire Test (2025)
makes the test car easy to drive even in difficult situations- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
It also used the most fuel in its class- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
fuel efficiency is mediocre compared to the best in class- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
slightly higher rolling resistance compared to the Michelin, finishing behind by 1.8%- The BEST Performance Winter Tires for 2024 / 2025 (2024)
It had the lowest ice handling score of the Central European tires- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
ice performance is nowhere near adequate- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
among the earliest to aquaplane in both the straight-line and curved tests- 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (2026)
slightly reduced aquaplaning protection in curves- 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tire Test (2025)
was weaker on snow, below average for braking and traction- 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (2026)
and trailed the best of them on snow- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
The Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 shares third place and an 'exemplary' verdict. It is the strongest tire here for wet and dry grip, with snow performance a step behind the leaders.
The Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 finished fourth of the six Central European tires. It is a very capable wet and dry winter tire, but its ice and snow grip and its rolling resistance left it behind the class leaders.
The Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 emerges as the test's best Central European friction tire, though it follows the expected pattern for this category with poor ice grip but excellent bare pavement performance. On snow, it surprisingly achieves full points, but the ice performance is nowhere near adequate, leaving drivers vulnerable in truly slippery conditions. Where this tire excels is on bare pavement - wet and dry - where it makes the test vehicle behave almost like it's fitted with summer tires. Grip level from the Pirelli, combined with fine handling characteristics, makes the test car easy to drive even in difficult situations. The stability and precision on asphalt are outstanding, while aquaplaning resistance is excellent. However, fuel efficiency is mediocre compared to the best in class. This tire represents the classic Central European compromise: superb for wet and slushy roads plus dry asphalt, but genuinely inadequate when real winter grip is needed.
The Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 claims third place with particularly impressive wet weather capabilities and a sustainability focus, being manufactured from at least 55% recycled or bio-based materials. On snow, it delivers good performance with strong braking and traction, though handling reveals an uncharacteristically clear understeer tendency for Pirelli, scoring 21/30 for driving safety. Where this tire truly shines is on wet surfaces, achieving the absolute shortest braking distance at 159 feet with near-exemplary grip and handling that earns a perfect 45/45 safety score - no other winter tire in this test stops as safely in the wet. Its only weakness appears in lateral aquaplaning resistance. In dry conditions, the Pirelli maintains its flawless performance with balanced characteristics between longevity, comfort (8/10), efficiency, safety (26/30) and driving enjoyment. The tire's well-rounded nature and environmental credentials make it a strong choice for those seeking both performance and sustainability, though buyers should be aware of its slightly reduced aquaplaning protection in curves.
The Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 emerged as a top performer, tying for first place with the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5. It excelled in snow performance, winning all snow tests, and showed strong results in wet and dry handling. The tire offered excellent grip and predictability across various conditions. Its only minor drawback was a slightly higher rolling resistance compared to some competitors. Overall, the Pirelli P Zero Winter 2 proves to be an excellent choice for drivers seeking top-tier performance in winter conditions.
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