I drive across Germany into Poland every winter, so required a snow rated tire for my 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i. After fitting I went for a test drive, sub 8°c and wet. They felt like what I imagine a qualifying tire feels like compared to my summer ContiSport Contact 7s, which noticeably lose grip in the cold.
The rain was very heavy when I left Euro tunnel in France, and became near biblically torrential in Germany. The Sottozeros felt like I was driving on warm tarmac - no exaggeration whatsoever. The rain completely overcame my windscreen wipers at points causing me to slow, the tires gave me no reason to slow. At very high speeds there was a sense that they weren't able to clear the surface water entirely, but at 90mph felt solidly connected to the road.
On the return journey, we went via Quedlinberg where it was snowy, icy, and the roads were ungritted. I had to slow for this as the car was sliding and I was too tired to enjoy it. I doubt anything other than a spiked tire would have been any use in those conditions.
I've done this trip twice now with the tires, plus daily driving as I fit them as soon as the temperature drops consistently below 9°c, roughly 4,000 miles, with no observable wear yet.
I would never be without a tire like this in winter now, even in GB where it is not mandatory. They clear surface water like nothing I've ever experienced before and don't just feel safe in extreme rain, but actually enjoyable.
