My background, I am a City and Guilds Qualified and Approved Vehicle Technician (retired) and certified Advanced driver. I have two styles of driving - safe and effective - when I need to get there a little quicker and that of 'Driving Miss Daisy' .. in otherwords, cruise control on and set the speed (on average 62mph) - I find this is the best economical speed for a 2012 Verso 2.0 D4D.
What am I reviewing?
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 215/55/R17, which have accrued a total of 49,997 miles after three years. There was 1.7 mm of tread on the front and 1.72mm on the rear before the TWI's would have been 'activated' or level with the road surface area of the tire. In fact, I would have said I could have possible got another 500 miles out them, possibly 1000, but I think that latter might have been pushing it.
The tires were fitted in December 2015 to ensure insurance compliance and during the time fitted, as you can see, I have chosen my scores based on overall performance on a variety of road surfaces and heavy snow. During the heavy snow and thick ice down the south west, I sailed past 4x4s, emergency response vehicles, jack knifed articulated vehicles and more and many of these were from a stationary position.
As with any tire, as the tread wears, the performance degrades, however, I was extremely surprised that even at 3.25mm tread, the vehicle did not aquaplane during a sudden downpour and many surface pools appeared, what they did was 'bite' into the surface water and you could feel the vehicle speed reduce and with no loss of steering control.
My only niggle... the db level does make you think you might have a wheel bearing gone, but that was only within the latter 3,000 miles.
Comfort, as good as any high performance winter tire and extremely positive road feedback/handling.
Will I buy again? Yes, I hope they keep this model on for the foreseeable future because there are many that do not provide such positive results.
Price wise, they could be a little cheaper but still a good investment and equally good return. Now to find my next set at the best possible price.
What am I reviewing?
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 215/55/R17, which have accrued a total of 49,997 miles after three years. There was 1.7 mm of tread on the front and 1.72mm on the rear before the TWI's would have been 'activated' or level with the road surface area of the tire. In fact, I would have said I could have possible got another 500 miles out them, possibly 1000, but I think that latter might have been pushing it.
The tires were fitted in December 2015 to ensure insurance compliance and during the time fitted, as you can see, I have chosen my scores based on overall performance on a variety of road surfaces and heavy snow. During the heavy snow and thick ice down the south west, I sailed past 4x4s, emergency response vehicles, jack knifed articulated vehicles and more and many of these were from a stationary position.
As with any tire, as the tread wears, the performance degrades, however, I was extremely surprised that even at 3.25mm tread, the vehicle did not aquaplane during a sudden downpour and many surface pools appeared, what they did was 'bite' into the surface water and you could feel the vehicle speed reduce and with no loss of steering control.
My only niggle... the db level does make you think you might have a wheel bearing gone, but that was only within the latter 3,000 miles.
Comfort, as good as any high performance winter tire and extremely positive road feedback/handling.
Will I buy again? Yes, I hope they keep this model on for the foreseeable future because there are many that do not provide such positive results.
Price wise, they could be a little cheaper but still a good investment and equally good return. Now to find my next set at the best possible price.