Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 vs Vredestein Wintrac Pro
- TR Score
- 9.3/10
- Owners say
- 79% · 4
- TR Score
- 9.0/10
- Owners say
- 87% · 31
In the 12 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Cinturato Winter 2 finished ahead 8 times and the Wintrac Pro 4 times. The Cinturato Winter 2 lasted 18.7% longer in the wear tests; the Wintrac Pro shed 8.3% less rubber in the abrasion test.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Buy the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 if your winter is mostly wet, slushy roads: it won eight of twelve shared tests, took Auto Bild's 2022 test outright, sweeps straight aquaplaning and lasts longer. Buy the Vredestein Wintrac Pro if you face real snow and buy on price, where its ten of twelve snow braking wins and consistently lower price tell.
Where the Cinturato Winter 2 is stronger
- Won Auto Bild's 2022 winter test outright, 1st of 22 with the Vredestein 12th
- Better straight aquaplaning in all nine measurements and shorter wet braking in eight of twelve tests
- Longer life in all four wear measurements, 46,600km against 41,500km at ADAC
Where the Wintrac Pro is stronger
- Shorter snow braking in ten of the twelve comparisons
- Cheaper in all seven price comparisons, 620 against 735 at Auto Zeitung
- Better dry handling in six of eight tests
Conclusion
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 wins this on the balance of twelve tests, taking eight of them. Its highlights are real: 1st of 22 at Auto Bild in 2022 with the Vredestein Wintrac Pro 12th, 5th of 57 against 20th in the market overview, 9th of 54 against 17th in Auto Bild's 2023 braking test, 5th of 22 against 8th in the 2023 full test, 6th of 13 against 8th in our own 2023 test and 4th of 9 against 6th in 2022/23, where it was recommended. It swept straight aquaplaning nine to nil, won five of seven curved runs, braked shorter in the wet in eight of twelve tests and in the dry in six of ten, and it lasted longer in all four wear measurements. It also took snow traction seven to three and was quieter in five of seven noise measurements.
The Vredestein Wintrac Pro answers where it counts most for many winter drivers. It braked shorter on snow in ten of the twelve comparisons, a near clean sweep, and it won four of the shared tests: 3rd of 16 against 7th at ADAC in 2024, 5th of 9 against 7th at Sport Auto, 5th of 15 against 12th at ADAC in 2023 and 5th of 8 against 7th at Auto Zeitung in 2022. It was cheaper in all seven price comparisons, 620 against 735 at Auto Zeitung, 15.7 percent less, and it handled better on dry roads in six of eight tests.
So it comes down to what your winter looks like. The Pirelli is the tyre for wet and slushy roads and long life; the Vredestein is the one for deep snow braking at a lower price. Note the split in placings is not random: the Vredestein's four wins are all in tests where snow carries heavy weight in the scoring.
Where to buy
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 Vredestein Wintrac ProAffiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy. It never changes our results.
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Cinturato Winter 2 vs Wintrac Pro at a glance
| Category | Cinturato Winter 2 | Gap | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won12 shared tests | 8 | 4 | |
| Dry21 measurements | 10 | The Wintrac Pro averaged a 0.6% higher speed on the dry handling course (4 tests) | 11 |
| Wet46 measurements | 32 | The Cinturato Winter 2 stopped 2.2% shorter in the wet (12 tests) | 10 |
| Snow38 measurements | 19 | The Cinturato Winter 2 was 4.4% quicker in the snow traction test (2 tests) | 18 |
| Ice2 measurements | 1 | Level between the two. | 1 |
| Comfort11 measurements | 6 | 3 | |
| Value15 measurements | 9 | The Cinturato Winter 2 lasted 18.7% longer in the wear tests (4 tests) | 6 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.3/10 | The Cinturato Winter 2 by 0.3 | 9.0/10 |
| Owner rating4 and 31 reviews | 79% | The Wintrac Pro by 8 points | 87% |
| Pricein the 9 tests that listed prices | +15.1% | The Cinturato Winter 2 was dearer in 9 of 9 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 41 | 31 sizes made in both | 119 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 12 tests, 2022 to 2024
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Cinturato Winter 2 | Field | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 10 | P7 of 10 | |
| 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 16 | P3 of 16 | |
| 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 9 | P5 of 9 | |
| 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 11 | P7 of 11 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 20 | P8 of 20 | |
| 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | P9 of 54 | P17 of 54 | |
| 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 11 | P8 of 11 | |
| 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | P12 of 15 | P5 of 15 | |
| 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P1 of 20 | P12 of 20 | |
| 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | P5 of 56 | P20 of 56 | |
| 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 9 | P6 of 9 | |
| 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 8 | P5 of 8 |
Performance profile
24 measurements from the 12 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Cinturato Winter 2
Wintrac Pro
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 94%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 4 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Cinturato Winter 2
Wintrac Pro
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Cinturato Winter 2
Not ahead in any category
Wintrac Pro
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Cinturato Winter 2 79% from 4 reviews and the Wintrac Pro 87% from 31. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Cinturato Winter 2 | Gap | Wintrac Pro | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.68 | 0.2% | 43.61 | 6-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 72.74 | 0.2% | 72.58 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 113.5 | 0.6% | 114.2 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| scored | 1.8% | scored | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 41.42 | 2.2% | 42.35 | 8-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 37.7 | 4.1% | 39.3 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 84.07 | 0.9% | 84.72 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 79.1 | 0.3% | 78.93 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| scored | 6.7% | scored | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 7.28 | 1.8% | 7.41 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 12.42 | 1.1% | 12.57 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 82.13 | 2.6% | 80.04 | 9-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 3.14 | 2.1% | 3.06 | 5-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 24.5 | 0.6% | 24.36 | 2-10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 5.45 | 4.4% | 5.69 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 1,750 | 2% | 1,727 | 5-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 87.83 | 0.8% | 88.81 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 55.55 | 0.6% | 55.23 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| scored | 1.3% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 4.62 | 0.2% | 4.61 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 3.76 | 2.3% | 3.67 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 17.95 | 1.3% | 18.15 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| scored | 3% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 71.81 | 0.4 dB | 72.24 | 5-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 44,358 | 18.7% | 37,920 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 8.74 | 1.4% | 8.9 | 4-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.7 | 1.7% | 5.8 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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| 73.45 | 8.3% | 67.35 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Cinturato Winter 2 scores 9.3 and the Wintrac Pro 9 out of 10.
| Cinturato Winter 2 | Category | Wintrac Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | Dry | 67 | ||
| 90 | Wet | 86 | ||
| 42 | Comfort | 31 | ||
| 34 | Value | 29 | ||
| 64 | Snow | 58 | ||
| 76 | Ice | 67 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Cinturato Winter 2 | Category | Wintrac Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.3 | Dry Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 8.8 | Wet Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 7.8 | Road Feedback | 8.4 | ||
| 7.8 | Handling | 8.2 | ||
| 7.3 | Wear | 8.6 | ||
| 7.8 | Comfort | 8.7 | ||
| 8.5 | Snow Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 6 | Ice Grip | 8.1 | ||
Owners rate the Cinturato Winter 2 79% from 4 reviews and the Wintrac Pro 87% from 31. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
- 79%from 4 reviews
- 32,500 milesdriven by reviewers
All 4 Cinturato Winter 2 reviewsStarted the second winter season on the tyres (roughly 12500 per season).
No degradation felt on dry grip. The tyres feel as grippy as when they were new, temperature 3C-6C.
Pretty happy with the grip.Performance in the wet is good as well.
Snow and ice conditions I am not so sure about the tyres. A couple of times during heavy/medium snow fall where I had no grip, tried to correct but the tyres did not bite.
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
- 87%from 31 reviews
- 94%would buy again
- 246,700 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers report the Vredestein Wintrac Pro is a highly confidence-inspiring winter tyre with standout wet-road grip and surprisingly sporty, summer-like steering feel and stability in cold dry conditions. Most users also praise strong traction and braking in snow/slush, along with good comfort, low noise for the category, and impressive tread life/value over multiple seasons. A smaller subset note higher fuel consumption/rolling resistance and that the tyre can need some warm-up or a short bedding-in period to deliver its best grip.
- Strong wet grip and braking (good aquaplaning resistance)
- Stable, predictable handling with good steering feedback (sporty/summer-like feel)
- Very capable snow and slush traction and confidence
- Good comfort and generally quiet for a winter/UHP tyre
- Higher fuel consumption / rolling resistance than some alternatives
- Needs some warm-up or short bedding-in to reach best grip
Summarised by AI from 28 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 31 Wintrac Pro reviewsBecause of the UK's weather, I would have preferred all season tyres for the winter but couldn't find any in my size. I needed to be able to cope with winter weather should it do its worst so I bought the Wintracs to see me through to the summer. They were much better than expected in all respects, coped well with the 320bhp of a Tiguan R and never gave me any concerns. I traded in the Tiguan before I needed to swap back to summer tyres.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 41 sizes of the Cinturato Winter 2 and 119 of the Wintrac Pro, 31 of them made in both.
| Category | Cinturato Winter 2 | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 41 sizes, 16 to 20 inch | 119 sizes, 17 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 31 sizes 205/45 R17205/50 R17205/55 R17205/60 R17205/65 R17215/40 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17215/60 R17215/65 R17225/45 R17and 19 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B91%A9% | B98%A2%C1% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C77%B15%D8% | D47%C46%E5%B1% |
| EU label noise | 69-72 dB B85%A15% | 70-74 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 78 of 78 | 253 of 253 |
| On the market since | 2021 | 2018 |
| Replaced | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 (2013) | Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S (2015) |
| Replaced by | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Cinturato Winter 2 was the dearer tyre in 9 of the 9 tests that listed prices, by 15.1% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Prices by size
Lowest price per tyre at our partner shops, including delivery, in the sizes both are made in.
| Size | Cinturato Winter 2 | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| 205/45 R17 | ||
| 205/50 R17 | ||
| 205/55 R17 | ||
| 205/65 R17 | ||
| 215/40 R17 | ||
| 215/45 R17 | ||
| 215/50 R17 | ||
| 215/55 R17 | ||
| 215/60 R17 | ||
| 215/65 R17 | ||
| 225/45 R17 | ||
| 225/50 R17 |
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy. It never changes our results.
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Twelve shared tests, the deepest evidence base you will find for two winter tyres, and the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 finished ahead in eight of them. Its best day was Auto Bild's 2022 winter test, which it won outright, 1st of 22, with the Vredestein Wintrac Pro 12th, and it was 5th of 57 against 20th in the same year's market overview.
Water is where the Pirelli is untouchable. It resisted straight aquaplaning better in all nine measurements and curved aquaplaning in five of seven, it braked shorter in the wet in eight of twelve tests, and it lasted longer in all four wear measurements, 46,600km against 41,500km at ADAC.
The Vredestein's answer is snow braking and price. It stopped shorter on snow in ten of twelve comparisons, it was the cheaper tyre in all seven price comparisons, 620 against 735 at Auto Zeitung, and it handled better on dry roads in six of eight tests.
Cinturato Winter 2 vs Wintrac Pro: your questions
Is the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 or the Vredestein Wintrac Pro the better tyre?
In the 12 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 finished ahead 8 times and the Wintrac Pro 4 times. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Cinturato Winter 2 scores 9.3 and the Wintrac Pro 9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Cinturato Winter 2 or the Wintrac Pro?
The Cinturato Winter 2 led 32 of the 46 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.2% shorter in the wet across 12 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Wintrac Pro led 11 of the 21 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 0.6% higher speed on the dry handling course across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Cinturato Winter 2 led 19 of the 38 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it was 4.4% quicker in the snow traction test across 2 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Cinturato Winter 2 lasted 18.7% longer in the wear tests (4 tests); the Wintrac Pro shed 8.3% less rubber in the abrasion test (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.3/10 for the Cinturato Winter 2 and 8.6/10 for the Wintrac Pro.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.8/10 for the Cinturato Winter 2 and 8.7/10 for the Wintrac Pro.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Cinturato Winter 2 79% from 4 reviews and the Wintrac Pro 87% from 31.
Which is more expensive?
In the 9 tests that listed prices, the Cinturato Winter 2 was the dearer tyre in 9 of them, by 15.1% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Cinturato Winter 2 is made in 41 sizes (16 to 20 inch) and the Wintrac Pro in 119 (17 to 22 inch). 31 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Cinturato Winter 2 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Wintrac Pro B and D.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Cinturato Winter 2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Wintrac Pro in 2018. The Cinturato Winter 2 replaced the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3. The Wintrac Pro replaced the Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S.
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Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.
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