Pirelli Ice Zero 2 vs Continental IceContact 3
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental IceContact 3 finished ahead 3 times and the Ice Zero 2 twice. The Ice Zero 2 was stronger in wet and comfort, the IceContact 3 in ice and value.
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 5 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Ice Zero 2
IceContact 3
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. 3 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Ice Zero 2
IceContact 3
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
Ice Zero 2
IceContact 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Ice Zero 2 64% from 3 reviews and the IceContact 3 79% from 3. 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. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | Ice Zero 2 | Gap | IceContact 3 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Level | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 30.84 | 1.3% | 31.25 | 1-2 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 16.7% | scored | 1-0 |
| Wet Ice Zero 2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 34.23 | 3.1% | 35.37 | 3-0 |
| Wet Handling s | 40.27 | 1.4% | 39.69 | 0-3 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 8.3% | scored | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 65.7 | 3.6% | 63.45 | 2-0 |
| Snow Level | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 37.34 | 0.7% | 37.23 | 0-2 |
| Snow Traction s | 5.07 | 1% | 5.12 | 2-0 |
| Snow Handling s | 64.42 | 0.1% | 64.27 | 1-1 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Ice IceContact 3 ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking m | 29.53 | 6.4% | 29.2 | 1-2 |
| Ice Traction s | 4.04 | 1.7% | 4.06 | 1-1 |
| Ice Handling s | 59.56 | 7.6% | 55.02 | 0-2 |
| Subj. Ice Handling pts | scored | 14.3% | scored | 0-1 |
| Comfort Ice Zero 2 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Subj. Noise pts | scored | = | scored | 2-1 |
| Value IceContact 3 ahead | ||||
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 5.85 | 1.1% | 5.79 | 0-2 |
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.
Head to head in 5 tests, 2020 to 2025
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 | Ice Zero 2 | Field | IceContact 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 8 | P3 of 8 | |
| 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 7 | P2 of 7 | |
| The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tyres for 2024 | P1 of 6 | P6 of 6 | |
| 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 9 | P6 of 9 | |
| 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 8 | P2 of 8 |
Ice Zero 2 vs IceContact 3: your questions
Is the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 or the Continental IceContact 3 the better tyre?
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental IceContact 3 finished ahead 3 times and the Ice Zero 2 twice. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ice Zero 2 scores 8.4 and the IceContact 3 9.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Ice Zero 2 or the IceContact 3?
The Ice Zero 2 led 6 of the 10 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.1% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the Ice Zero 2 and the IceContact 3.
Which is better in snow?
Across the shared tests the snow measurements are split 3-3 between the Ice Zero 2 and the IceContact 3.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The IceContact 3 used 1.1% less fuel (2 tests). Owners rate wear 5.7/10 for the Ice Zero 2 and 5/10 for the IceContact 3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 5.7/10 for the Ice Zero 2 and 7.3/10 for the IceContact 3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Ice Zero 2 64% from 3 reviews and the IceContact 3 79% from 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the IceContact 3 was the dearer tyre in 2 of them, by 9.2% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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Every Pirelli vs Continental test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tyres →
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Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
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.