Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 47
- TR Score
- 7.9/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 59
In the 18 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead 17 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 once. The Winter Sport 5 lasted 12.5% longer in the wear tests; the Winter Sottozero 3 stopped 3% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Dunlop Winter Sport 5 for genuine winter climates, frequent snow/ice, and all-weather confidence with good value. Choose Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 if your winters are mostly cold and dry, you prioritize sharp steering and the shortest dry stops, and accept trade-offs in wet/snow performance.
Where the Winter Sport 5 is stronger
- Class-leading snow performance (repeated wins in braking, traction, and handling)
- Consistently strong wet handling and aquaplaning resistance
- Better wear and overall value in multiple tests
Where the Winter Sottozero 3 is stronger
- Shorter dry braking and confident dry handling feel
- Sporty steering precision and stability
- Often low rolling resistance and lower noise
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.
Winter Sport 5 vs Winter Sottozero 3 at a glance
| Category | Winter Sport 5 | Gap | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won18 shared tests | 17 | 1 | |
| Dry10 measurements | 1 | The Winter Sottozero 3 stopped 3% shorter in the dry (5 tests) | 8 |
| Wet17 measurements | 7 | The Winter Sottozero 3 stopped 0.9% shorter in the wet (7 tests) | 8 |
| Snow13 measurements | 13 | The Winter Sport 5 stopped 6.4% shorter on snow (7 tests) | 0 |
| Comfort5 measurements | 1 | The Winter Sottozero 3 was 1.5 dB quieter (5 tests) | 4 |
| Value8 measurements | 6 | The Winter Sport 5 lasted 12.5% longer in the wear tests (3 tests) | 2 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.9/10 | The Winter Sport 5 by 1.0 | 7.9/10 |
| Owner rating47 and 59 reviews | 83% | Too close to call | 83% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 83% | The Winter Sport 5 by 2 points | 81% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | +3.6% | The Winter Sport 5 was dearer in 1 of 2 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 49 | 41 sizes made in both | 98 |
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 18 tests, 2015 to 2021
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.
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 18 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter Sport 5
Winter Sottozero 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. The scale stops at 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 1 measurement recorded in only one shared test is left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Winter Sport 5
Winter Sottozero 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
Winter Sport 5
Winter Sottozero 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47 reviews and the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59. 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 | Winter Sport 5 | Gap | Winter Sottozero 3 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45.12 | 3% | 43.76 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 100.4 | = | 100.4 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 39.69 | 0.9% | 39.51 | 2-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.68 | 0.2% | 72.56 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 83.76 | 0.5% | 83.56 | 2-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 25.57 | 6.4% | 27.34 | 7-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2,909 | 3% | 2,825 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 62.92 | 2.8% | 61.18 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 73.7 | 1.5 dB | 72.24 | 1-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 39,357 | 12.5% | 35,158 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.04 | 0.5% | 8.1 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 Winter Sport 5 scores 8.9 and the Winter Sottozero 3 7.9 out of 10.
| Winter Sport 5 | Category | Winter Sottozero 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | Dry | 63 | ||
| 85 | Wet | 77 | ||
| 18 | Comfort | 31 | ||
| 66 | Value | 34 | ||
| 83 | Snow | 23 | ||
| 48 | Ice | - | ||
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
| Winter Sport 5 | Category | Winter Sottozero 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.3 | Dry Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 8.5 | Wet Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 7.9 | Road Feedback | 8.1 | ||
| 7.9 | Handling | 8.6 | ||
| 8.7 | Wear | 7.6 | ||
| 8.4 | Comfort | 7.6 | ||
| 9.1 | Snow Grip | 7.9 | ||
| 8.2 | Ice Grip | 7 | ||
Owners rate the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47 reviews and the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
- 83%from 47 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 485,102 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers largely praise the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 for outstanding snow and ice traction, strong wet grip in cold conditions, predictable handling, good comfort/low noise (for a winter tyre), and excellent tread life. A minority report softer sidewalls and reduced dry performance or understeer as temperatures rise, with a few notes on noise increase over time and isolated quality/balance issues. Overall sentiment is strongly positive, with most buyers willing to repurchase.
- snow and ice grip
- wet grip in cold
- predictable handling
- ride comfort
- weaker dry grip/softer feel in warmer temps
- increased noise with age
- occasional balance/quality issues
Summarised by AI from 39 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 47 Winter Sport 5 reviewsYou must know, in 225/50/17 it is the best what you can buy in eurowinter tyres
+ perfect rim protector
+ dry and wet grip at different temperatures including +17 Celsius
+ snow grip? Easy
+ treadwear 12000 km/per 1 mm (on my new set 8 mm, now 7,0-6,8 after 2 seasons and 14400 km)
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
- 83%from 59 reviews
- 81%would buy again
- 861,286 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 highly overall, most consistently praising the secure wet grip and strong winter ability, with good traction and predictable handling on snow (and reassuring ice performance for many). A notable downside is noise: around a third of owners mention it being loud, especially at motorway speeds and often more so as it wears. Tread life is more mixed (roughly three in ten discuss it), with plenty reporting long service but around one in eight to one in ten feeling it wears faster than expected, particularly if used outside its ideal winter window.
- Confident wet grip with strong security in winter rain
- Strong snow traction for hill starts and deeper snow
- Predictable, controlled handling on snow
- Surprisingly strong dry grip for a winter tyre
- Noticeably high road noise, especially at speed
- Can wear quickly for some drivers or when used beyond winter
- Occasional puncture/fragility complaints
Summarised by AI from 53 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 59 Winter Sottozero 3 reviewsHad them on a 2019 Mini Cooper Countryman S all4. Used the two seasons. Both winters we had some good storms of two feet or more of snow. Only got stuck once because a lifted truck couldn’t get up my unplowed street that I had no problem on. I thought the handling in dry and wet were outstanding a fun to drive.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 49 sizes of the Winter Sport 5 and 98 of the Winter Sottozero 3, 41 of them made in both.
| Category | Winter Sport 5 | Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 49 sizes, 15 to 21 inch | 98 sizes, 16 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 41 sizes 205/55 R16205/60 R16215/45 R16215/55 R16215/60 R16215/65 R16225/55 R16205/50 R17205/55 R17215/45 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17and 29 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B52%C48% | B97%C3%A1% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C75%D24%B1% | C60%D36%B3% |
| EU label noise | 70-74 dB B100% | 68-75 dB B92%A8% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 79 of 79 | 232 of 232 |
| On the market since | 2021 | 2013 |
| Replaced | Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D (2021) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Winter Sport 5 was the dearer tyre in 1 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 3.6% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
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.
This head-to-head pitches two UHP winter staples-the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3-across 18 shared professional tests. Despite their age, both remain popular on performance cars facing real winter conditions. The data shows a clear trend: Dunlop consistently excels when temperatures drop and surfaces turn slippery, while Pirelli leans into a sportier, dry-focused character.
Across multiple test sizes from 17-18 inches, Dunlop repeatedly pairs top-tier snow capability with strong wet security and competitive rolling resistance. Pirelli counters with shorter dry stopping distances and a taut steering feel, but its wet grip and snow performance fluctuate more, affecting overall rankings and value.
Conclusion
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 is the more complete winter performer. It dominates on snow (braking/traction/handling), offers dependable wet behavior, and frequently returns better wear and value scores-translating to confidence and lower running costs in real winter. Its main compromise is longer dry braking versus Pirelli, though stability and balance remain solid.
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 suits drivers prioritizing crisp steering and short dry stops on cold, mainly clear roads. However, across tests it trails in wet and snow metrics and often shows higher wear and price sensitivity. For mixed or severe winter climates, choose Dunlop. For predominantly dry, cold urban use with occasional winter days, the Pirelli can fit-but with acknowledged wet/snow trade-offs. The practical takeaway: when winter gets real, Dunlop wins more of the moments that matter.
Winter Sport 5 vs Winter Sottozero 3: your questions
Is the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 or the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 the better tyre?
In the 18 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead 17 times and the Winter Sottozero 3 once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter Sport 5 scores 8.9 and the Winter Sottozero 3 7.9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter Sport 5 or the Winter Sottozero 3?
The Winter Sottozero 3 led 8 of the 17 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.9% shorter in the wet across 7 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter Sottozero 3 led 8 of the 10 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3% shorter in the dry across 5 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter Sport 5 led 13 of the 13 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.4% shorter on snow across 7 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winter Sport 5 lasted 12.5% longer in the wear tests (3 tests) and had 0.5% lower rolling resistance (5 tests). Owners rate wear 8.7/10 for the Winter Sport 5 and 7.6/10 for the Winter Sottozero 3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Winter Sottozero 3 was 1.5 dB quieter (5 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.4/10 for the Winter Sport 5 and 7.6/10 for the Winter Sottozero 3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47 reviews and the Winter Sottozero 3 83% from 59. 83% of Winter Sport 5 owners would buy it again, against 81% for the Winter Sottozero 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Winter Sport 5 was the dearer tyre in 1 of them, by 3.6% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter Sport 5 is made in 49 sizes (15 to 21 inch) and the Winter Sottozero 3 in 98 (16 to 21 inch). 41 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter Sport 5 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winter Sottozero 3 B and C.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Winter Sport 5 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Winter Sottozero 3 in 2013. The Winter Sport 5 replaced the Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D.
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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.
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