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Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II

Previous Pirelli Tyres High Performance Winter

The Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II is a High Performance Winter tyre designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

6.9
Tyre Reviews Score Based on User Reviews
Limited Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
79%
Wet Grip
79%
Road Feedback
80%
Handling
81%
Wear
83%
Comfort
70%
Buy again
80%
Snow Grip
90%
Ice Grip
85%
7 Reviews
81% Average
76,200 miles driven
3 Tests (avg: 4th)
Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II

Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II

Winter Premium
BETA
6.9 / 10
Based on User Reviews · Limited Confidence · Updated 23 Feb 2026

The Tyre Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tyre scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 3
Publications: 3
Period: 2010 - 2011
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 7
Avg Rating: 80.7%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 2.07
History Points: 10
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tyre tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.9 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 12 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.75 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
combined_penalty_floor 0.2
Data Sources
TestPublicationDateSizePositionMetrics
2011 EVO Winter Tyre Test EVO 2011 225/45 R17 3/10 0 metrics
2010 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild 2010 195/65 r15 5/12 0 metrics
2010 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test Auto Zeitung 2010 195/65 r15 5/13 0 metrics
All Tests
View Test Results
3
Tests
4th
Average
3rd
Best
5th
Worst
Latest Tyre Test Results
2011 EVO Winter Tyre Test
225/45 R17 • 2011
3rd/10
Best in the wet.
2010 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test
195/65 r15 • 2010
5th/13
The Pirelli Snow Control Series II provides excellent control in the snow and wet. Comfortable on dry roads.
2010 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test
195/65 r15 • 2010
5th/12
Top snow performance with short stopping distances and safer cornering, good ride comfort, low rolling resistance.
Extended dry braking distances, poor aquaplaning results.
Good.
View Test Results

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Top 3 Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II Reviews

Given 67% while driving a Audi A4 (195/65 R15) on a combination of roads for 25,000 easy going miles
Considering, it is a non-studded, European winter tyre, the Pirelli is surprisingly good on snow. We took it to the arctic cirlce in winter and it performed just fine in deep snow as well as on mixed surfaces and even ice. Even during a high-speed corner braking on a snowy track from 60 mph to a standstill because of animals in the road, the car remained very controllable (no ESC, just ABS) and braking distance was shorter than I expected. Also we needed the chains less often than expected, despite the Audi being a 2WD. In the wet and dry there are no surprises. Feedback is good and so is noise and comfort. Dry and wet braking performance did not surprise me in any way either. Nothing particularly positive jumps to mind, however the are no negatives either. The price of 58 EUR in October 2018 was okay too.
Helpful 725
February 5, 2022
Given 83% while driving a Audi A3 Sportback (205/55 R16) on mostly town for 3,000 average miles
I have been using these tyres for 2 seasons now. I am very pleased with the driving performance. Wear is exceptional as they look brand new even after 12 months of daily driving in city. They are a bit noisy but not much complaints from me and also my 2 year old kid seems like he likes the noise eventually. I don't drive too aggressive, for the security of kid traveling backseat, still I feel safe with the grips.
Helpful 772
April 25, 2021
Given 93% while driving a Dacia Sandero 1.4 (185/65 R15 T) on a combination of roads for 11,200 average miles
Been driving these Pirellis for six winter seasons and about 18000kms so far and intend to drive them for couple of seasons more.

They have always been a bit noisy, but that's about the only thing I can complain about. Wear is good, dry grip OK, wet and snow grip fantastic even after five seasons of use. Very pleased with it.

Definitely would buy again a Pirelli winter tyre, and can recommend them to everyone. They are worth the price.
Helpful 847
May 23, 2018

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Latest Pirelli SNOWCONTROL Serie II Reviews

Given 50% while driving a Mitsubishi Grandis Elegance 2.5ltr (195/60 R15 T) on a combination of roads for 15,000 average miles
Bad tyre for those money.
Helpful 487
October 22, 2013
Given 96% while driving a Renault Grand Modus (185/60 R15 T) on mostly country roads for 2,000 average miles
Had these fitted to our Renault Modus Automatic in December 2010, 2 days later it snowed like H**L(a lot in Essex), our little car made it up and down hills when almost all other vehicles were stuck, the control of our car was so precise and breaking was just Fantastic, I tested emergency breaking in about 4" (10cm)of snow/ice on a back road (not even on a map and no other road users in sight) it was fantastic. We then sold our Modus to a friend including the winter tyres) and bought A Grand Modus Automatic, I purchased Avon Ice Touring for the winter of 2011/12. NEVER AGAIN ! they just didn't feel safe so it was hello *-bay. I have just bought another set of Pirelli's and know that my family will be a lot safer if we get a bad winter in the UK. I fit them to spare steel wheels.
Being a retired professional driver (IAM member)PCV,HGV1 etc, I am of the opinion that winter tyres should be made compulsory in the UK.
Helpful 487
October 20, 2012
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