Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 appear in 40 tests, though they have not yet met head-to-head in the same test. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.
How the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 30 tests.
How the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 performs. It takes the win in efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 88/100, based on 10 tests.
What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.
Verdict
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 still wins on efficiency, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Continental WinterContact TS 870 P if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 30 | 10 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.8 | 9.0 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2020 |
| Tire Lab Score | 90.1 | 87.8 |
Tire Lab Score
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.2 61413 | Avg rank 7.7 22 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.2 988 | Avg rank 5.9 312 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 5.6 2812 | Avg rank 12.7 1 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 10.5 1 | No data | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 5.6 5310 | Avg rank 7.4 21 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 10.8 2 | Avg rank 17.3 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 10.1 | Avg rank 9.1 1 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
💧 Wet: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P wins this category with an average rank of 5.2, compared to 7.7 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
☀️ Dry: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P wins this category with an average rank of 4.2, compared to 5.9 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
❄️ Snow: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P wins this category with an average rank of 5.6, compared to 12.7 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
🧊 Ice: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P wins this category with an average rank of 10.5, compared to no data for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P wins this category with an average rank of 5.6, compared to 7.4 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
📏 Mileage: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P wins this category with an average rank of 10.8, compared to 17.3 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 wins this category with an average rank of 9.1, compared to 10.1 for the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental WinterContact TS 870 P or Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P ranks higher on average than the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P averages a better dry-braking rank than the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P ranks better than the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P shows better mileage performance than the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P appears in 30 independent tests, Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 in 10.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →