Dunlop Winter Sport 5 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 Dunlop Winter Sport 5 and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 appear in 36 tests, 7 of which put both tires on the same track on the same day. 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 Dunlop Winter Sport 5 performs. It takes the win in snow, ice, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 26 tests.
How the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, noise / comfort, 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 Dunlop Winter Sport 5 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in snow and Tire Lab Score. The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Dunlop Winter Sport 5 if
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise mileage
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 26 | 10 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 8.6 | 9.0 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2020 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.6 | 87.8 |
Tire Lab Score
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 8.0 244 | Avg rank 7.7 22 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 10.1 1 | Avg rank 5.9 312 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.3 1334 | Avg rank 12.7 1 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 7.4 | No data | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 8.3 543 | Avg rank 7.4 21 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 8.0 14 | Avg rank 17.3 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 11.2 | Avg rank 9.1 1 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 7 independent tests:
- 20202020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test
- 20202020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test
- 20192019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test
- 20192019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview
- 20182018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test
- 20172017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test
- 20172017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test
💧 Wet: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 wins this category with an average rank of 7.7, compared to 8.0 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
☀️ Dry: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.9, compared to 10.1 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
❄️ Snow: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 6.3, compared to 12.7 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
🧊 Ice: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 7.4, compared to no data for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 wins this category with an average rank of 7.4, compared to 8.3 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
📏 Mileage: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.0, compared to 17.3 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 wins this category with an average rank of 9.1, compared to 11.2 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Dunlop Winter Sport 5 or Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 ranks higher on average than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 ranks better than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 shows better mileage performance than the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 appears in 26 independent tests, Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 in 10, with 7 head-to-head tests where both were measured.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →