Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 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 Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 appear in 18 tests, 5 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 Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 performs. It takes the win in snow, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 8 tests.
How the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, noise / comfort. 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 Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 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 Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 if
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise mileage
- You prioritise efficiency
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 8 | 10 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 10.8 | 9.0 |
| Latest test | 2023 | 2020 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.7 | 87.8 |
Tire Lab Score
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 12.4 | Avg rank 7.7 22 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 7.8 1 | Avg rank 5.9 312 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 11.1 1 | Avg rank 12.7 1 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 7.9 23 | Avg rank 7.4 21 | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 5.5 1 | Avg rank 17.3 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 2.6 211 | Avg rank 9.1 1 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 5 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 wins this category with an average rank of 7.7, compared to 12.4 for the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
☀️ Dry: Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.9, compared to 7.8 for the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
❄️ Snow: Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 wins this category with an average rank of 11.1, compared to 12.7 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 wins this category with an average rank of 7.4, compared to 7.9 for the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
📏 Mileage: Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 17.3 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 wins this category with an average rank of 2.6, compared to 9.1 for the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 or Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 ranks higher on average than the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 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 Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 shows better mileage performance than the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 appears in 8 independent tests, Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 in 10, with 5 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 →