Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 - Two year opinion

[~el~jefe~]

Well. They work.



They lasted long going from middle november to beginning of April, doing so twice. New York City and suburbs and going north into Adirondack/catskills of NY. This is my only car I drive, so it is a daily car.



They look fresh, very little wear after two winters. They are low on noise at 70 mph. Slightly more comfortable ride compared to stock summer touring tires, less jolts. They can corner grip well, but not like the stock primacy ones subaru gives for summer use. They actually corner, they work really well on cold dry roads. I have to somewhat slow down vs summer tires, but not a lot. They have fairly low flex. In the snow, I know how to drive very well, even with 80's RWD cars and all seasons, I am always fine in any climate. BUT! these really grip in bad weather. I believe these are perfect for a sports car for bad weather. My BRZ cannot at all clear any large amount of snow, so "deep snow test" is impossible. Anyone that is looking for safe cornering, safer braking from a Winter Tire, I think this is the only option to consider.


Gas mileage is about 1 mpg less than primacy stock tires. On super long trips it shows up even worse, but general use only about 1 mpg difference. stock touring summer tires on BRZ really can be pushed for great mileage, I dont know why people knock them so much.



I drive really ****in fast at times, and these Sotozero 3's work fine in the winter in all conditions. I was never stuck even for a second. I use them on Performance package wheels, i just have mechanic mount and dismount them. I heartily recommend keeping the stock wheel size for winter cornering and keeping it real with the millions of dollars of engineering in this tuned machine. Most say to get a smaller wheel for more tire for bad snow, but it is 2019 and snow plows exist, then what when you need to safety brake and turn quickly?



I try to sway people to not buy Snow tires which are squishy and bad for braking and cornering.