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Pirelli’s Cinturato Winter 3 enters the season with two victories and five podium finishes in independent European winter tire tests, including first place in the 2026 ADAC assessment.
Winter driving places different demands on tires, often within the same journey. Dry braking, wet handling, resistance to aquaplaning and control on snow all contribute to the overall picture. For motorists comparing products, independent assessments offer a useful reference beyond manufacturers’ own descriptions, showing how tires perform under the conditions each testing organization selects.
The Cinturato Winter 3’s strongest result came in the ADAC Winter Tire Test 2026. The 225/50 R17 tire finished first, ahead of 15 competitors, earning the highest overall rating. According to Pirelli, the result reflected consistently strong performance across the assessment’s key evaluation areas, with wet handling and safety highlighted among its strengths.
The ADAC result was complemented by another victory in Germany’s AvD winter tire test, this time in a 225/45 R17 size. The tire’s strengths included resistance to aquaplaning, wet-handling lap time, wet braking, and dry braking. Together, the two wins demonstrate its performance across separate assessments and different tire dimensions.
Further recognition came from Auto Express in the United Kingdom. Its test of the 205/55 R16 awarded the Cinturato Winter 3 second place, highlighting snow handling and resistance to both straight- and curved-aquaplaning. Wet handling and dry braking also featured among the results.
Back in Germany, Auto Bild Allrad awarded the tire another second place, testing the 225/55 R18, identifying wet handling and wet braking as particular strengths. A third-place finish in Tyre Reviews’ assessment completed the five podium results. That test, using the 205/55 R17, highlighted dry braking, wet handling and resistance to straight aquaplaning.
Founded in 1872, Pirelli is a global tire manufacturer focused on the high-value segment, with a longstanding commitment to innovation and premium mobility. The Cinturato Winter 3 is its newest winter tire, developed to deliver safety and performance in challenging seasonal conditions.
Its latest test results bring that development work into focus. Across five assessments, recurring strengths in wet handling and braking, along with recognition for snow handling and aquaplaning resistance, give drivers clear performance criteria as they prepare their vehicles for winter.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of October 30, 2026.
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