Pirelli Sottozero 3 or Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4?

BATM2N · 10-16-2018, 07:07 PM

Got a quote for 245/40/18 for both tires from a tire shop in Toronto:

Pirelli Sottozero 3 $1115 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 $1425

I know that PA4 is the best performance winter available right now but based on Tire Rack reviews Sottozero 3 is also doing pretty well in all areas. Personally I am a huge Michelin fan and the sidewall design of the PA4 looks much better than Sottozero 3 IMO, but it is really worth an extra $300??

FYI I live in the GTA so deep snow is not really my concern

chris719 · 10-17-2018, 01:19 AM

Up to you if the $300 is worth it. The Sottozero 3 are probably the next best option available in the US anyway, better than LM-001. The European versions are not directly comparable I think - the Alpin 4 and Alpin 5 without Pilot designation.

I would get the Michelins personally, but I would feel fine with the Sottozeros.

heavyD^2 · 10-18-2018, 08:51 PM

I have used the Sottozero 3 on two cars and the Alpin PA4's on two cars so have good experience with both. I feel the PA4's are better in snow but the Sottozero's are just as good in the dry. The roads are dry in Calgary most of the winter so I have no issue using the Sottozero's but I think Toronto gets more snow days than Calgary so you will have to make the call that better snow performance is worth the extra $300. Both good performance winter tires IMO and you can't go wrong with either.

BATM2N · 10-19-2018, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

I have used the Sottozero 3 on two cars and the Alpin PA4's on two cars so have good experience with both. I feel the PA4's are better in snow but the Sottozero's are just as good in the dry. The roads are dry in Calgary most of the winter so I have no issue using the Sottozero's but I think Toronto gets more snow days than Calgary so you will have to make the call that better snow performance is worth the extra $300. Both good performance winter tires IMO and you can't go wrong with either.

Did you experience Sottozero wearing out much faster than PA4?

heavyD^2 · 10-19-2018, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BATM2N

Did you experience Sottozero wearing out much faster than PA4?

That's probably one area I don't have a lot of experience as I don't typically own my cars long enough to wear out the tires as one or two winters is the most I get out of a car before moving on. I'm hoping to keep the M2 longer but I say that every time I get a new car so who knows.

2+3=5 · 10-19-2018, 03:09 PM

Even with so many opinions in these forums, I just bought the Michelin PA... my street is low priority for city snow removal so I just need to get thru to the main road (and over the drifts) every storm

F30.M · 10-19-2018, 05:14 PM

PA4 is a good choice, it feels like Pilot Super Sport on dry roads. It's fine on the snow as well. The price seems a bit high, did you try SimplyTire?

BATM2N · 10-20-2018, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30.M

PA4 is a good choice, it feels like Pilot Super Sport on dry roads. It's fine on the snow as well. The price seems a bit high, did you try SimplyTire?

The quote above is actually tax in. I'm looking for a set of 18" replica rims as well and I have checked with multiple locations so far the cheapest quote is $1750 for Sottozero 3 and $2060 for PA4 with below BBS SR like replica wheels. (Simplytire quoted $2020+tax ouch!)To be honest not a huge fan of those wheels but M2 has only limited 18" wheels that will clear the brakes....

F30.M · 10-20-2018, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BATM2N

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30.M

PA4 is a good choice, it feels like Pilot Super Sport on dry roads. It's fine on the snow as well. The price seems a bit high, did you try SimplyTire?

The quote above is actually tax in. I'm looking for a set of 18" replica rims as well and I have checked with multiple locations so far the cheapest quote is $1750 for Sottozero 3 and $2060 for PA4 with below BBS SR like replica wheels. (Simplytire quoted $2020+tax ouch!)To be honest not a huge fan of those wheels but M2 has only limited 18" wheels that will clear the brakes....

How about the real BBS SR? I got them from JRP and they are cheaper than anywhere else.

BATM2N · 10-27-2018, 10:06 PM

I ended up getting the PA4 with BBS replica wheels 245/40/18

I just realized those tires are MO tires (Mercedes Original) will that make a difference compared to standard tires?

chris719 · 11-01-2018, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BATM2N

I ended up getting the PA4 with BBS replica wheels 245/40/18

I just realized those tires are MO tires (Mercedes Original) will that make a difference compared to standard tires?

They might be different, but I wouldn't worry too much.

CyberYYZ · 09-22-2020, 04:19 PM

Curious now how happy you were with your Michelin winter tires after 2 winters?

I too am looking for winter tires and rims in Toronto and thinking either the Michelin Alpine or the Pirelli Sottozero 3

thoughts comments?

kart driver · 09-26-2020, 05:57 AM

Used Michelin PA4 for 2 winters already on M2C. Perfect tires!

pizza240 · 09-30-2020, 07:30 AM

Both are excellent tires. I loved the Pirellis on my M240ix, but did damage one of the sidewalls driving over a pothole. Sidewalls do seem a bit weaker than what I'm used to, but maybe it was just a bad pothole... Never had problems with the Michelins.

If you're driving in mostly dry conditions (no snow), the Sottozero IIs are awesome, but not nearly as good as the other two on ice/hardpack/snow. I have them on my M2C and I get stuck at the bottom of icy hills far too often.

10-16-2018, 07:07 PM	#1
BATM2N Enlisted Member 54 Rep 46 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Pirelli Sottozero 3 or Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4? Got a quote for 245/40/18 for both tires from a tire shop in Toronto: Pirelli Sottozero 3 $1115 vs Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 $1425 I know that PA4 is the best performance winter available right now but based on Tire Rack reviews Sottozero 3 is also doing pretty well in all areas. Personally I am a huge Michelin fan and the sidewall design of the PA4 looks much better than Sottozero 3 IMO, but it is really worth an extra $300?? FYI I live in the GTA so deep snow is not really my concern
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10-17-2018, 01:19 AM	#2
chris719 Major General 7334 Rep 7,295 Posts Drives: '08 M Roadster Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Up to you if the $300 is worth it. The Sottozero 3 are probably the next best option available in the US anyway, better than LM-001. The European versions are not directly comparable I think - the Alpin 4 and Alpin 5 without Pilot designation. I would get the Michelins personally, but I would feel fine with the Sottozeros.
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10-18-2018, 08:51 PM	#3
heavyD^2 Colonel 3689 Rep 2,956 Posts Drives: X3M Competition Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Too close to Santa iTrader: (0)	I have used the Sottozero 3 on two cars and the Alpin PA4's on two cars so have good experience with both. I feel the PA4's are better in snow but the Sottozero's are just as good in the dry. The roads are dry in Calgary most of the winter so I have no issue using the Sottozero's but I think Toronto gets more snow days than Calgary so you will have to make the call that better snow performance is worth the extra $300. Both good performance winter tires IMO and you can't go wrong with either. Last edited by heavyD^2; 10-18-2018 at 09:27 PM..
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10-19-2018, 03:09 PM	#6
2+3=5 Lieutenant 285 Rep 586 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Even with so many opinions in these forums, I just bought the Michelin PA... my street is low priority for city snow removal so I just need to get thru to the main road (and over the drifts) every storm
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10-19-2018, 05:14 PM	#7
F30.M Private First Class 13 Rep 139 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: CAN iTrader: (0)	PA4 is a good choice, it feels like Pilot Super Sport on dry roads. It's fine on the snow as well. The price seems a bit high, did you try SimplyTire?
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10-27-2018, 10:06 PM	#10
BATM2N Enlisted Member 54 Rep 46 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I ended up getting the PA4 with BBS replica wheels 245/40/18 I just realized those tires are MO tires (Mercedes Original) will that make a difference compared to standard tires? Attached Images
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09-22-2020, 04:19 PM	#12
CyberYYZ Private 26 Rep 58 Posts Drives: BMW M235i Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Ok time has passed Curious now how happy you were with your Michelin winter tires after 2 winters? I too am looking for winter tires and rims in Toronto and thinking either the Michelin Alpine or the Pirelli Sottozero 3 thoughts comments?
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09-26-2020, 05:57 AM	#13
kart driver Captain 568 Rep 658 Posts Drives: M & GT Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	Used Michelin PA4 for 2 winters already on M2C. Perfect tires!
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09-30-2020, 07:30 AM	#14
pizza240 Lieutenant 796 Rep 460 Posts Drives: 2023 M3 Competition xDrive Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: GTA iTrader: (0)	Both are excellent tires. I loved the Pirellis on my M240ix, but did damage one of the sidewalls driving over a pothole. Sidewalls do seem a bit weaker than what I'm used to, but maybe it was just a bad pothole... Never had problems with the Michelins. If you're driving in mostly dry conditions (no snow), the Sottozero IIs are awesome, but not nearly as good as the other two on ice/hardpack/snow. I have them on my M2C and I get stuck at the bottom of icy hills far too often.
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