Why I'm Hooked on My Pirelli Winter Tires

I'm a bit of an oddity when it comes to car enthusiasts - a girl who's been around cars her whole life. I work in the industry and take care of my family's car collection. I've had five cars in 17 years of driving experience, including a Suzuki Jimny I used for off-roading and amateur racing events. I've also taken advanced driving courses. Nowadays, my family has two cars - a Citroen DS4 and an Opel Astra GTC, which I've been driving for 10 years.

When we moved to a village with a paved road that's not always cleared in winter, good winter tires became a necessity for me. Plus, the road from my house to the main highway is uphill, and if it's not cleared, forget about it.

There have been mornings where I've had to take the kids to school and a snowstorm rolled in overnight, making it impossible to leave the house. That was exactly what happened to me recently, and it was the final straw. A small snowfall in our village In November, I decided to swap out my old tires for a set of winter ones. I'd bought them a few years ago, and they were a pair of Bridgestones that were starting to show their age. I think the Roadstones were a bit newer, but they were both over three years old. And let me tell you, the years were starting to catch up with them. When the snow started falling, my Opel's behavior became downright erratic: any bit of slush, a patch of black ice, or a sharp turn on a snowy road would set off all the warning systems, trying to stabilize the car. But when I hit a particularly steep hill one morning and couldn't make it, I'd had enough.

The road in our village As someone who's in the automotive industry, I'd heard rumors that a major tire retailer was planning a sale with discounts of up to 50% off. I checked their website, tossed a pair of Pirelli Ice Zero FRs and a pair of Hankook Winter iPikes into my cart, and waited for the sale to start. On the day of the sale, the discount was 20% off both sets, and I opted for the Pirellis. There were two reasons for this: 1) they're a premium tire, and they're a lot more pleasant to drive on than a budget tire; 2) they're specifically designed for snow and ice (i.e., challenging conditions).

Pirelli's Ice Zero Friction tire was first announced by the Italian manufacturer back in 2015. It's marketed as an all-around model that's suitable for any modern passenger vehicle and provides top-notch safety in harsh winter conditions in Northern Europe and Russia. As a newcomer, the Pirelli Ice Zero Friction tire boasts the company's years of experience in the field.

I'm not a fan of studded tires. Give me a good set of winter tires any day. I opted for the 205/55 R16 size, and the set of four cost me 807 Belarusian rubles ($252 at the time of purchase) with a discount. Ten years ago, I bought a set of summer Goodyear tires for my car for $400, but the exchange rate was different back then. Still, I think the price was reasonable.

Technical Specifications

Category - Passenger TiresSeason - Winter TireBrand, Model - Pirelli Ice Zero FRLoad Index - 94 (up to 670 kg)Load on 4 Wheels - up to 2680 kgSpeed Index - T (up to 190 km/h)Tread Depth - up to 8.5 mmWeight - 9.3 kgTire Class - A (Premium)Fuel Efficiency - CBraking on a Wet Surface - DNoise Level - 68 dBNoise Class - AMarking M+S / 3PMSFOperation - Ice and SnowTread Pattern - Symmetrical, DirectionalThe tires look great – no weird 'hairs' like on some Belshina tires I've seen.

Installation and Balancing

According to my trusted mechanic, who's been servicing my tires for over five years, these tires are perfectly even and balance well.

Handling

I have to say, there's something about getting a new set of winter tires that's just exhilarating, especially after a worn-out old set. But premium tires like Pirelli take it to a whole new level. I'm still getting that rush every day, even after the first winter season.

Now, I know some drivers expect premium tires to solve all their problems and give their front-wheel drive hatchback the traction of a four-wheel drive vehicle. I'm not one of them. But for city dwellers and people who mostly drive on snow-covered country roads, the requirements are different. For the city, it's all about stopping power - or rather, how well the tire grips the road. For the country, it's about traction. I think Pirelli hits the sweet spot: they grip well and stop nicely too. I wouldn't say the tread pattern is aggressive, but it's got enough depth to get the job done. I've driven on different types of tires before, and I can confidently say I made the right choice. I've forgotten what it's like to have my rear end slide out on a snowy turn - this tire holds the road like a charm. And in areas where I used to slow down on my old tires, I can now just keep going. I even drove over a small snowbank that a tractor had dumped near my house, and my car just cruised right over it without any issues.

Just to give you an idea, I drove on a Citroen with Continental tires that were two years old, and even though the Citroen is bigger and more powerful, it struggled to get out of the snow like my Opel on Pirelli tires.

My neighbor and friend, who's also a fellow off-roader, picked up the same tire set in the same size and put it on his Acrua. He's super happy with it, and he's got a lot more hills to tackle than we do, plus they're way worse for cleaning. But he swears he's never gotten stuck once.

I don't have a hybrid, so I don't really notice the noise from the arches and tires, but overall, I'm not feeling any discomfort, and there's no excessive drone at speeds up to 120 km/h.

Instead of a conclusion

I'd say the Pirelli Ice Zero FR is definitely worth the money, and it's a clear winner over those Chinese-Turkish tires that salespeople at tire shops will try to push on you. Even on Chinese premium cars, they still manage to fit Michelin tires - that's just weird. For me, the choice is clear. Of course, these tires haven't had a lot of time on the road, but first of all, the effect is noticeable right away.

Secondly, I'm way more relaxed behind the wheel, thirdly, I'm driving my kids around, and safety is a top priority for me. Fourthly, my fuel efficiency has improved because I'm not constantly flooring it to get out of the snow. So, if you want to make your grandma happy, go ahead and get her a set of Pirelli tires - even if she only drives around the city and the roads are well-maintained. Now, I'm cruising into the snowy mess with confidence, and I'm even having fun doing it. The tires dig in until they find something to grip, and then they pull the car out. Sometimes, other off-roaders will stare at me in awe as I drive my trusty crossover into places that most crossovers wouldn't dare to go. Every time I get behind the wheel, I'm grinning from ear to ear.I've tried better and more aggressive tires, but I don't need that level of performance. The Pirelli Ice Zero FR has been a great value for money, offering a great balance of quality and price. For now, I don't see a need to look for anything better.

And let's be real, winter tires do make a difference. To those who think that the most important thing is the gap between the steering wheel and seat, and that you can even drive safely on summer tires in the winter, I'd say they're missing out. Winter tires aren't just for off-roaders or people who live in snowy climates - they're for anyone who wants to drive safely and confidently in the winter. And trust me, it's worth the investment.

I highly recommend the Pirelli Ice Zero FR to anyone who's in the market for a good set of winter tires. They're worth every penny, and they'll give you the confidence and peace of mind you need to drive safely in the winter.