Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 vs Dunlop Sport All Season: In the competitive all-season tire segment, Pirelli’s new Cinturato All Season SF3, launched in 2023, has quickly gained attention with outstanding performance. It’s now going head-to-head with the Dunlop Sport All Season, a reliable option since its 2020 debut. This matchup between Pirelli’s cutting-edge innovation and Dunlop’s proven durability promises to be a thrilling comparison. Will the Cinturato SF3’s new technology outshine the Sport All Season, or will Dunlop’s established performance hold strong? Let’s find out.
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Results: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 vs Dunlop Sport All Season
Results below were taken from the 2024 Tyre Reviews All Season Tyre Test. A total of 7 tires were tested this time around with snow & ice testing to gauge the all season performances.. The graph below shows the comparison between Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 vs Dunlop Sport All Season based on the relevant performance category. The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
As both tires are categorized as all season tires with a 3 peak mountain logo on it, an extensive snow & ice testing was conducted. Note that for subjective comfort evaluation, we equate 1 point as 5%. The tire size of interest is a 205/55 R16 which is a common tire size for Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle of choice is a Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI.
Wet
In wet braking, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 stops 1.3 meters shorter than the Dunlop Sport All Season, offering better safety. On wet handling, the Pirelli is slightly faster with a lap time of 86.2 seconds, compared to Dunlop’s 87 seconds. The Pirelli also scores higher in subjective wet handling, with a perfect 10/10, while the Dunlop scores 9/10. In straight-line aquaplaning, the Pirelli excels with a slipping speed of 84.2 km/h, significantly outperforming the Dunlop’s 76.4 km/h. Overall, the Pirelli demonstrates superior wet performance across all metrics.
Sport All Season :
- -4% in wet braking
- -1% in wet handling (lap time)
- -5% in wet handling (subj)
- -9% in straight aquaplaning
Snow
In snow braking, the Dunlop Sport All Season stops 0.8 meters shorter than the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3, offering slightly better performance. Both tires perform equally in snow traction, with identical acceleration times of 8.46 seconds. However, in snow handling, the Pirelli is noticeably quicker, completing the lap 3.46 seconds faster than the Dunlop. The Pirelli also excels in subjective snow handling, scoring 9.8 out of 10, compared to Dunlop’s 8.8 out of 10. Overall, while the Dunlop edges out in snow braking, the Pirelli offers superior handling on snowy roads.
Sport All Season :
- +4% in snow braking
- 0% in snow traction
- -4% in snow handling (lap times)
- -5% in snow handling (subj)
Ice
While ice performance isn’t as critical for all-season tires as snow performance, it still plays a role in overall safety. The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 outperforms the Dunlop Sport All Season on ice. In ice braking, the Pirelli stops 0.58 meters shorter than the Dunlop, offering better control. For ice traction, the Pirelli also accelerates faster, reaching 20 km/h in 4.68 seconds compared to the Dunlop’s 5.56 seconds. Overall, the Pirelli demonstrates superior performance on icy surfaces.
Sport All Season :
- -8% in ice braking
- -16% in ice traction
Wear
Wear has been a known weakness of the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3, as it ranks last among premium manufacturers. When comparing mileage, the Dunlop Sport All Season outlasts the Pirelli by 2,445 kilometers, with a total wear performance of 36,186 kilometers compared to Pirelli’s 33,741 kilometers. This gap highlights Dunlop’s advantage in durability, making it a better choice for those prioritizing longer tire life.
Sport All Season :
- +7% in mileage
Dry
In dry conditions, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 significantly outperforms the Dunlop Sport All Season. The Pirelli stops 5.3 meters shorter in dry braking, providing much better stopping power. In dry handling, the Pirelli is also quicker, completing the lap 0.4 seconds faster than the Dunlop. Subjectively, the Pirelli scores a perfect 10/10 in dry handling, while the Dunlop scores 9.2/10, indicating that the Pirelli offers a more responsive and controlled driving experience on dry roads.
Sport All Season :
- -12% in dry braking
- -1% in dry handling (lap time)
- -4% in dry handling (subj)
Noise
In terms of exterior noise, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 is slightly quieter than the Dunlop Sport All Season, producing 71.7 dB compared to Dunlop’s 72 dB. Although the difference is minimal, the Pirelli offers a marginally more silent ride.
Sport All Season :
- ~0% in exterior noise (+0.3 dB)
Rolling Resistance
In terms of rolling resistance, the Dunlop Sport All Season outperforms the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3. The Dunlop offers lower rolling resistance at 7.06 N/kN, compared to Pirelli’s 7.86 N/kN. This difference indicates that the Dunlop is more fuel-efficient, providing less resistance while driving, which can contribute to better overall fuel economy.
Sport All Season :
- +11% in rolling resistance
Price
Both the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 and the Dunlop Sport All Season are priced the same at €96 for the 205/55 R16 tire size, offering no difference in cost.
Tire size: 205/55 R16
- Cinturato All Season SF3 : €96
- Sport All Season : €96
Difference: Same
Summary
As a tire expert, I can say that both the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 and the Dunlop Sport All Season offer distinct advantages depending on your priorities. The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 excels in wet and dry performance, with superior braking, handling, and slightly lower noise levels. However, its wear rate is a downside. On the other hand, the Dunlop Sport All Season offers better durability with lower rolling resistance, making it a more fuel-efficient choice. Ultimately, if performance is your main concern, the Pirelli is the way to go; if longevity and efficiency are your priorities, the Dunlop is the better option.
Dr. Edwin Pang