Comparison: Michelin CrossClimate SUV vs. Bridgestone Weather Control A005 EVO (2026)

The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 and the Continental AllSeasonContact 2 represent two of the most credible all-season options on the market today, and the test data shows a genuinely close fight between them — with the Pirelli edging ahead in most head-to-head comparisons. The SF3 carries an overall rating of 95/100 from our own assessment, while the AllSeasonContact 2 scores a still-strong 90/100, and that five-point gap is largely reflected in how the two tyres stack up across independent test results.

Look at the raw test placements and a pattern emerges quickly. In Autoexpress' six-tyre test, the Pirelli finished 1st against the Continental's 2nd, with the SF3 singled out for snow traction, snow handling, cross aquaplaning and dry braking, while the Continental's strengths lay in snow braking and wet handling. ALVOLANTE tells a similar story — the Pirelli topped a seven-tyre field while the Continental placed 4th. In the larger 30-tyre Autobild round, the SF3 finished 3rd versus the Continental's 7th, and in the 37-tyre AUTOBILD test the Pirelli again came out ahead, 2nd versus 3rd. Aftonbladet's smaller four-tyre comparison also favoured the Pirelli, 2nd against 3rd. The one exception is ADAC's 16-tyre test, where the positions flip and the Continental AllSeasonContact 2 takes 1st place, with the Pirelli settling for 2nd — a reminder that no tyre wins everywhere, even one performing this consistently well elsewhere.

The written verdicts from Autobild reinforce what the rankings suggest. Their 2025 review calls the SF3 a "very balanced tyre across all disciplines" and the best candidate in wet conditions, matching the strongest rivals on dry tarmac with solid safety margins in both handling and braking — its main drawbacks being a high price and slightly weaker snow performance than the class-leading Michelin. The Continental earns praise for good dry-weather safety reserves, direct steering feel, low rolling resistance that translates into real fuel savings, and quiet running, but testers flagged it as the most expensive tyre in the entire test field, along with slight weaknesses in cornering aquaplaning.

Autobild's 2024 round echoes this balance of strengths. The Pirelli delivered strong performance and short braking distances on both wet and dry surfaces, plus very good aquaplaning safety margins, with only satisfactory tread life and an elevated price counting against it. The Continental impressed with a strong showing in snow and ice, short braking distances, good grip and sporty, secure wet-road handling, though its aquaplaning reserves were rated average and its pricing likewise on the high side.

Neither tyre has been superseded — both remain current, top-tier options, succeeding the well-regarded Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2 and Continental AllSeasonContact respectively. For buyers weighing the two, the data points to the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 as the more consistently dominant performer, particularly in wet grip and overall balance, while the Continental AllSeasonContact 2 stands out for its efficiency, low rolling resistance and refined ride, and even claimed outright victory in ADAC's test. Both are backed by major manufacturers with deep all-season expertise — Pirelli and Continental — making either a safe, premium choice depending on whether outright grip or running costs matter more to the driver.