Pirelli Cinturato C3 review
The Cinturato C3 impresses with strong wet performance and excellent feedback, but it's expensive
A decent set of results across the board for the Pirelli is good enough for fifth, reflecting the quality of the field this year rather than a notable lack of ability from the Cinturato C3. It scored especially well in the most important wet tests, ranking second for straight-line braking, albeit 1.2m off the Continental, and was second again on the wet handling circuit, yet in terms of feel it was the stand-out best.
It felt strong on the brakes and mid-corner, plus had a useful but risk-free agility, making it the best for feedback and confidence. It was good in aquaplaning, coming fourth in a straight line and on the curve. The only anomaly in an otherwise solid wet performance was in wet cornering, where it was eighth and last.
In the dry it was a strong third in straight-line braking, just over half a metre off the best, and it felt like it would deliver on the dry handling circuit, thanks to good turn-in and strong traction, but it needed a little restraint to find the perfect lines, pushing wide of the ideal line quite easily. It was not far off the standard-setter for noise, but its rolling resistance was second highest, and it’s hard to ignore that it is by far the most expensive tyre in the test.
Blackcircles says
“This well rated tyre receives 4.9/5 overall. Drivers note the very good dry and wet handling, low noise and lower fuel consumption.”
Results
| Pirelli Cinturato C3 | ||
| Overall | 97.20% | |
| Price | £124.58 | |
| Wet braking | 95.4 | 2nd |
| Wet handling | 99.3 | 2nd |
| Wet cornering | 83.6 | 8th |
| Straight aquaplaning | 91.6 | = 4th |
| Curved aquaplaning | 90.6 | 4th |
| Dry braking | 98.3 | 3rd |
| Dry handling | 98.6 | = 6th |
| Noise & refinement | 98.1 | 5th |
| Rolling resistance | 81.3 | 7th |
