Tests 73 · 2 tests Owners 69 · 2 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental IceContact 2 vs Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Observe GSi-6 HP leads, 71–70 Narrow edge
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Tests 69 · 2 tests Owners 75 · 14 reviews
Best test result: #5 of 20 in 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
69
Dry
Observe GSi-6 HP +675Why this score
Source IceContact 2 Observe GSi-6 HP Professional tests (TWG score) 71 73 Reviews found online 66 79 Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 97% -
71
Wet
Observe GSi-6 HP +475Why this score
Source IceContact 2 Observe GSi-6 HP Professional tests (TWG score) 70 71 Reviews found online 72 81 Wet Braking (% of best) 84% 81% -
76
Snow
IceContact 2 +1066Why this score
Source IceContact 2 Observe GSi-6 HP Professional tests (TWG score) 77 60 Reviews found online 75 75 Snow Braking (% of best) 100% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 100% 98% Snow Traction (% of best) 95% 95% -
66
Comfort
Observe GSi-6 HP +1177Why this score
Source IceContact 2 Observe GSi-6 HP Professional tests (TWG score) – 77 Reviews found online 63 77 -
–
Noise
No comparison70Why this score
Source IceContact 2 Observe GSi-6 HP Professional tests (TWG score) – 72 -
65
Treadwear
Level65Why this score
Source IceContact 2 Observe GSi-6 HP Reviews found online 65 65 -
71
Handling
Observe GSi-6 HP +677Why this score
Source IceContact 2 Observe GSi-6 HP Reviews found online 71 77
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental IceContact 2 | Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 70 | 71 |
| Dry | 69 | 75 |
| Wet | 71 | 75 |
| Snow | 76 | 66 |
| Comfort | 66 | 77 |
| Noise | – | 70 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 65 |
| Handling | 71 | 77 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
70
/ 100
IceContact 2
71
/ 100
Observe GSi-6 HP
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | IceContact 2 | Observe GSi-6 HP | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +2.7 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 100% #1/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 79% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +21.4 | Different tests |
| Ice Handling | Ice | 99% #2/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 85% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +13.4 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 100% #2/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 57% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +42.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 8% #12/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | +91.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #1/10 · 2017 Autocenter Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #8/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #1/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 98% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +2.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 95% #4/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | 95% #16/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +0.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 84% #8/10 · 2017 Autocenter Studded Winter Tyre Test | 81% #7/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +3.2 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A IceContact 2
Pros
- Excellent traction on snow and ice-covered surfaces
- Surprisingly comfortable and quiet ride for a studded tire
- Reliable handling and stability in severe winter conditions
Cons
- Increased road noise when driving on dry or clean pavement
- Noticeable degradation in ice grip performance after two seasons of use
- Requires precise tire pressure maintenance to ensure optimal wet-weather handling
Tire B Observe GSi-6 HP
Pros
- Exceptional traction and stability in snow and slush
- Impressive wet-weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
- Remarkably quiet ride quality for a winter tire
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life reports, with some users experiencing premature wear
- Occasional reports of structural failure or tread separation
- Slightly vague steering feel at lower speeds
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental IceContact 2 | B · Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | — |
| Sizes available | — | 39 |
| Rim diameters | — | 16″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | — | 11 - 12/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 - 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
70
/ 100
Continental IceContact 2
71
/ 100
Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
Too close to call: Continental IceContact 2 and Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP are within 2 points overall. Continental IceContact 2 is stronger on snow. Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP is stronger on comfort, dry and handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 77 vs 66 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Continental IceContact 2 scores 76 vs 66 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 75 vs 69 on dry.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 77 vs 71 on handling.
Tire A · Continental IceContact 2
Tire B · Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
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How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.