Tests 77 · 8 tests Owners 60 · 32 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 5 in 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental VikingContact 7 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Too close to call: VikingContact 7 and Ice Zero 2 are level at 67.
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Tests 77 · 6 tests Owners 58 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test (straight aqua)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
67
Dry
Ice Zero 2 +572Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 79 81 Reviews found online 49 58 Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 98% -
67
Wet
Ice Zero 2 +673Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 80 Reviews found online 62 62 Wet Braking (% of best) 86% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) 80% 100% -
76
Snow
VikingContact 7 +571Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 79 76 Reviews found online 70 64 Snow Braking (% of best) 100% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 90% 97% Snow Traction (% of best) 100% 99% -
70
Comfort
VikingContact 7 +763Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 72 Reviews found online 71 50 -
80
Noise
VikingContact 7 +1466Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 88 65 Reviews found online 67 – -
59
Treadwear
VikingContact 7 +158Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Ice Zero 2 Reviews found online 54 52 -
60
Handling
VikingContact 7 +456Why this score
Source VikingContact 7 Ice Zero 2 Reviews found online 60 56
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 67 |
| Dry | 67 | 72 |
| Wet | 67 | 73 |
| Snow | 76 | 71 |
| Comfort | 70 | 63 |
| Noise | 80 | 66 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 58 |
| Handling | 60 | 56 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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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Recomputed
Headline score
67
/ 100
VikingContact 7
67
/ 100
Ice Zero 2
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 | VikingContact 7 | Ice Zero 2 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 98% #2/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 96% #4/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | −3.1 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 60% #12/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 78% #13/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −17.8 | Different tests |
| Ice Handling | Ice | 100% #1/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 92% #7/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | +7.6 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 94% #3/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 78% #6/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +15.5 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #8/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | −0.8 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 42% #8/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 55% #10/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −12.5 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/16 · 2024 Teknikens Värld Big Winter Tire Test R17 | 6% #16/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | +93.8 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #1/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +0.8 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 90% #3/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 97% #5/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | −7.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 99% #2/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 87% #4/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | −12.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 100% #1/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | 60% #12/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | +40.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #2/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | −20.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 100% #1/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 70% #9/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +30.0 | Same test |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 70% #5/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 70% #12/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 86% #6/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −14.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 80% #3/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 100% #1/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | −20.0 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A VikingContact 7
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong performance in slush and deep snow
- Stable and predictable handling at highway speeds
Cons
- Mixed reports regarding tread life and longevity
- Noticeable decline in ice-braking performance compared to top-tier ice specialists
- Compound may harden or performance may degrade after multiple seasons
Tire B Ice Zero 2
Pros
- Very good traction and performance on snow
- Reasonably quiet for a studded winter tire
- Adequate performance on wet and salty roads
Cons
- Dangerous slipping on ice at low speeds in cold climates
- Strong, intrusive howling noise at speeds above 95 km/h
- Poor overall handling compared to competing studded winter tires like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 7 | B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 134 | — |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 22″ | — |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 7
67
/ 100
Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Too close to call: Continental VikingContact 7 and Pirelli Ice Zero 2 are within 2 points overall. Continental VikingContact 7 is stronger on noise, comfort and snow. Pirelli Ice Zero 2 is stronger on wet and dry.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 80 vs 66 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 70 vs 63 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 73 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 76 vs 71 on snow.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 7
Tire B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
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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.