Tests 74 · 8 tests Owners 79 · 12 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test (snow handling (tester's mark))
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental VikingContact 8 vs Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 8 + 3 road tests and 12 + 6,420 owner reviews. How we score
ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS leads, 78–76 Narrow edge
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Tests 76 · 3 tests Owners 81 · 6,420 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 9 in 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test (ice braking)
“I ran the dws on my 700whp corvette ZR1 for 5 years . Never a problem and wear really good . I’ve tracked them in the qtr mile and roll racing . They hooked pretty good ls at the track . Had a 1.60 sixty foot on them”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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75
Dry
ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS +580Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 3 tests 75 76 Reviews found online 75 88 VikingContact 8: 60% × 74.6 + 40% × 75.2 = 75
ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 60% × 75.5 + 40% × 87.5 = 80
-
72
Wet
ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS +981Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 3 tests 63 75 Reviews found online 85 91 VikingContact 8: 60% × 63 + 40% × 84.9 = 72
ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 60% × 74.7 + 40% × 91.4 = 81
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78
Snow
VikingContact 8 +177Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 1 tests 77 80 Reviews found online 80 72 VikingContact 8: 60% × 77.4 + 40% × 79.9 = 78
ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 60% × 80.3 + 40% × 71.5 = 77
-
85
Comfort
VikingContact 8 +679Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 3 tests 91 74 Reviews found online 82 83 VikingContact 8: 40% × 91.1 + 60% × 81.7 = 85
ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 40% × 74.5 + 60% × 82.6 = 79
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80
Noise
VikingContact 8 +575Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 3 tests 79 71 Reviews found online 81 79 VikingContact 8: 60% × 78.8 + 40% × 81.3 = 80
ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 60% × 71.4 + 40% × 79.4 = 75
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73
Treadwear
VikingContact 8 +469Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 70 (est.) ≈ 68 (est.) Reviews found online 77 71 VikingContact 8: 60% × 70.3 (est.) + 40% × 77.1 = 73
ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS: 60% × 68.1 (est.) + 40% × 70.9 = 69
No road tests of treadwear for VikingContact 8. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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76
Handling (owners)
ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS +783Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS Reviews found online 76 83 -
78
Efficiency
No comparison–Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / – tests 78 –
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 8 | Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 78 |
| Dry | 75 | 80 |
| Wet | 72 | 81 |
| Snow | 78 | 77 |
| Comfort | 85 | 79 |
| Noise | 80 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 73 | 69 |
| Handling (owners) | 76 | 83 |
| Efficiency | 78 | – |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Recomputed
Headline score
76
/ 100
VikingContact 8
78
/ 100
ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
| Discipline | Category | VikingContact 8 | ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Circle | Dry | 99% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 97% #3/4 · Tire Rack Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 93% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 100% #1/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling (tester's mark) | Dry | 100% #2/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 88% #3/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Lane Change | Dry | 93% #9/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | 96% #4/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 92% #3/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #3/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling (tester's mark) | Wet | 60% #9/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | 97% #2/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 86% #3/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 91% #3/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 92% #3/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 98% #2/9 · 2024 Tire Rack UHP All Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 100% #1/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 99% #3/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise (tester's mark) | Noise | 97% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 96% #4/5 · 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Road Rating (tester's mark) | Other | 94% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 94% #2/4 · Tire Rack Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/6 2027 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | #3/5 2025 AutoView Ultra High Performance All-Season Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A VikingContact 8
Pros
- Exceptional traction and grip on ice and hard-packed snow
- High level of ride comfort, effectively soaking up potholes and rough roads
- Remarkably quiet operation with minimal tread noise
Cons
- Slightly soft cornering feel
- Noticeable gap in steering response and lack of feel on straightaways
- Occasional slip reported on really dry roads at low speeds
Tire B ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS
Pros
- Exceptional wet traction and resistance to hydroplaning
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality that transforms vehicle dynamics
- Strong dry grip and responsive, predictable cornering capabilities
Cons
- Accelerated tread wear and shorter-than-expected lifespan for some drivers
- Increased road noise and drone developing as the tires wear down
- Softer sidewalls can result in slightly delayed initial steering response or a 'squishy' feel
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Continental VikingContact 8
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS
The community widely praises the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus as a top-tier ultra-high-performance all-season tire, often comparing it favorably to Michelin competitors. Users frequently highlight its exceptional wet traction, comfortable and quiet ride quality, and surprising winter capabilities for an all-season tire. While a few note softer sidewalls or minor balancing quirks, the overall consensus is overwhelmingly positive regarding daily driving performance and value.
corvetteforum.com
“I just put them on my 17 Z06. $1190.00 for the set. Huge difference on cold days with regards to traction. I had these on my Chevy SS Sedan for years and loved them. Only complaint is that if the car sits for a couple of weeks you will notice a slight vibration due to low spot until they even out, at least that's what I encountered on the original DSW's. I also noticed since these are not run flats that the bumps are not as harsh, which hopefully will reduce potential rim cracks. That's the hope but with our MI roads it's a never ending battle! Good luck in your decision!”
r/Ioniq5N
·1 upvote ·2026-09-19
“I went with Superspeed RF05RR 19x9.5 ET33 5x114.3 CB73.1. I liked the RF05RR better than the RF06RR many others have gotten. For tires I got 275/45ZR-19 CONTINENTAL EXTREMECONTACT DWS 06 PLUS XL. Yes tire selection is limited, but these had good ratings and I am happy. My reason for going to the 19s was increased sidewall. The ride is so much smoother than the OEM 21s. Much quieter than OEM as well. No plans on track days or anything like that, just daily driving, so grip was not a concern. Yes, the clearance is tight, but they fit. Balance weights have to go on the inside, but not an issue. Have not regretted going to 19s.”
r/accord
·39 upvotes ·2026-08-24
“2.0T + Cont Extremecontact = win Replaced my stock tires at just shy of 35k miles with Continental Extremecontact DWS06 plus tires....my oh MY what a difference! Even when brand-new, the stock michelin all-seasons would spin out every time I'd try to launch...no longer an issue/these feel like a dream. I feel like I'm driving a completely different car now. Far better corner handling/lane changing as well, and they honestly seem to have less road noise as well. To anyone who feels they don't have enough grip/handling on their 2.0T, these are the answer. Haven't had the chance to test in heavy rain yet (or snow come winter), but I'm sure they'll handle well. 10/10 after about a hundred miles or so (likely not even "broken in" yet) Read more”
Top themes
#Wet Weather Traction#Ride Comfort and Noise#Winter and Snow Performance#Handling and Grip#Tread Life and Longevity#Michelin Comparison#Value and Pricing
Based on 139 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 8 | B · Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | All Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 123 | 120 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 22″ | 16″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 10/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 560 - 740 A - AA A |
| Treadwear warranty | — | 50,000 mi |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | 50 - 51 psi |
| Sizes in common | 66 | 66 |
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 8
78
/ 100
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS
Narrow edge: Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS — better wet, handling and dry. Pick the Continental VikingContact 8 if comfort, noise and treadwear matter most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS scores 81 vs 72 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS scores 83 vs 76 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental VikingContact 8 scores 85 vs 79 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental VikingContact 8 scores 80 vs 75 on noise.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 8
Tire B · Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS
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VikingContact 8 or ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS?
Which is better in the wet, VikingContact 8 or ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS?
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS, 81 vs 72 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, VikingContact 8 or ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS?
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS, 80 vs 75 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, VikingContact 8 or ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS?
Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 77 on the snow score, within 3 points.
Which is quieter, VikingContact 8 or ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS?
Continental VikingContact 8, 80 vs 75 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, VikingContact 8 or ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS?
Continental VikingContact 8, 85 vs 79 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, VikingContact 8 or ExtremeContact DWS 06 PLUS?
Continental VikingContact 8, 73 vs 69 on our treadwear score.
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.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology