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Head-to-head Updated

Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV vs Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — 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 3 + 27 road tests and 5 + 31 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 870 P is ahead, 81–70

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Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
Tire AContinental

Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV

Winter

± 7

Tests 73 · 3 tests Owners 69 · 5 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test (wet braking)

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire BContinental

WinterContact TS 870 P

Winter

± 4

Tests 81 · 27 tests Owners 81 · 31 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 70

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 870 P +11
    81
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 22 tests6882
    Reviews found online7279

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 60% × 68.1 + 40% × 72.4 = 70

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 82.4 + 40% × 79 = 81

  2. 75

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 870 P +15
    90
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 27 tests7793
    Reviews found online7286

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 60% × 77.1 + 40% × 71.9 = 75

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 92.8 + 40% × 86.2 = 90

  3. 68

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 870 P +10
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 26 tests7679
    Reviews found online5676

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 60% × 76.4 + 40% × 56.1 = 68

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.7 + 40% × 76.2 = 78

  4. 72

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 870 P +10
    82
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests≈ 70 (est.)84
    Reviews found online7381

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 40% × 69.8 (est.) + 60% × 73 = 72

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 40% × 83.9 + 60% × 81.1 = 82

    No road tests of comfort for Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 63

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 870 P +11
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 19 tests6178
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 60% × 61.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 63

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 74

    No owner ratings of noise for Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or WinterContact TS 870 P. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 70

    Treadwear

    WinterContact TS 870 P +4
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 7 tests≈ 68 (est.)71
    Reviews found online7280

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 60% × 68.3 (est.) + 40% × 72.3 = 70

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 70.6 + 40% × 79.9 = 74

    No road tests of treadwear for Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 71

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 870 P +12
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVWinterContact TS 870 P
    Reviews found online7183
  8. 81

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 870 P +5
    86
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 21 tests8186
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUVContinental WinterContact TS 870 P
Relative Score 70 81
Dry 70 81
Wet 75 90
Snow 68 78
Comfort 72 82
Noise 63 74
Treadwear 70 74
Handling (owners) 71 83
Efficiency 81 86

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
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV

± 4

WinterContact TS 870 P

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.

DisciplineCategoryWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVWinterContact TS 870 PΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 96% #7/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #3/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 99% #6/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 97% #5/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 98% #3/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #3/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 99% #3/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 97% #4/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 99% #2/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 98% #5/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 93% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 92% #6/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 96% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 98% #10/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 93% #2/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 68% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 78% #8/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #3/10 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test #1/18 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV

Pros

  • Balanced performance across dry and wet conditions
  • Secure handling and positive steering feedback on snow and ice
  • Good overall traction in cold weather environments

Cons

  • Subpar aquaplaning resistance reported by some users
  • Inconsistent grip leading to rear-wheel spin in non-dry conditions
  • Mixed snow and winter slush performance depending on severity
All owner themes in the Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV review

Tire B WinterContact TS 870 P

Pros

  • Exceptionally low noise levels and high ride comfort
  • Outstanding wet weather and slush performance, cutting through heavy rain effortlessly
  • Balanced dry and cold-weather handling with impressive cornering stability

Cons

  • Higher price point compared to some competitors
  • Steering response and initial stiffness are slightly softer and less sporty than dedicated summer tires or some rivals
  • Snow and ice traction can feel less exceptional or borderline inadequate for a small subset of users
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 870 P review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—121
Rim diameters—16″ – 23″

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 90 vs 75 on wet.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 83 vs 71 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 81 vs 70 on dry.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 74 vs 63 on noise.

Tire A · Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
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Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
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Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Which is better in the wet, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 90 vs 75 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 81 vs 70 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 78 vs 68 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 74 vs 63 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 82 vs 72 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 74 vs 70 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 86 vs 81 on our efficiency 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