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Head-to-head Updated

Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV vs Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — 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 + 2 road tests and 5 + 4 owner reviews. How we score

X-Ice Snow SUV leads, 72–70 Narrow edge

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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 68 · 5 reviews

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

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Tire BMichelin

X-Ice Snow SUV

Winter

± 6

Tests 68 · 2 tests Owners 76 · 4 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)

Category by category

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

  1. 70

    Dry

    X-Ice Snow SUV +2
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests6870
    Reviews found online7274

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 60% × 68 + 40% × 71.9 = 70

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 73.7 = 72

  2. 75

    Wet

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV +8
    67
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests7757
    Reviews found online7280

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 60% × 76.9 + 40% × 71.6 = 75

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 57.5 + 40% × 80.3 = 67

  3. 68

    Snow

    X-Ice Snow SUV +8
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests7673
    Reviews found online5681

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 60% × 76.4 + 40% × 55.9 = 68

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 80.8 = 76

  4. 71

    Comfort

    X-Ice Snow SUV +3
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 69 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online7277

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 40% × 69.4 (est.) + 60% × 72.3 = 71

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 40% × 70.3 (est.) + 60% × 76.8 = 74

    No road tests of comfort for Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

    No road tests of comfort for X-Ice Snow SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 63

    Noise

    X-Ice Snow SUV +9
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests6177
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 60% × 61.4 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 63

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 76.6 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 72

    No owner ratings of noise for Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 70

    Treadwear

    Level
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 69 (est.)≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online7372

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV: 60% × 68.7 (est.) + 40% × 72.5 = 70

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 68.5 (est.) + 40% × 72.2 = 70

    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 0.36).

    No road tests of treadwear for X-Ice Snow SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 71

    Handling (owners)

    X-Ice Snow SUV +2
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Reviews found online7173
  8. 81

    Efficiency

    Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV +8
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Contact TS 850 P SUVX-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests8173
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUVMichelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Relative Score 70 72
Dry 70 72
Wet 75 67
Snow 68 76
Comfort 71 74
Noise 63 72
Treadwear 70 70
Handling (owners) 71 73
Efficiency 81 73

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

± 6

X-Ice Snow SUV

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 SUVX-Ice Snow SUVΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 96% #7/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 93% #7/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 92% #8/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 98% #3/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 88% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #3/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 96% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 99% #2/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 99% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 93% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 99% #3/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 96% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test 96% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV 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 61% #8/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #3/10 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test #5/8 2025 Friction 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 X-Ice Snow SUV

Pros

  • Outstanding traction on snow and ice
  • Remarkably low road noise for a winter tire
  • Excellent ride comfort

Cons

  • Unsuitable for year-round use due to soft compound in warm temperatures
  • Reduced handling precision compared to dedicated summer tires
All owner themes in the X-Ice Snow SUV review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typeSUV and 4x4SUV and 4x4
Sizes available—90
Rim diameters—16″ – 22″

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV

Narrow edge: Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — better noise, snow and comfort. Pick the Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV if wet and efficiency matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 72 vs 63 on noise.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV scores 75 vs 67 on wet.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV scores 81 vs 73 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 76 vs 68 on snow.

Tire A · Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV
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Tire B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
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Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Which is better in the wet, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV, 75 vs 67 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 70 vs 72 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 76 vs 68 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 72 vs 63 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 74 vs 71 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 70 vs 70 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

Which rolls more easily, Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Continental Winter Contact TS 850 P SUV, 81 vs 73 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