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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — 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 9 + 1 road tests and 20 + 16 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: WinterContact TS 850 P 74, WinterContact TS 860 S 75.

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Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
Tire AContinental

WinterContact TS 850 P

Winter

± 5

Tests 76 · 9 tests Owners 72 · 20 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test (wet handling)

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire BContinental

WinterContact TS 860 S

Winter

± 7Provisional

Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 80 · 16 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance 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. 71

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 860 S +5
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 850 PWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 1 tests7173
    Reviews found online7180

    WinterContact TS 850 P: 60% × 71.4 + 40% × 70.8 = 71

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73 + 40% × 79.5 = 76

  2. 84

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 850 P +9
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 850 PWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 1 tests8870
    Reviews found online7783

    WinterContact TS 850 P: 60% × 88.1 + 40% × 77.3 = 84

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 69.9 + 40% × 83 = 75

  3. 73

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 860 S +1
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 850 PWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 1 tests7671
    Reviews found online6878

    WinterContact TS 850 P: 60% × 76.4 + 40% × 68.1 = 73

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70.5 + 40% × 78.2 = 74

  4. 70

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 860 S +7
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 850 PWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests72≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online6881

    WinterContact TS 850 P: 40% × 72 + 60% × 68.4 = 70

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 40% × 71.3 (est.) + 60% × 81.3 = 77

    No road tests of comfort for WinterContact TS 860 S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 67

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 860 S +3
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 850 PWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 1 tests6773
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    WinterContact TS 850 P: 60% × 67.1 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 67

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 70

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 850 P or WinterContact TS 860 S. 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. 72

    Treadwear

    WinterContact TS 860 S +3
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 850 PWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests72≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online7180

    WinterContact TS 850 P: 60% × 72.2 + 40% × 71.4 = 72

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 71.3 (est.) + 40% × 79.7 = 75

    No road tests of treadwear for WinterContact TS 860 S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 74

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 860 S +10
    84
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 850 PWinterContact TS 860 S
    Reviews found online7484
  8. 80

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 850 P +3
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 850 PWinterContact TS 860 S
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 1 tests8077
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 850 PContinental WinterContact TS 860 S
Relative Score 74 75
Dry 71 76
Wet 84 75
Snow 73 74
Comfort 70 77
Noise 67 70
Treadwear 72 75
Handling (owners) 74 84
Efficiency 80 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 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
± 5

WinterContact TS 850 P

± 7

WinterContact TS 860 S

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.

DisciplineCategoryWinterContact TS 850 PWinterContact TS 860 SΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 96% #9/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #4/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 93% #8/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 94% #7/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #4/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 93% #7/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 96% #3/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 95% #9/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 42% #9/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test 55% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #7/10 2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test R18 #4/11 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A WinterContact TS 850 P

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and stability in wet and dry conditions
  • Low noise levels and high ride comfort
  • Predictable handling and good feedback on cold, ungritted roads

Cons

  • Faster than expected tread wear reported by some users
  • High initial purchase price
  • Mixed performance on ice and slush for certain drivers
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 850 P review

Tire B WinterContact TS 860 S

Pros

  • Exceptional handling and grip in wet, dry, and snow conditions
  • Stiff sidewalls providing precise road feedback and cornering stability
  • Summer-tire-like driving dynamics and confidence at low temperatures

Cons

  • Long break-in (scrub-in) period required before optimal grip is reached
  • Lateral grip in wet conditions can occasionally feel lacking during sudden maneuvers
  • High price point
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 860 S review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available12292
Rim diameters15″ – 22″16″ – 23″
Tread depth10 - 11/32″10 - 11/32″
SidewallBlack Side WallBlack Side Wall
Max pressure44 - 51 psi50 - 51 psi
Sizes in common2525

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 850 P

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S

Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P and Continental WinterContact TS 860 S are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 850 P is stronger on wet and efficiency. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on handling, comfort and dry. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 16 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 84 vs 74 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 84 vs 75 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 77 vs 70 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 76 vs 71 on dry.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
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Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
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WinterContact TS 850 P or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 850 P or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 850 P, 84 vs 75 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 850 P or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 76 vs 71 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 850 P or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 74 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 850 P or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 70 vs 67 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 850 P or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 77 vs 70 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 850 P or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 75 vs 72 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 850 P or WinterContact TS 860 S?

Continental WinterContact TS 850 P, 80 vs 77 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