Tests 75 · 9 tests Owners 71 · 20 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P vs Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterContact TS 850 P is ahead, 74–66
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Tests – · none yet Owners 65 · 45 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2011 Auto Bild 4x4 Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
71
Dry
WinterContact TS 850 P +764Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P SP Winter Sport 3D Professional tests (TWG score) 71 – Reviews found online 71 61 -
83
Wet
WinterContact TS 850 P +1172Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P SP Winter Sport 3D Professional tests (TWG score) 87 – Reviews found online 77 73 -
73
Snow
WinterContact TS 850 P +667Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P SP Winter Sport 3D Professional tests (TWG score) 76 – Reviews found online 69 66 -
71
Comfort
WinterContact TS 850 P +566Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P SP Winter Sport 3D Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 69 63 -
64
Noise
WinterContact TS 850 P +163Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P SP Winter Sport 3D Professional tests (TWG score) 65 – Reviews found online 64 59 -
71
Treadwear
WinterContact TS 850 P +863Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P SP Winter Sport 3D Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 69 61 -
74
Handling
WinterContact TS 850 P +767Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 P SP Winter Sport 3D Reviews found online 74 67
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 850 P | Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 66 |
| Dry | 71 | 64 |
| Wet | 83 | 72 |
| Snow | 73 | 67 |
| Comfort | 71 | 66 |
| Noise | 64 | 63 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 63 |
| Handling | 74 | 67 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
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
74
/ 100
WinterContact TS 850 P
66
/ 100
SP Winter Sport 3D
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 | WinterContact TS 850 P | SP Winter Sport 3D | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2011 Auto Bild 4x4 Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | 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
Tire B SP Winter Sport 3D
Pros
- Outstanding grip and traction in deep and packed snow
- Confident handling and braking performance on cold, wet roads
- Great dry-road handling and steering response during winter temperatures
Cons
- High and sometimes unbearable road noise as the tires age
- Degradation of grip and hardening of rubber compound over multiple seasons
- Faster or below-average tread life reported by some drivers
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P | B · Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 122 | 21 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 22″ | 16″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
66
/ 100
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P — better wet, treadwear and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 83 vs 72 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 71 vs 63 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 71 vs 64 on dry.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 74 vs 67 on handling.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
Tire B · Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D
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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.