Tests – · none yet Owners 75 · 57 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 42 in 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental WinterContact TS 850 vs Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterContact TS 850 leads, 73–70 Narrow edge
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Tests 67 · 2 tests Owners 74 · 4 reviews
Best test result: #4 of 8 in 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV 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.
-
73
Dry
WinterContact TS 850 +370Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 70 Reviews found online 77 70 -
78
Wet
WinterContact TS 850 +1365Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 56 Reviews found online 81 78 -
70
Snow
X-Ice Snow SUV +676Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 73 Reviews found online 70 81 -
73
Comfort
Level73Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X-Ice Snow SUV Reviews found online 77 77 -
–
Noise
No comparison73Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X-Ice Snow SUV Professional tests (TWG score) – 76 -
70
Treadwear
WinterContact TS 850 +268Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X-Ice Snow SUV Reviews found online 73 70 -
78
Handling
WinterContact TS 850 +771Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X-Ice Snow SUV Reviews found online 78 71
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 850 | Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 70 |
| Dry | 73 | 70 |
| Wet | 78 | 65 |
| Snow | 70 | 76 |
| Comfort | 73 | 73 |
| Noise | – | 73 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 68 |
| Handling | 78 | 71 |
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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Important
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Less important
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Less important
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
WinterContact TS 850
70
/ 100
X-Ice Snow SUV
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | X-Ice Snow SUV | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/42 · 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test | 25% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | +75.0 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A WinterContact TS 850
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow and icy conditions
- Outstanding performance in wet weather with strong resistance to aquaplaning
- High levels of ride comfort and low cabin noise
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can result in a 'floating' or vague steering feel during cornering
- Performance degrades noticeably in temperatures above 10-15°C
- Reports of accelerated shoulder wear, particularly on heavier or RWD vehicles
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
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 | B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 5 | 90 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 16″ | 16″ – 22″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 850
70
/ 100
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 850 — better wet, handling and dry. Pick the Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV if snow matters most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 78 vs 65 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 78 vs 71 on handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 76 vs 70 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 73 vs 70 on dry.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 850
Tire B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
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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.