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 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterContact TS 850 leads, 73–72 Narrow edge
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Tests 70 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 19 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 6 in 2020 Teknikens Värld Studless Winter Tire Test R17 (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 +667Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) – 65 Reviews found online 77 70 -
78
Wet
WinterContact TS 850 +969Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) – 64 Reviews found online 81 77 -
70
Snow
X Ice Snow +676Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) – 73 Reviews found online 70 80 -
73
Comfort
X Ice Snow +780Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) – 82 Reviews found online 77 78 -
–
Noise
No comparison74Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) – 80 -
70
Treadwear
X Ice Snow +272Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X Ice Snow Reviews found online 73 76 -
78
Handling
WinterContact TS 850 +474Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 850 X Ice Snow Reviews found online 78 74
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 850 | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 72 |
| Dry | 73 | 67 |
| Wet | 78 | 69 |
| Snow | 70 | 76 |
| Comfort | 73 | 80 |
| Noise | – | 74 |
| Treadwear | 70 | 72 |
| Handling | 78 | 74 |
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.
Important
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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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
WinterContact TS 850
72
/ 100
X Ice Snow
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 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/42 · 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test | 80% #2/6 · 2020 Teknikens Värld Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | +20.0 | 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
Pros
- Exceptional traction and lateral grip in deep snow and slush
- High level of confidence and stability on icy surfaces
- Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons
Cons
- Average performance and handling on dry or wet pavement
- Increased road noise as the tires wear over time
- Can feel slightly 'twitchy' or less stable at the absolute limit of handling
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 | B · Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 5 | 100 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 16″ | 13″ – 21″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 850
72
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 850 and Michelin X Ice Snow are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 850 is stronger on wet, dry and handling. Michelin X Ice Snow is stronger on comfort and snow.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 78 vs 69 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 80 vs 73 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 73 vs 67 on dry.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 76 vs 70 on snow.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 850
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
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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.