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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — 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 1 + 27 road tests and 14 + 31 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 870 P is ahead, 81–74

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Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire AContinental

WinterContact TS 860 S

Winter

± 7Provisional

Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 78 · 14 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire BContinental

WinterContact TS 870 P

Winter

± 4

Tests 81 · 27 tests Owners 81 · 31 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 Auto Bild 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. 74

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 870 P +7
    81
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 22 tests7382
    Reviews found online7679

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73 + 40% × 76.4 = 74

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 82.4 + 40% × 79 = 81

  2. 74

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 870 P +16
    90
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 27 tests7093
    Reviews found online8086

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 69.9 + 40% × 80.1 = 74

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 92.8 + 40% × 86.2 = 90

  3. 73

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 870 P +5
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 26 tests7179
    Reviews found online7776

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70.6 + 40% × 76.9 = 73

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.7 + 40% × 76.2 = 78

  4. 76

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 870 P +6
    82
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests≈ 71 (est.)84
    Reviews found online7981

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 40% × 70.9 (est.) + 60% × 78.6 = 76

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 40% × 83.9 + 60% × 81.1 = 82

    No road tests of comfort for WinterContact TS 860 S. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 71

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 870 P +3
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 19 tests7478
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73.5 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 71

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 74

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 S or WinterContact TS 870 P. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 74

    Treadwear

    Level
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 7 tests≈ 71 (est.)71
    Reviews found online7980

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70.6 (est.) + 40% × 78.9 = 74

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 70.6 + 40% × 79.9 = 74

    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 0.35).

  7. 81

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 870 P +2
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinterContact TS 870 P
    Reviews found online8183
  8. 77

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 870 P +9
    86
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 21 tests7786
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860 SContinental WinterContact TS 870 P
Relative Score 74 81
Dry 74 81
Wet 74 90
Snow 73 78
Comfort 76 82
Noise 71 74
Treadwear 74 74
Handling (owners) 81 83
Efficiency 77 86

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

WinterContact TS 860 S

± 4

WinterContact TS 870 P

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 860 SWinterContact TS 870 PΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 99% #6/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 97% #5/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 97% #4/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 98% #5/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 98% #10/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 93% #2/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 55% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 78% #8/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #4/11 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test #1/18 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A WinterContact TS 860 S

Pros

  • Exceptional handling and feedback on dry and wet roads in cold temperatures
  • Strong performance and confidence in snow and icy conditions
  • Stiffer sidewalls compared to predecessors, offering improved cornering stability

Cons

  • Long break-in period required before optimal grip is achieved
  • Potential for traction control interference on staggered RWD setups due to circumference variances
  • Limited lateral grip in wet conditions compared to some competitors
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 860 S review

Tire B WinterContact TS 870 P

Pros

  • Exceptionally low noise levels and high ride comfort
  • Outstanding wet weather and slush performance, cutting through heavy rain effortlessly
  • Balanced dry and cold-weather handling with impressive cornering stability

Cons

  • Higher price point compared to some competitors
  • Steering response and initial stiffness are slightly softer and less sporty than dedicated summer tires or some rivals
  • Snow and ice traction can feel less exceptional or borderline inadequate for a small subset of users
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 870 P review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available92121
Rim diameters16″ – 23″16″ – 23″
Tread depth10 - 11/32″—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—
Sizes in common2727

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better wet, efficiency and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 14 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 90 vs 74 on wet.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 86 vs 77 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 81 vs 74 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 82 vs 76 on comfort.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
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Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
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WinterContact TS 860 S or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 860 S or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 90 vs 74 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 860 S or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 81 vs 74 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 860 S or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 78 vs 73 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 860 S or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 74 vs 71 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 860 S or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 82 vs 76 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 860 S or WinterContact TS 870 P?

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

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 860 S or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 86 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