Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 78 · 14 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (rolling resistance)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterContact TS 860 S leads, 74–73 Narrow edge
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 70 · 2 tests Owners 77 · 4 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 9 in 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test (straight aqua)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
74
Dry
Level74Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 73 72 Reviews found online 77 77 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 97% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 99% -
73
Wet
Winter Sport 5 SUV +578Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 70 78 Reviews found online 79 79 Wet Braking (% of best) 91% 99% Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 99% -
73
Snow
WinterContact TS 860 S +469Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 71 64 Reviews found online 78 78 Snow Braking (% of best) 96% 92% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 96% -
74
Comfort
Level74Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 SUV Reviews found online 79 79 -
72
Noise
WinterContact TS 860 S +1062Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 SUV Professional tests (TWG score) 73 60 Reviews found online 71 – -
72
Treadwear
WinterContact TS 860 S +171Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 SUV Reviews found online 76 75 -
81
Handling
WinterContact TS 860 S +378Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 SUV Reviews found online 81 78
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 73 |
| Dry | 74 | 74 |
| Wet | 73 | 78 |
| Snow | 73 | 69 |
| Comfort | 74 | 74 |
| Noise | 72 | 62 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 71 |
| Handling | 81 | 78 |
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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
WinterContact TS 860 S
73
/ 100
Winter Sport 5 SUV
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 860 S | Winter Sport 5 SUV | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | −0.4 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 90% #8/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | +9.6 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #8/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.3 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 55% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 42% #7/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +12.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 25% #4/13 · 2020 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 235/55 R17 | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 92% #7/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | +3.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #8/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +2.3 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | −10.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | −7.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | −2.1 | 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
Tire B Winter Sport 5 SUV
Pros
- Exceptional wet and dry road handling
- Low noise levels and high ride comfort
- Strong tread longevity and durability
Cons
- Reduced grip and 'spongy' handling in warmer temperatures
- Suboptimal traction during ice braking and acceleration
- Not suitable for year-round use due to rapid degradation in heat
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 92 | 31 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 23″ | 16″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
73
/ 100
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S and Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on noise, snow and handling. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV is stronger on wet.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 72 vs 62 on noise.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV scores 78 vs 73 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 73 vs 69 on snow.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 81 vs 78 on handling.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 SUV
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.