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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ — 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 + 11 road tests and 16 + 20 owner reviews. How we score

UltraGrip Performance+ leads, 79–75 Narrow edge

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Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire AContinental

WinterContact TS 860 S

Winter

± 7Provisional

Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 80 · 16 reviews

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

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Tire BGoodyear

UltraGrip Performance+

Winter

± 5

Tests 78 · 11 tests Owners 80 · 20 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 76

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 860 S +4
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 8 tests7371
    Reviews found online7974
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–198%100%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–099%98%

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73 + 40% × 79.4 = 76

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 70.8 + 40% × 73.7 = 72

  2. 75

    Wet

    UltraGrip Performance+ +11
    86
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 11 tests7087
    Reviews found online8384
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–190%100%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–191%100%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–197%100%

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70 + 40% × 82.9 = 75

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 86.8 + 40% × 83.7 = 86

  3. 74

    Snow

    UltraGrip Performance+ +10
    84
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 11 tests7187
    Reviews found online7879
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–196%100%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–198%99%

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70.5 + 40% × 78.1 = 74

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 86.7 + 40% × 79.1 = 84

  4. 77

    Comfort

    Level
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 71 (est.)72
    Reviews found online8180

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 40% × 71.2 (est.) + 60% × 81.2 = 77

    UltraGrip Performance+: 40% × 72.1 + 60% × 80.4 = 77

    No road tests of comfort for WinterContact TS 860 S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 70

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 860 S +11
    59
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 8 tests7355
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–098%95%

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 70

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 54.7 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 59

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 S or UltraGrip Performance+. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 75

    Treadwear

    UltraGrip Performance+ +2
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 71 (est.)74
    Reviews found online8082

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 71.2 (est.) + 40% × 79.7 = 75

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 74 + 40% × 81.5 = 77

    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 0.36).

  7. 84

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 860 S +3
    81
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Reviews found online8481
  8. 77

    Efficiency

    Level
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 8 tests7777
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%93%
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860 SGoodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Relative Score 75 79
Dry 76 72
Wet 75 86
Snow 74 84
Comfort 77 77
Noise 70 59
Treadwear 75 77
Handling (owners) 84 81
Efficiency 77 77

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
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Important
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Less important
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Less important
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Not important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

WinterContact TS 860 S

± 5

UltraGrip Performance+

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.

In the overall rankings of 1 tests that ran both, Continental WinterContact TS 860 S finished ahead 0 times and Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ 1 times.

DisciplineCategoryWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% 100% −2.4 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test · 255/35 R19
Dry Handling Dry 99% 98% +1.1 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test · 255/35 R19
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% 100% −10.3 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test · 255/35 R19
Wet Braking Wet 91% 100% −8.6 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test · 255/35 R19
Wet Handling Wet 97% 100% −2.6 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test · 255/35 R19
Snow Braking Snow 96% 100% −4.5 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test · 255/35 R19
Snow Handling Snow 98% 99% −1.0 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test · 255/35 R19
Noise Noise 98% 95% +2.1 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test · 255/35 R19
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% 93% +6.9 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test · 255/35 R19
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 55% 59% −3.4 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test · 255/35 R19
Overall Ranking Overall #4/11 #1/11 – 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test · 255/35 R19

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 grip in wet, dry, and snow conditions
  • Stiff sidewalls providing precise road feedback and cornering stability
  • Summer-tire-like driving dynamics and confidence at low temperatures

Cons

  • Long break-in (scrub-in) period required before optimal grip is reached
  • Lateral grip in wet conditions can occasionally feel lacking during sudden maneuvers
  • High price point
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 860 S review

Tire B UltraGrip Performance+

Pros

  • Strong wet grip and resistance to aquaplaning, with several owners reporting confident cornering and no sliding in the rain
  • Excellent snow traction, including deep snow, steep slopes, and cold temperatures down to about -30°C, with one owner describing the best lateral grip on snow they have experienced
  • Sporty, stable handling for a winter tire, with good dry-road behavior and the ability to withstand spirited driving

Cons

  • Noise is a concern for some owners, who describe a roar or sizzling on fast curves and a noisy ride in a BMW 3 Series
  • Ice grip is mixed: one reviewer called it unsuitable for ice and another noted some slipping, though others found it adequate or very capable on icy slopes
  • Less grip and sharpness than summer tires in dry and wet conditions, with one reviewer reporting unpredictable cornering and heavy understeer
All owner themes in the UltraGrip Performance+ review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S B · Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available9288
Rim diameters16″ – 23″15″ – 22″
Tread depth10 - 11/32″—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—
Sizes in common3232

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+

Narrow edge: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ — better wet and snow. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if noise and dry matter most to you. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 16 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 70 vs 59 on noise.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ scores 86 vs 75 on wet.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ scores 84 vs 74 on snow.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 76 vs 72 on dry.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
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Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
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WinterContact TS 860 S or UltraGrip Performance+?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 860 S or UltraGrip Performance+?

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+, 86 vs 75 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 860 S or UltraGrip Performance+?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 76 vs 72 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 860 S or UltraGrip Performance+?

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+, 84 vs 74 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 860 S or UltraGrip Performance+?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 70 vs 59 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 860 S or UltraGrip Performance+?

Neither, by our numbers: 77 vs 77 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 860 S or UltraGrip Performance+?

Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 77 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 860 S or UltraGrip Performance+?

Neither, by our numbers: 77 vs 77 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.

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