tirewheelguide
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 14 + 18 owner reviews. How we score

UltraGrip Performance+ is ahead, 79–74

Check price on Amazon · UltraGrip Performance+ or WinterContact TS 860 S on Amazon
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.

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)

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Tire BGoodyear

UltraGrip Performance+

Winter

± 5

Tests 78 · 11 tests Owners 81 · 18 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. 74

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 860 S +1
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 8 tests7371
    Reviews found online7676
    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% × 76.4 = 74

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 70.9 + 40% × 76.1 = 73

  2. 74

    Wet

    UltraGrip Performance+ +12
    86
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 11 tests7087
    Reviews found online8085
    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% × 69.9 + 40% × 80.1 = 74

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 87.1 + 40% × 85.1 = 86

  3. 73

    Snow

    UltraGrip Performance+ +11
    84
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 11 tests7187
    Reviews found online7780
    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% × 70.6 + 40% × 76.9 = 73

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 86.7 + 40% × 79.8 = 84

  4. 76

    Comfort

    UltraGrip Performance+ +2
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 71 (est.)72
    Reviews found online7981

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

    UltraGrip Performance+: 40% × 72.3 + 60% × 81.1 = 78

    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 860 S +11
    60
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 8 tests7455
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–098%95%

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

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 55.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 60

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 S or UltraGrip Performance+. 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

    UltraGrip Performance+ +3
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 71 (est.)74
    Reviews found online7981

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

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 73.8 + 40% × 80.8 = 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 0.35).

  7. 81

    Handling (owners)

    UltraGrip Performance+ +2
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Reviews found online8183
  8. 77

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 860 S +1
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SUltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 8 tests7776
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%93%
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860 SGoodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Relative Score 74 79
Dry 74 73
Wet 74 86
Snow 73 84
Comfort 76 78
Noise 71 60
Treadwear 74 77
Handling (owners) 81 83
Efficiency 77 76

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

± 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 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 UltraGrip Performance+

Pros

  • Exceptional wet grip and low risk of aquaplaning
  • Outstanding traction and lateral grip on snow
  • Comfortable ride quality with manageable noise levels

Cons

  • Mixed feedback regarding noise, with some users reporting a noticeable roar or sizzling sound on fast curves
  • Average performance on pure ice compared to specialized ice tires
  • Faster rear-axle tread wear reported on high-powered rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicles
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+

Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ — better wet, snow and treadwear. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if noise matters most to you. 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

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ scores 86 vs 74 on wet.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 71 vs 60 on noise.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ scores 84 vs 73 on snow.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ scores 77 vs 74 on treadwear.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Check price on Amazon

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

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 74 on our wet score.

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

Neither, by our numbers: 74 vs 73 on the dry score, within 3 points.

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

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+, 84 vs 73 on our snow score.

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

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 71 vs 60 on our noise score.

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

Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 78 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

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

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+, 77 vs 74 on our treadwear score.

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

Neither, by our numbers: 77 vs 76 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