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 Hankook Winter i cept evo3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Too close to call: WinterContact TS 860 S and Winter i cept evo3 are level at 74.
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Tests 75 · 16 tests Owners 74 · 22 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test (wet braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
74
Dry
Winter i cept evo3 +175Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 75 Reviews found online 77 73 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 95% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 99% -
73
Wet
Winter i cept evo3 +1386Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 91 Reviews found online 79 78 Wet Braking (% of best) 91% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 98% -
73
Snow
Winter i cept evo3 +578Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 71 80 Reviews found online 78 75 Snow Braking (% of best) 96% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 100% -
74
Comfort
WinterContact TS 860 S +668Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 70 Reviews found online 79 64 -
72
Noise
WinterContact TS 860 S +3933Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 10 Reviews found online 71 – -
72
Treadwear
Winter i cept evo3 +274Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 75 Reviews found online 76 73 -
81
Handling
WinterContact TS 860 S +972Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter i cept evo3 Reviews found online 81 72
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Hankook Winter i cept evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 74 |
| Dry | 74 | 75 |
| Wet | 73 | 86 |
| Snow | 73 | 78 |
| Comfort | 74 | 68 |
| Noise | 72 | 33 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 74 |
| Handling | 81 | 72 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
WinterContact TS 860 S
74
/ 100
Winter i cept evo3
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 i cept evo3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/6 · 2025 High Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −0.2 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 93% #4/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | +7.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 93% #30/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | +4.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 55% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 49% #4/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | +6.3 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 17% #6/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | +8.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/6 · 2025 High Performance Winter Tyre Test | −3.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | −2.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #6/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | −6.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −8.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test | −0.2 | 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 i cept evo3
Pros
- Exceptional wet grip and outstanding aquaplaning resistance
- Outstanding snow and ice traction providing high confidence in winter storms
- Great value for money compared to Tier-1 brands like Michelin or Goodyear
Cons
- Slightly increased noise levels or humming compared to summer tires
- Mixed feedback on ride comfort, with some finding them stiffer
- Longer braking distances reported by a few users in specific conditions
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Hankook Winter i cept evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 92 | 86 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 23″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| 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
74
/ 100
Hankook Winter i cept evo3
Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S and Hankook Winter i cept evo3 are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on noise, handling and comfort. Hankook Winter i cept evo3 is stronger on wet and snow.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 72 vs 33 on noise.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 86 vs 73 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 81 vs 72 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 74 vs 68 on comfort.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Hankook Winter i cept evo3
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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.