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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 — 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 + 5 road tests and 16 + 5 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 860 S is ahead, 75–69

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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)

Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
Tire BHankook

Winter i*pike RS2

Winter

± 6

Tests 66 · 5 tests Owners 73 · 5 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)

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 +20
    56
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter i*pike RS2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests7349
    Reviews found online8066

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73 + 40% × 79.5 = 76

    Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 49.2 + 40% × 65.9 = 56

  2. 75

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 860 S +2
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter i*pike RS2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests7071
    Reviews found online8376

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

    Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 71 + 40% × 75.7 = 73

  3. 74

    Snow

    Winter i*pike RS2 +2
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter i*pike RS2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests7176
    Reviews found online7876

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

    Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 75.9 + 40% × 76.4 = 76

  4. 77

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 860 S +5
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter i*pike RS2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 71 (est.)79
    Reviews found online8168

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 40% × 71.2 (est.) + 60% × 81.4 = 77

    Winter i*pike RS2: 40% × 79.3 + 60% × 67.6 = 72

    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. 71

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 860 S +12
    59
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter i*pike RS2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests7355
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 71

    Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 54.7 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 59

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter i*pike RS2. 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

    WinterContact TS 860 S +3
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter i*pike RS2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online8075

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 71.3 (est.) + 40% × 79.7 = 75

    Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 69.5 (est.) + 40% × 74.9 = 72

    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).

    No road tests of treadwear for Winter i*pike RS2. 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 +12
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter i*pike RS2
    Reviews found online8472
  8. 77

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 860 S +4
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter i*pike RS2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 2 tests7773
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860 SHankook Winter i*pike RS2
Relative Score 75 69
Dry 76 56
Wet 75 73
Snow 74 76
Comfort 77 72
Noise 71 59
Treadwear 75 72
Handling (owners) 84 72
Efficiency 77 73

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

± 6

Winter i*pike RS2

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 SWinter i*pike RS2ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 88% #16/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 96% #3/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 82% #11/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 99% #5/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 98% #6/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 99% #3/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 98% #2/8 · 2023 Studded 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 67% #5/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #4/11 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test #6/8 2023 Studded 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 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 Winter i*pike RS2

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and braking on snow and ice
  • Strong side grip and predictable cornering limits
  • High durability with secure stud retention over multiple years

Cons

  • Poor steering feedback on dry tarmac
  • Noticeable understeer in dry road conditions
All owner themes in the Winter i*pike RS2 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S B · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available92—
Rim diameters16″ – 23″—
Tread depth10 - 11/32″—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S

Hankook Winter i*pike RS2

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better dry, noise and handling. Where the Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points. 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 the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 76 vs 56 on dry.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 71 vs 59 on noise.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 84 vs 72 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 77 vs 72 on comfort.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
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Tire B · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
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WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter i*pike RS2?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter i*pike RS2?

Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 73 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter i*pike RS2?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 76 vs 56 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter i*pike RS2?

Neither, by our numbers: 74 vs 76 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter i*pike RS2?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 71 vs 59 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter i*pike RS2?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 77 vs 72 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter i*pike RS2?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 75 vs 72 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter i*pike RS2?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 77 vs 73 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