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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Michelin Alpin A4 — 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 + 1 road tests and 16 + 55 owner reviews. How we score

Alpin A4 leads, 80–76 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)

Michelin Alpin A4
Tire BMichelin

Alpin A4

Winter

± 7

Tests 73 · 1 test Owners 88 · 55 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (wet braking)

Category by category

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

  1. 76

    Dry

    Alpin A4 +4
    80
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SAlpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests7375
    Reviews found online7987

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

    Alpin A4: 60% × 75.4 + 40% × 86.6 = 80

  2. 75

    Wet

    Alpin A4 +7
    82
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SAlpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests7075
    Reviews found online8393

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

    Alpin A4: 60% × 75.3 + 40% × 93.2 = 82

  3. 74

    Snow

    Level
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SAlpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests7169
    Reviews found online7882

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

    Alpin A4: 60% × 69 + 40% × 81.9 = 74

  4. 77

    Comfort

    Alpin A4 +4
    81
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SAlpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 72 (est.)
    Reviews found online8188

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

    Alpin A4: 40% × 72.5 (est.) + 60% × 87.5 = 81

    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).

    No road tests of comfort for Alpin A4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 70

    Noise

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SAlpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests73–
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)–

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

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 S. 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

    Alpin A4 +5
    80
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SAlpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 71 (est.)≈ 75 (est.)
    Reviews found online8089

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

    Alpin A4: 60% × 74.5 (est.) + 40% × 89 = 80

    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 Alpin A4. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 84

    Handling (owners)

    Alpin A4 +7
    91
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SAlpin A4
    Reviews found online8491
  8. 77

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 860 S +13
    64
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SAlpin A4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests7764
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860 SMichelin Alpin A4
Relative Score 76 80
Dry 76 80
Wet 75 82
Snow 74 74
Comfort 77 81
Noise 70 –
Treadwear 75 80
Handling (owners) 84 91
Efficiency 77 64

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

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

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

WinterContact TS 860 S

± 7

Alpin A4

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

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 SAlpin A4ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 98% #2/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 96% #2/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 99% #2/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 98% #3/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 88% #8/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #4/11 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test #6/16 2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter 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 Alpin A4

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and braking performance on snow and ice
  • High level of confidence and stability in wet, cold conditions
  • Impressive tread life and durability over multiple seasons

Cons

  • Reduced steering feedback and 'numb' handling feel
  • Performance decline in dry conditions when temperatures exceed 10°C
  • Occasional reports of increased rolling resistance
All owner themes in the Alpin A4 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S B · Michelin Alpin A4
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available929
Rim diameters16″ – 23″14″ – 17″
Tread depth10 - 11/32″—
SidewallBlack Side Wall—
Max pressure50 - 51 psi—
Sizes in common11

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S

Michelin Alpin A4

Narrow edge: Michelin Alpin A4 — better wet, handling and treadwear. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if efficiency matters 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 lower fuel or energy use

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 77 vs 64 on efficiency.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 82 vs 75 on wet.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 91 vs 84 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Alpin A4 scores 80 vs 75 on treadwear.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
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Tire B · Michelin Alpin A4
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WinterContact TS 860 S or Alpin A4?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 860 S or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 82 vs 75 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 860 S or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 80 vs 76 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 860 S or Alpin A4?

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

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 860 S or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 81 vs 77 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 860 S or Alpin A4?

Michelin Alpin A4, 80 vs 75 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 860 S or Alpin A4?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 77 vs 64 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