Tests 71 · 1 test Owners 78 · 14 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Michelin Pilot Exalto — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterContact TS 860 S leads, 74–71 Narrow edge
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Tests – · none yet Owners 72 · 56 reviews
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
74
Dry
WinterContact TS 860 S +371Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Exalto Professional tests (TWG score) 73 – Reviews found online 77 73 -
73
Wet
Level73Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Exalto Professional tests (TWG score) 70 – Reviews found online 79 74 -
73
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Exalto Professional tests (TWG score) 71 – Reviews found online 78 – -
74
Comfort
WinterContact TS 860 S +569Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Exalto Reviews found online 79 69 -
72
Noise
No comparison–Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Exalto Professional tests (TWG score) 73 – Reviews found online 71 – -
72
Treadwear
WinterContact TS 860 S +468Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Exalto Reviews found online 76 70 -
81
Handling
WinterContact TS 860 S +972Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Pilot Exalto Reviews found online 81 72
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Michelin Pilot Exalto |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 71 |
| Dry | 74 | 71 |
| Wet | 73 | 73 |
| Snow | 73 | – |
| Comfort | 74 | 69 |
| Noise | 72 | – |
| Treadwear | 72 | 68 |
| Handling | 81 | 72 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
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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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
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Less important
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
WinterContact TS 860 S
71
/ 100
Pilot Exalto
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 Pilot Exalto
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and durability
- Strong, predictable grip in both wet and dry conditions
- Progressive handling characteristics near the limit
Cons
- High retail price point
- Softer sidewalls can lead to reduced steering feedback and responsiveness
- Increased road noise reported by some users
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Michelin Pilot Exalto |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 92 | — |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 23″ | — |
| 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
71
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Exalto
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better handling, comfort and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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 69 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 72 vs 68 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 74 vs 71 on dry.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Exalto
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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.