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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — 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 + 10 road tests and 14 + 66 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: WinterContact TS 860 S and Winter Sottozero 3 are level at 74.

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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)

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire BPirelli

Winter Sottozero 3

Winter

± 6

Tests 67 · 10 tests Owners 81 · 66 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test (dry braking)

Category by category

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

  1. 74

    Dry

    Winter Sottozero 3 +3
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 8 tests7373
    Reviews found online7682

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 73 + 40% × 76.4 = 74

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 82.3 = 77

  2. 74

    Wet

    Winter Sottozero 3 +9
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 10 tests7081
    Reviews found online8087

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 69.9 + 40% × 80.1 = 74

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.7 + 40% × 87.4 = 83

  3. 73

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 860 S +7
    66
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 10 tests7157
    Reviews found online7779

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70.6 + 40% × 76.9 = 73

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.8 + 40% × 79.2 = 66

  4. 76

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 860 S +2
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 71 (est.)72
    Reviews found online7976

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

    Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72.3 + 60% × 75.9 = 74

    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

    Winter Sottozero 3 +1
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 7 tests7465
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)82

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

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.6 + 40% × 81.9 = 72

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 S. 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

    WinterContact TS 860 S +10
    64
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 3 tests≈ 71 (est.)56
    Reviews found online7975

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

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.2 + 40% × 74.6 = 64

    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)

    Winter Sottozero 3 +2
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter Sottozero 3
    Reviews found online8183
  8. 77

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 860 S +1
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 7 tests7776
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860 SPirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Relative Score 74 74
Dry 74 77
Wet 74 83
Snow 73 66
Comfort 76 74
Noise 71 72
Treadwear 74 64
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

± 6

Winter Sottozero 3

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 Sottozero 3ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 96% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 99% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 94% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 86% #18/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 94% #22/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 97% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 97% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter 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 54% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #4/11 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test #13/15 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires – 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
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 860 S review

Tire B Winter Sottozero 3

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to hydroplaning.
  • Strong dry-road handling and steering precision for a winter tire.
  • Excellent traction and stability in snow and slush.

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear, particularly if driven in temperatures above 15°C or year-round.
  • Susceptibility to sidewall damage and bubbling when encountering road hazards.
  • Increased noise levels as the tire ages and tread depth decreases.
All owner themes in the Winter Sottozero 3 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available9298
Rim diameters16″ – 23″16″ – 21″
Tread depth10 - 11/32″10/32″
SidewallBlack Side WallBlackwall
Max pressure50 - 51 psi50 psi
Sizes in common3939

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on treadwear and snow. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is stronger on wet and dry. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S rests on little evidence so far (1 test, 14 reviews), so read this result as provisional.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 74 vs 64 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 83 vs 74 on wet.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 73 vs 66 on snow.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 77 vs 74 on dry.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
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Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
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WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter Sottozero 3?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 83 vs 74 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter Sottozero 3?

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3, 77 vs 74 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter Sottozero 3?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 73 vs 66 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter Sottozero 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 71 vs 72 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter Sottozero 3?

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

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter Sottozero 3?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 74 vs 64 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 860 S or Winter Sottozero 3?

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