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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 — 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 + 15 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: WinterContact TS 860 S 75, BluEarth Winter V905 74.

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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)

Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905
Tire BYokohama

BluEarth Winter V905

Winter

± 7

Tests 68 · 5 tests Owners 80 · 15 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2018 Auto Bild Winter 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. 76

    Dry

    BluEarth Winter V905 +2
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBluEarth Winter V905
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests7375
    Reviews found online7983

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

    BluEarth Winter V905: 60% × 74.7 + 40% × 83.2 = 78

  2. 75

    Wet

    BluEarth Winter V905 +5
    80
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBluEarth Winter V905
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests7076
    Reviews found online8386

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70 + 40% × 83 = 75

    BluEarth Winter V905: 60% × 75.7 + 40% × 85.6 = 80

  3. 74

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 860 S +8
    66
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBluEarth Winter V905
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests7157
    Reviews found online7879

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 60% × 70.5 + 40% × 78 = 74

    BluEarth Winter V905: 60% × 57 + 40% × 78.9 = 66

  4. 77

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 860 S +2
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBluEarth Winter V905
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 71 (est.)72
    Reviews found online8177

    WinterContact TS 860 S: 40% × 71.3 (est.) + 60% × 81.3 = 77

    BluEarth Winter V905: 40% × 72.4 + 60% × 77.1 = 75

    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. 70

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 860 S +7
    63
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBluEarth Winter V905
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 2 tests7360
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

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

    BluEarth Winter V905: 60% × 60.4 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 63

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 S or BluEarth Winter V905. 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 +6
    69
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBluEarth Winter V905
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 71 (est.)66
    Reviews found online8074

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

    BluEarth Winter V905: 60% × 66.5 + 40% × 73.7 = 69

    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).

  7. 84

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 860 S +1
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBluEarth Winter V905
    Reviews found online8483
  8. 77

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 860 S +8
    69
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860 SBluEarth Winter V905
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 3 tests7769
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860 SYokohama BluEarth Winter V905
Relative Score 75 74
Dry 76 78
Wet 75 80
Snow 74 66
Comfort 77 75
Noise 70 63
Treadwear 75 69
Handling (owners) 84 83
Efficiency 77 69

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

± 7

BluEarth Winter V905

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 SBluEarth Winter V905ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 97% #12/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 99% #5/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 81% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 86% #20/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 96% #14/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 93% #24/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 96% #18/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 95% #15/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test 92% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch 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 76% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #4/11 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test #22/48 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking 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 BluEarth Winter V905

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and handling on snow and ice
  • Strong performance on cold, wet, and dry pavement
  • High level of steering precision and road feedback

Cons

  • Reports of higher-than-average road noise
  • Mixed feedback on tread longevity, with some users noting rapid wear
  • Occasional understeer in wet conditions when temperatures are higher
All owner themes in the BluEarth Winter V905 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S B · Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available92132
Rim diameters16″ – 23″15″ – 22″
Tread depth10 - 11/32″11/32″
SidewallBlack Side WallBlackwall
Max pressure50 - 51 psi50 psi
Sizes in common3535

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S

Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905

Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S and Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on snow, efficiency and noise. Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 is stronger on wet. 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 drive through snowy winters

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 74 vs 66 on snow.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 77 vs 69 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 70 vs 63 on noise.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 75 vs 69 on treadwear.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905
Check price on Amazon

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WinterContact TS 860 S or BluEarth Winter V905?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 860 S or BluEarth Winter V905?

Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905, 80 vs 75 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 860 S or BluEarth Winter V905?

Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 78 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 860 S or BluEarth Winter V905?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 74 vs 66 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 860 S or BluEarth Winter V905?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 70 vs 63 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 860 S or BluEarth Winter V905?

Neither, by our numbers: 77 vs 75 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 860 S or BluEarth Winter V905?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 75 vs 69 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 860 S or BluEarth Winter V905?

Continental WinterContact TS 860 S, 77 vs 69 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