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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — 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 7 + 27 road tests and 49 + 31 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 870 P leads, 81–79 Narrow edge

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Continental WinterContact TS 860
Tire AContinental

WinterContact TS 860

Winter

± 5

Tests 79 · 7 tests Owners 79 · 49 reviews

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

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire BContinental

WinterContact TS 870 P

Winter

± 4

Tests 81 · 27 tests Owners 81 · 31 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)

Category by category

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

  1. 77

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 870 P +4
    81
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 22 tests7582
    Reviews found online8279

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 74.8 + 40% × 81.5 = 77

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 82.4 + 40% × 79 = 81

  2. 88

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 870 P +2
    90
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 27 tests8993
    Reviews found online8786

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 89.4 + 40% × 87.1 = 88

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 92.8 + 40% × 86.2 = 90

  3. 76

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 870 P +2
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 26 tests7879
    Reviews found online7376

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 72.7 = 76

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.7 + 40% × 76.2 = 78

  4. 78

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 870 P +4
    82
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 5 tests7784
    Reviews found online7981

    WinterContact TS 860: 40% × 77.4 + 60% × 78.8 = 78

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 40% × 83.9 + 60% × 81.1 = 82

  5. 74

    Noise

    Level
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 19 tests7878
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 78.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 74

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.3 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 74

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 or WinterContact TS 870 P. 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

    Level
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 7 tests7371
    Reviews found online7680

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 72.8 + 40% × 76 = 74

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 70.6 + 40% × 79.9 = 74

  7. 82

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 870 P +1
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870 P
    Reviews found online8283
  8. 76

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 870 P +10
    86
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 21 tests7686
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Relative Score 79 81
Dry 77 81
Wet 88 90
Snow 76 78
Comfort 78 82
Noise 74 74
Treadwear 74 74
Handling (owners) 82 83
Efficiency 76 86

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.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

WinterContact TS 860

± 4

WinterContact TS 870 P

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 860WinterContact TS 870 PΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 94% #11/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 100% #1/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 99% #6/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 60% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 94% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 97% #5/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 94% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #4/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 100% #2/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 100% #1/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 100% #2/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Braking Snow 93% #6/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test 84% #27/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 99% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 97% #4/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 99% #9/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 98% #5/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling (tester's mark) Snow 90% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 50% #3/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 98% #6/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 92% #6/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 90% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 80% #1/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #2/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 98% #10/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 90% #2/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 66% #15/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 95% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 93% #2/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 60% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 78% #8/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #10/20 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test #11/20 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 70% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 56% #17/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #6/16 2021 ADAC Winter Tire Test R15 #1/18 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European 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

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and safety in wet and slushy conditions
  • Outstanding performance on snow, providing high levels of confidence
  • Remarkably low noise levels and high ride comfort

Cons

  • Performance degradation noted by some users after 3-4 seasons
  • Soft sidewalls can lead to a slight loss of steering precision or 'wobble' in tight corners
  • Tread pattern prone to picking up and throwing stones/sand
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 860 review

Tire B WinterContact TS 870 P

Pros

  • Exceptionally low noise levels and high ride comfort
  • Outstanding wet weather and slush performance, cutting through heavy rain effortlessly
  • Balanced dry and cold-weather handling with impressive cornering stability

Cons

  • Higher price point compared to some competitors
  • Steering response and initial stiffness are slightly softer and less sporty than dedicated summer tires or some rivals
  • Snow and ice traction can feel less exceptional or borderline inadequate for a small subset of users
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 870 P review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available47121
Rim diameters13″ – 17″16″ – 23″
Sizes in common33

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

Narrow edge: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better efficiency, dry and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 86 vs 76 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 81 vs 77 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 82 vs 78 on comfort.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860
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Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
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WinterContact TS 860 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 860 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Neither, by our numbers: 88 vs 90 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 860 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 81 vs 77 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 860 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

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

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 860 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

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

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 860 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 82 vs 78 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 860 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

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

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 860 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 86 vs 76 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