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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Continental WinterContact TS 870 — 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 + 16 road tests and 49 + 25 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 870 leads, 82–79 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
Tire BContinental

WinterContact TS 870

Winter

± 4

Tests 84 · 16 tests Owners 80 · 25 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2024 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 +3
    80
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 14 tests7581
    Reviews found online8179

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 74.8 + 40% × 81.1 = 77

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 81.1 + 40% × 79.3 = 80

  2. 88

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 870 +5
    93
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 16 tests8998
    Reviews found online8787

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 89 + 40% × 86.9 = 88

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 97.8 + 40% × 86.6 = 93

  3. 76

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 870 +2
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 16 tests7881
    Reviews found online7273

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 72.1 = 76

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 81.5 + 40% × 72.8 = 78

  4. 78

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 860 +2
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 1 tests7772
    Reviews found online7978

    WinterContact TS 860: 40% × 76.9 + 60% × 78.7 = 78

    WinterContact TS 870: 40% × 72.1 + 60% × 77.8 = 76

  5. 73

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 870 +4
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 12 tests7883
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 77.9 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 73

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 83.4 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 77

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 or WinterContact TS 870. 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 870 +6
    80
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 7 tests7379
    Reviews found online7680

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 72.8 + 40% × 76.3 = 74

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 79.5 + 40% × 80.3 = 80

  7. 82

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 860 +4
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870
    Reviews found online8278
  8. 76

    Efficiency

    Level
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860WinterContact TS 870
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 14 tests7676
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860Continental WinterContact TS 870
Relative Score 79 82
Dry 77 80
Wet 88 93
Snow 76 78
Comfort 78 76
Noise 73 77
Treadwear 74 80
Handling (owners) 82 78
Efficiency 76 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 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
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

WinterContact TS 860

± 4

WinterContact TS 870

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 870ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 94% #11/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 98% #5/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 100% #1/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 100% #4/11 · 2026 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 60% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 93% #2/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 94% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 96% #4/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 94% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 97% #2/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #4/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 100% #1/11 · 2026 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 100% #1/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 90% #2/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 – Different tests
Ice Braking Snow 93% #6/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test 90% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Ice Handling Snow 100% #1/2 · All Season vs Winter vs Nordic vs Studded Tyres 50% #18/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 – Different tests
Ice Traction Snow 86% #8/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test 50% #13/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 99% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 96% #9/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 99% #9/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 99% #4/11 · 2026 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 98% #6/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 94% #15/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 90% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #2/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 97% #10/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 90% #2/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 78% #5/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 95% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 89% #3/15 · 2026 AvD 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 59% #7/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #10/20 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test #6/20 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 70% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 56% #15/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #6/16 2021 ADAC Winter Tire Test R15 #4/15 2026 AvD 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

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
  • High level of driver confidence and predictability in varied conditions
  • Strong dry road handling and steering feedback

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance on steep, hard-packed snow for some users
  • Potential negative impact on electric vehicle range
  • Occasional reports of understeer on heavy vehicles in cold, greasy conditions
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 870 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 B · Continental WinterContact TS 870
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available4744
Rim diameters13″ – 17″14″ – 19″
Sizes in common3737

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860

Continental WinterContact TS 870

Narrow edge: Continental WinterContact TS 870 — better treadwear, wet and noise. Where the Continental WinterContact TS 860 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 80 vs 74 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 93 vs 88 on wet.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 77 vs 73 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 80 vs 77 on dry.

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

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

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 93 vs 88 on our wet score.

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

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 80 vs 77 on our dry score.

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

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

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

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 77 vs 73 on our noise score.

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

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

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

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 80 vs 74 on our treadwear score.

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

Neither, by our numbers: 76 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