Tests 78 · 7 tests Owners 76 · 49 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 9 in 2017 ADAC Winter Tire Test R16 (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Kumho IZen KW23 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterContact TS 860 is ahead, 77–71
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Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
76
Dry
WinterContact TS 860 +670Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 IZen KW23 Professional tests (TWG score) 74 – Reviews found online 78 71 -
86
Wet
WinterContact TS 860 +1274Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 IZen KW23 Professional tests (TWG score) 88 – Reviews found online 83 76 -
75
Snow
WinterContact TS 860 +273Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 IZen KW23 Professional tests (TWG score) 78 – Reviews found online 71 75 -
77
Comfort
WinterContact TS 860 +671Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 IZen KW23 Professional tests (TWG score) 77 – Reviews found online 76 73 -
73
Noise
No comparison–Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 IZen KW23 Professional tests (TWG score) 78 – -
72
Treadwear
WinterContact TS 860 +369Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 IZen KW23 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 71 72 -
79
Handling
WinterContact TS 860 +871Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 IZen KW23 Reviews found online 79 71
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 | Kumho IZen KW23 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 71 |
| Dry | 76 | 70 |
| Wet | 86 | 74 |
| Snow | 75 | 73 |
| Comfort | 77 | 71 |
| Noise | 73 | – |
| Treadwear | 72 | 69 |
| Handling | 79 | 71 |
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
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Important
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Less important
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Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
77
/ 100
WinterContact TS 860
71
/ 100
IZen KW23
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | WinterContact TS 860 | IZen KW23 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/9 · 2017 ADAC Winter Tire Test R16 | 10% #10/13 · 2010 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +90.0 | 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
Tire B IZen KW23
Pros
- Outstanding traction and handling on snow and ice
- Excellent value for money compared to premium brands
- Provides significant confidence for rear-wheel-drive vehicles in winter
Cons
- Increased road noise levels
- Mediocre performance in wet, non-frozen conditions
- Potential for skidding if tire pressure is not strictly maintained
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 | B · Kumho IZen KW23 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 47 | — |
| Rim diameters | 13″ – 17″ | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 860
71
/ 100
Kumho IZen KW23
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 86 vs 74 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 79 vs 71 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 76 vs 70 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 77 vs 71 on comfort.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860
Tire B · Kumho IZen KW23
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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.