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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Michelin Alpin 6 — 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 + 19 road tests and 50 + 35 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: WinterContact TS 860 79, Alpin 6 80.

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Continental WinterContact TS 860
Tire AContinental

WinterContact TS 860

Winter

± 5

Tests 78 · 7 tests Owners 80 · 50 reviews

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

Michelin Alpin 6
Tire BMichelin

Alpin 6

Winter

± 4

Tests 81 · 19 tests Owners 81 · 35 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (wear)

Category by category

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

Key facts

  • In 4 tests that measured wet braking for both, WinterContact TS 860 won 1 and Alpin 6 won 3 (average 94% vs 96% of the best).
  • In 4 tests that measured snow braking for both, WinterContact TS 860 won 4 and Alpin 6 won 0 (average 99% vs 97% of the best).
  • In 3 tests that measured dry braking for both, WinterContact TS 860 won 1 and Alpin 6 won 2 (average 95% vs 96% of the best).
  • In 3 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, WinterContact TS 860 won 3 and Alpin 6 won 0 (average 98% vs 92% of the best).
  • In 3 tests that measured rolling resistance for both, WinterContact TS 860 won 3 and Alpin 6 won 0 (average 94% vs 90% of the best).
  1. 78

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 860 +1
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 15 tests7574
    Reviews found online8282
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–295%96%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%99%
    Dry Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–080%60%

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 74.8 + 40% × 82 = 78

    Alpin 6: 60% × 74.1 + 40% × 81.6 = 77

  2. 89

    Wet

    Level
    89
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 19 tests8990
    Reviews found online8887
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 3–098%92%
    Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–090%80%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 1–394%96%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–099%98%

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 89 + 40% × 87.9 = 89

    Alpin 6: 60% × 90.1 + 40% × 86.8 = 89

  3. 76

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 860 +1
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 19 tests7877
    Reviews found online7373
    Ice Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–193%96%
    Ice Traction (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–186%91%
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 4–099%97%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–099%98%
    Snow Traction (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–191%91%
    Snow Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–090%70%

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 73 = 76

    Alpin 6: 60% × 76.5 + 40% × 73.3 = 75

  4. 78

    Comfort

    Alpin 6 +5
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 4 tests7684
    Reviews found online7982
    Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–285%100%

    WinterContact TS 860: 40% × 76.3 + 60% × 79.3 = 78

    Alpin 6: 40% × 84.2 + 60% × 81.5 = 83

  5. 73

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 860 +13
    60
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 13 tests7856
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%97%

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 77.7 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 73

    Alpin 6: 60% × 55.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 60

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 860 or Alpin 6. 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

    Alpin 6 +10
    85
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 7 tests7389
    Reviews found online7880
    Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–190%100%

    WinterContact TS 860: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 77.7 = 75

    Alpin 6: 60% × 88.9 + 40% × 80.3 = 85

  7. 83

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 860 +2
    81
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860Alpin 6
    Reviews found online8381
  8. 76

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 860 +12
    64
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 860Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 15 tests7664
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 3–094%90%
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 860Michelin Alpin 6
Relative Score 79 80
Dry 78 77
Wet 89 89
Snow 76 75
Comfort 78 83
Noise 73 60
Treadwear 75 85
Handling (owners) 83 81
Efficiency 76 64

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.

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Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

WinterContact TS 860

± 4

Alpin 6

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.

In the overall rankings of 13 tests that ran both, Continental WinterContact TS 860 finished ahead 8 times and Michelin Alpin 6 5 times.

DisciplineCategoryWinterContact TS 860Alpin 6ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 95% 96% −1.8 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Dry Handling Dry 100% 99% +1.4 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 80% 60% +20.0 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 98% 92% +5.3 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wet Braking Wet 94% 96% −2.0 1–3 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Wet Handling Wet 99% 98% +0.8 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 90% 80% +10.0 1–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Ice Braking Snow 93% 96% −2.4 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Ice Traction Snow 86% 91% −5.6 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Snow Braking Snow 99% 97% +1.5 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Snow Handling Snow 99% 98% +0.5 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Snow Handling (tester's mark) Snow 90% 70% +20.0 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Snow Traction Snow 91% 91% +0.3 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 85% 100% −15.0 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Noise Noise 100% 97% +3.2 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Wear Treadwear 90% 100% −10.4 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 94% 90% +3.6 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test · 205/55 R16
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 60% 58% +2.3 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #10/20 #13/20 – 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Value Cost 70% 75% −5.1 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Overall Ranking Overall #6/16 #3/16 – 8–5 in 13 shared tests Newest: 2021 ADAC Winter Tire Test R15 · 195/65R15

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 Alpin 6

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry road grip in cold temperatures
  • High levels of ride comfort and low cabin noise
  • Impressive tread life and long-term durability

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance in deep snow and on ice
  • Some reports of sluggish steering feedback or 'soft' sidewall feel
  • Higher price point compared to some performance-oriented winter alternatives
All owner themes in the Alpin 6 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 B · Michelin Alpin 6
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available4742
Rim diameters13″ – 17″15″ – 20″
Sizes in common1818

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 860

Michelin Alpin 6

Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 860 and Michelin Alpin 6 are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 860 is stronger on noise and efficiency. Michelin Alpin 6 is stronger on treadwear and comfort.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 73 vs 60 on noise.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 76 vs 64 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Alpin 6 scores 85 vs 75 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Alpin 6 scores 83 vs 78 on comfort.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860
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Tire B · Michelin Alpin 6
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WinterContact TS 860 or Alpin 6?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 860 or Alpin 6?

Neither, by our numbers: 89 vs 89 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 860 or Alpin 6?

Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 77 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 860 or Alpin 6?

Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 75 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 860 or Alpin 6?

Continental WinterContact TS 860, 73 vs 60 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 860 or Alpin 6?

Michelin Alpin 6, 83 vs 78 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 860 or Alpin 6?

Michelin Alpin 6, 85 vs 75 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 860 or Alpin 6?

Continental WinterContact TS 860, 76 vs 64 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