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Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2 — 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 32 + 6 road tests and 33 + 3 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 870 P is ahead, 82–67

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Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire AContinental

WinterContact TS 870 P

Winter

± 4

Tests 83 · 32 tests Owners 81 · 33 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (dry handling)

Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Tire BPirelli

Ice Zero 2

Winter

± 6

Tests 78 · 6 tests Owners 57 · 3 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)

Category by category

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

  1. 81

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 870 P +9
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PIce Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 4 tests8382
    Reviews found online7957
    Dry Lane Change (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%93%

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 83.3 + 40% × 78.5 = 81

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 81.8 + 40% × 56.8 = 72

  2. 91

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 870 P +18
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PIce Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 32 / 5 tests9581
    Reviews found online8661
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–099%86%
    Wet Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–090%65%

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 94.6 + 40% × 86.1 = 91

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 81.1 + 40% × 60.9 = 73

  3. 79

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 870 P +9
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PIce Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 31 / 4 tests8076
    Reviews found online7663
    Ice Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–240%65%
    Snow Handling (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–260%90%

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 80.2 + 40% × 76.4 = 79

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 75.6 + 40% × 62.8 = 70

  4. 88

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 870 P +30
    58
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PIce Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 2 tests9872
    Reviews found online8149
    Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–080%60%

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 40% × 98.1 + 60% × 80.7 = 88

    Ice Zero 2: 40% × 72 + 60% × 49.2 = 58

  5. 73

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 870 P +8
    65
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PIce Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 22 / 4 tests7865
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 73

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 64.8 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 65

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 870 P or Ice Zero 2. 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. 74

    Treadwear

    WinterContact TS 870 P +18
    56
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PIce Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / – tests70≈ 60 (est.)
    Reviews found online8049

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 69.9 + 40% × 80.2 = 74

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 60.3 (est.) + 40% × 49.3 = 56

    No road tests of treadwear for Ice Zero 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 83

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 870 P +30
    53
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PIce Zero 2
    Reviews found online8353
  8. 86

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 870 P +16
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PIce Zero 2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 24 / 3 tests8670
    Fuel Consumption (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–095%95%
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 870 PPirelli Ice Zero 2
Relative Score 82 67
Dry 81 72
Wet 91 73
Snow 79 70
Comfort 88 58
Noise 73 65
Treadwear 74 56
Handling (owners) 83 53
Efficiency 86 70

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
± 4

WinterContact TS 870 P

± 6

Ice Zero 2

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 2 tests that ran both, Continental WinterContact TS 870 P finished ahead 2 times and Pirelli Ice Zero 2 0 times.

DisciplineCategoryWinterContact TS 870 PIce Zero 2ΔHead-to-head
Dry Lane Change Dry 100% 93% +6.7 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 99% 86% +12.8 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 90% 65% +25.0 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Ice Handling (tester's mark) Snow 40% 65% −25.0 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Snow Handling (tester's mark) Snow 60% 90% −30.0 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 80% 60% +20.0 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 95% 95% +0.3 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Road Rating (tester's mark) Other 90% 70% +20.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test · 235/45 R18
Overall Ranking Overall #1/18 #12/18 – 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test · 235/45 R18

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A 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

Tire B Ice Zero 2

Pros

  • Very good traction and performance on snow
  • Reasonably quiet for a studded winter tire
  • Adequate performance on wet and salty roads

Cons

  • Dangerous slipping on ice at low speeds in cold climates
  • Strong, intrusive howling noise at speeds above 95 km/h
  • Poor overall handling compared to competing studded winter tires like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta
All owner themes in the Ice Zero 2 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available121—
Rim diameters16″ – 23″—

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

Pirelli Ice Zero 2

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better comfort, handling and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 88 vs 58 on comfort.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 83 vs 53 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 91 vs 73 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 74 vs 56 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is ice handling (tester's mark)

Pirelli Ice Zero 2 won 2 of 2 shared ice handling (tester's mark) tests.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
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Tire B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
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WinterContact TS 870 P or Ice Zero 2?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 870 P or Ice Zero 2?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 91 vs 73 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 870 P or Ice Zero 2?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 81 vs 72 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 870 P or Ice Zero 2?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 79 vs 70 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 870 P or Ice Zero 2?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 73 vs 65 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 870 P or Ice Zero 2?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 88 vs 58 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 870 P or Ice Zero 2?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 74 vs 56 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 870 P or Ice Zero 2?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 86 vs 70 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