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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — 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 27 + 10 road tests and 31 + 66 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 870 P is ahead, 81–73

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Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire AContinental

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)

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire BPirelli

Winter Sottozero 3

Winter

± 6

Tests 67 · 10 tests Owners 81 · 66 reviews

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

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 +4
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 22 / 8 tests8273
    Reviews found online7982

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

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 82.3 = 77

  2. 90

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 870 P +7
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 27 / 10 tests9381
    Reviews found online8687

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

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.7 + 40% × 87.4 = 83

  3. 78

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 870 P +12
    66
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / 10 tests7957
    Reviews found online7679

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

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.8 + 40% × 79.2 = 66

  4. 82

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 870 P +8
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 1 tests8472
    Reviews found online8176

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

    Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72.3 + 60% × 75.9 = 74

  5. 74

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 870 P +2
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 19 / 7 tests7865
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)82

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

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.6 + 40% × 81.9 = 72

    No owner ratings of noise for 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

    WinterContact TS 870 P +10
    64
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 3 tests7156
    Reviews found online8075

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

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.2 + 40% × 74.6 = 64

  7. 83

    Handling (owners)

    Level
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Reviews found online8383
  8. 86

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 870 P +10
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 7 tests8676
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 870 PPirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Relative Score 81 73
Dry 81 77
Wet 90 83
Snow 78 66
Comfort 82 74
Noise 74 72
Treadwear 74 64
Handling (owners) 83 83
Efficiency 86 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.

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Recomputed
Headline score
± 4

WinterContact TS 870 P

± 6

Winter Sottozero 3

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 870 PWinter Sottozero 3ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test 96% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #6/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test 99% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test 80% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 97% #5/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 94% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 100% #2/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test 86% #18/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #2/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 100% #2/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 70% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 97% #4/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test 94% #22/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #5/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test 97% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling (tester's mark) Snow 50% #3/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 80% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 92% #6/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test 91% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 80% #1/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #10/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test 97% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 66% #15/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test 83% #13/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 93% #2/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 78% #8/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test 54% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #11/20 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test #5/20 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 56% #17/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test 64% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #1/18 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test #13/15 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires – Different tests

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 Winter Sottozero 3

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to hydroplaning.
  • Strong dry-road handling and steering precision for a winter tire.
  • Excellent traction and stability in snow and slush.

Cons

  • Rapid tread wear, particularly if driven in temperatures above 15°C or year-round.
  • Susceptibility to sidewall damage and bubbling when encountering road hazards.
  • Increased noise levels as the tire ages and tread depth decreases.
All owner themes in the Winter Sottozero 3 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available12198
Rim diameters16″ – 23″16″ – 21″
Tread depth—10/32″
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—50 psi
Sizes in common5858

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better snow, treadwear and efficiency. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 78 vs 66 on snow.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 74 vs 64 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

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

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 82 vs 74 on comfort.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
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Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
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WinterContact TS 870 P or Winter Sottozero 3?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 870 P or Winter Sottozero 3?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 90 vs 83 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 870 P or Winter Sottozero 3?

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

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 870 P or Winter Sottozero 3?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 78 vs 66 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 870 P or Winter Sottozero 3?

Neither, by our numbers: 74 vs 72 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 870 P or Winter Sottozero 3?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 82 vs 74 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 870 P or Winter Sottozero 3?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 74 vs 64 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 870 P or Winter Sottozero 3?

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