tirewheelguide
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 33 + 10 road tests and 34 + 69 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 870 P is ahead, 81–73

Check price on Amazon · WinterContact TS 870 P or Winter Sottozero 3 on Amazon
Add your size for an exact match
/R

Both Amazon links then search this exact size.

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire AContinental

WinterContact TS 870 P

Winter

± 4

Tests 83 · 33 tests Owners 81 · 34 reviews

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

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Tire BPirelli

Winter Sottozero 3

Winter

± 6

Tests 67 · 10 tests Owners 80 · 69 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 +5
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / 8 tests8373
    Reviews found online7981

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 83.1 + 40% × 78.6 = 81

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 72.9 + 40% × 80.8 = 76

  2. 91

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 870 P +8
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 33 / 10 tests9480
    Reviews found online8687

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 94.5 + 40% × 86.2 = 91

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 80.4 + 40% × 86.6 = 83

  3. 79

    Snow

    WinterContact TS 870 P +13
    66
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 32 / 10 tests8157
    Reviews found online7779

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 80.7 + 40% × 76.5 = 79

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 56.5 + 40% × 79 = 66

  4. 88

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 870 P +14
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 1 tests10072
    Reviews found online8075

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 40% × 100 + 60% × 80.1 = 88

    Winter Sottozero 3: 40% × 72 + 60% × 74.5 = 74

  5. 74

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 870 P +3
    71
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 23 / 7 tests7964
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)81

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 79 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 74

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 64.3 + 40% × 81.4 = 71

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 870 P. 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 +10
    64
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 8 / 3 tests7057
    Reviews found online8075

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

    Winter Sottozero 3: 60% × 57.1 + 40% × 74.6 = 64

  7. 83

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 870 P +1
    82
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Reviews found online8382
  8. 87

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 870 P +11
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870 PWinter Sottozero 3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 7 tests8776
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 870 PPirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Relative Score 81 73
Dry 81 76
Wet 91 83
Snow 79 66
Comfort 88 74
Noise 74 71
Treadwear 74 64
Handling (owners) 83 82
Efficiency 87 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
± 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 95% #8/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 96% #2/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 100% #1/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 99% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 100% #1/9 · 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test 80% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 99% #5/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 94% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 97% #2/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 86% #18/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #2/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 90% #2/9 · 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test 70% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 99% #10/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 94% #22/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 100% #4/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 97% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling (tester's mark) Snow 100% #1/9 · 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test 80% #8/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 98% #4/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 91% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 100% #1/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #8/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 97% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 86% #13/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 83% #13/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 91% #14/20 · 2026 Auto Bild 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 50% #20/20 · 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 64% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #1/20 2026 Auto Bild 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

  • Excellent wet and slush performance, with strong resistance to aquaplaning and confident, stable braking
  • Very good snow traction, with several owners saying it beat previous winter tires such as Nokian, Michelin and Sottozero 2, including on rear-wheel-drive and performance cars
  • Sharp, precise steering and dry grip that feels close to a summer tire in cold conditions, which fits its UHP character

Cons

  • Tread wear can be fast, especially when the tires are used in warm weather or all year. Some reported 3 mm left after about 27k km, and others reported wear near the indicator after 30,000 km
  • Road noise is higher than on summer tires, particularly on the highway, and a few said it increased as the tires wore. Others reported feedback becoming vague and the tires getting louder above about 15°C
  • Sidewalls can be vulnerable. Reviewers reported cuts from curb contact, tires that broke on rough roads, and bulges in the sidewall
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 comfort, snow and efficiency. 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 74 on comfort.

Pick tire A You drive through snowy winters

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 79 vs 66 on snow.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 87 vs 76 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

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

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Check price on Amazon

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

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, 91 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 76 on our dry score.

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

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 79 vs 66 on our snow score.

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

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 74 vs 71 on our noise score.

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

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 88 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, 87 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