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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ — 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 16 + 11 road tests and 25 + 20 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 870 leads, 82–79 Narrow edge

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Continental WinterContact TS 870
Tire AContinental

WinterContact TS 870

Winter

± 4

Tests 84 · 16 tests Owners 80 · 25 reviews

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

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Tire BGoodyear

UltraGrip Performance+

Winter

± 5

Tests 78 · 11 tests Owners 80 · 20 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2020 Auto Bild Performance 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. 80

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 870 +8
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 14 / 8 tests8171
    Reviews found online7974
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–098%95%

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 81 + 40% × 79.2 = 80

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 70.8 + 40% × 73.9 = 72

  2. 93

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 870 +7
    86
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 16 / 11 tests9887
    Reviews found online8784
    Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%94%
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%91%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–091%84%

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 97.9 + 40% × 86.6 = 93

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 86.9 + 40% × 83.7 = 86

  3. 78

    Snow

    UltraGrip Performance+ +6
    84
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 16 / 11 tests8187
    Reviews found online7379
    Ice Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%97%
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–099%98%
    Snow Traction (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–098%97%

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 81.5 + 40% × 73.3 = 78

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 86.7 + 40% × 79.2 = 84

  4. 75

    Comfort

    UltraGrip Performance+ +2
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests7272
    Reviews found online7881

    WinterContact TS 870: 40% × 72.1 + 60% × 77.7 = 75

    UltraGrip Performance+: 40% × 72.2 + 60% × 80.9 = 77

  5. 76

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 870 +16
    60
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 8 tests8355
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–099%97%

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 83.1 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 76

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 54.9 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 60

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 870 or UltraGrip Performance+. 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. 80

    Treadwear

    WinterContact TS 870 +3
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 4 tests7974
    Reviews found online8082
    Abrasion (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–086%84%
    Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–087%85%

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 79.5 + 40% × 80.1 = 80

    UltraGrip Performance+: 60% × 73.9 + 40% × 81.6 = 77

  7. 78

    Handling (owners)

    UltraGrip Performance+ +3
    81
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870UltraGrip Performance+
    Reviews found online7881
  8. 76

    Efficiency

    UltraGrip Performance+ +1
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870UltraGrip Performance+
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 14 / 8 tests7677
    Fuel Consumption (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–197%98%
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 870Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Relative Score 82 79
Dry 80 72
Wet 93 86
Snow 78 84
Comfort 75 77
Noise 76 60
Treadwear 80 77
Handling (owners) 78 81
Efficiency 76 77

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

± 5

UltraGrip Performance+

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 5 tests that ran both, Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead 5 times and Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ 0 times.

DisciplineCategoryWinterContact TS 870UltraGrip Performance+ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% 95% +3.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 100% 94% +6.1 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 100% 91% +8.6 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Wet Braking Wet 91% 84% +6.3 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Ice Braking Snow 100% 97% +3.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Snow Braking Snow 99% 98% +1.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Snow Traction Snow 98% 97% +0.9 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Noise Noise 99% 97% +1.5 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Abrasion Treadwear 86% 84% +1.8 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Wear Treadwear 87% 85% +2.3 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 97% 98% −1.7 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Value Cost 58% 56% +1.1 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Overall Ranking Overall #1/15 #3/15 – 5–0 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R17

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A WinterContact TS 870

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
  • High level of driver confidence and predictability in varied conditions
  • Strong dry road handling and steering feedback

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance on steep, hard-packed snow for some users
  • Potential negative impact on electric vehicle range
  • Occasional reports of understeer on heavy vehicles in cold, greasy conditions
All owner themes in the WinterContact TS 870 review

Tire B UltraGrip Performance+

Pros

  • Exceptional wet grip and low risk of aquaplaning
  • Outstanding traction and lateral grip on snow
  • Comfortable ride quality with manageable noise levels

Cons

  • Mixed feedback regarding noise, with some users reporting a noticeable roar or sizzling sound on fast curves
  • Average performance on pure ice compared to specialized ice tires
  • Faster rear-axle tread wear reported on high-powered rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicles
All owner themes in the UltraGrip Performance+ review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 B · Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available4488
Rim diameters14″ – 19″15″ – 22″
Sizes in common1111

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 870

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+

Narrow edge: Continental WinterContact TS 870 — better noise, dry and wet. Pick the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ if snow matters most to you.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 76 vs 60 on noise.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 80 vs 72 on dry.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 93 vs 86 on wet.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ scores 84 vs 78 on snow.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 870
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Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
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WinterContact TS 870 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 870 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 93 vs 86 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 870 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 80 vs 72 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 870 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+, 84 vs 78 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 870 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 76 vs 60 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 870 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 77 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 870 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 80 vs 77 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 870 or UltraGrip Performance+?

Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 77 on the efficiency score, within 3 points.

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