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Head-to-head Updated

Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV — 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 + 2 road tests and 25 + 18 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 870 is ahead, 82–76

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Continental WinterContact TS 870
Tire AContinental

WinterContact TS 870

Winter

± 4

Tests 84 · 16 tests Owners 79 · 25 reviews

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

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
Tire BNokian

Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV

Winter

± 6

Tests 72 · 2 tests Owners 80 · 18 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test (wet braking)

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 +6
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 14 / 2 tests8174
    Reviews found online7974

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

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 60% × 73.7 + 40% × 74.3 = 74

  2. 93

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 870 +18
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 16 / 2 tests9869
    Reviews found online8784

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

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 60% × 68.6 + 40% × 83.5 = 75

  3. 78

    Snow

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV +1
    79
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 16 / 2 tests8275
    Reviews found online7385

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 81.6 + 40% × 73.2 = 78

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 60% × 74.8 + 40% × 84.7 = 79

  4. 75

    Comfort

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV +1
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests72≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online7779

    WinterContact TS 870: 40% × 71.9 + 60% × 77.4 = 75

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 40% × 70.7 (est.) + 60% × 79.1 = 76

    No road tests of comfort for Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 77

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 870 +4
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 12 / 2 tests8366
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)84

    WinterContact TS 870: 60% × 83.2 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 77

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 60% × 65.7 + 40% × 83.5 = 73

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterContact TS 870. 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 +6
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / – tests79≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online8078

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

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 60% × 70.7 (est.) + 40% × 78 = 74

    No road tests of treadwear for Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 78

    Handling (owners)

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV +1
    79
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Reviews found online7879
  8. 76

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 870 +4
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinterContact TS 870Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 14 / 2 tests7672
Scores at a glance
CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 870Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
Relative Score 82 76
Dry 80 74
Wet 93 75
Snow 78 79
Comfort 75 76
Noise 77 73
Treadwear 80 74
Handling (owners) 78 79
Efficiency 76 72

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

± 6

Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV

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 870Hakkapeliitta R5 SUVΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% #5/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test 96% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 93% #2/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 60% #6/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 96% #4/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 94% #4/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 97% #2/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #1/11 · 2026 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test 98% #3/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Handling Snow 50% #18/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 95% #6/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Traction Snow 50% #13/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 100% #1/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 99% #4/11 · 2026 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test 99% #4/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 94% #15/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 99% #6/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 97% #10/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 99% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 96% #7/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 98% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 89% #3/15 · 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 59% #7/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 65% #7/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #4/15 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test #4/6 2027 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests

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 Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and traction on snow and ice
  • Significantly quieter than previous models and studded alternatives
  • Stable and predictable handling with a firm, confident ride on dry and wet pavement

Cons

  • Higher price point compared to some other tire options
  • Slightly firmer ride compared to softer alternatives like Bridgestone Blizzaks
  • Some minor compromises in ultimate dry and wet grip typical of soft-compound winter tires
All owner themes in the Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 B · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available4470
Rim diameters14″ – 19″16″ – 22″
Tread depth—12/32″
Sidewall—Black Side Wall
Max pressure—47 - 51 psi
Sizes in common00

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental WinterContact TS 870

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 — better wet, dry and treadwear. Where the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 93 vs 75 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 80 vs 74 on dry.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 80 vs 74 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Continental WinterContact TS 870 scores 77 vs 73 on noise.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 870
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Tire B · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
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WinterContact TS 870 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Which is better in the wet, WinterContact TS 870 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 93 vs 75 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterContact TS 870 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 80 vs 74 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterContact TS 870 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 79 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, WinterContact TS 870 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 77 vs 73 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterContact TS 870 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

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

Which lasts longer, WinterContact TS 870 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 80 vs 74 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, WinterContact TS 870 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Continental WinterContact TS 870, 76 vs 72 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