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Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — 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 25 + 27 road tests and 44 + 31 owner reviews. How we score

WinterContact TS 870 P is ahead, 81–76

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Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Tire ADunlop

Winter Sport 5

Winter

± 4

Tests 75 · 25 tests Owners 78 · 44 reviews

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

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire BContinental

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)

Category by category

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

Key facts

  • In 8 tests that measured wet braking for both, Winter Sport 5 won 2 and WinterContact TS 870 P won 6 (average 93% vs 94% of the best).
  • In 8 tests that measured snow braking for both, Winter Sport 5 won 4 and WinterContact TS 870 P won 4 (average 96% vs 96% of the best).
  • In 6 tests that measured dry braking for both, Winter Sport 5 won 0 and WinterContact TS 870 P won 6 (average 95% vs 98% of the best).
  • In 6 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, Winter Sport 5 won 1 and WinterContact TS 870 P won 5 (average 94% vs 96% of the best).
  • In 6 tests that measured snow traction for both, Winter Sport 5 won 5 and WinterContact TS 870 P won 1 (average 96% vs 95% of the best).
  1. 69

    Dry

    WinterContact TS 870 P +12
    81
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 19 / 22 tests6682
    Reviews found online7379
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 6 shared tests · wins 0–695%98%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–398%100%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 66.1 + 40% × 73.3 = 69

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

  2. 84

    Wet

    WinterContact TS 870 P +6
    90
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 27 tests8693
    Reviews found online8186
    Curved Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–092%90%
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 6 shared tests · wins 1–594%96%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 8 shared tests · wins 2–693%94%
    Wet Braking (concrete) (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–195%96%
    Wet Circle (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–197%93%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–298%98%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 86.5 + 40% × 81.1 = 84

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

  3. 83

    Snow

    Winter Sport 5 +5
    78
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 26 tests8779
    Reviews found online7876
    Ice Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 2–193%91%
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 8 shared tests · wins 4–496%96%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–297%98%
    Snow Slalom (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–193%97%
    Snow Traction (% of best) · 6 shared tests · wins 5–196%95%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 86.7 + 40% × 78.3 = 83

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 60% × 78.7 + 40% × 76.3 = 78

  4. 76

    Comfort

    WinterContact TS 870 P +6
    82
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests7584
    Reviews found online7781

    Winter Sport 5: 40% × 75.2 + 60% × 76.5 = 76

    WinterContact TS 870 P: 40% × 83.9 + 60% × 81.2 = 82

  5. 33

    Noise

    WinterContact TS 870 P +41
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 19 tests1178
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 0–596%99%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 10.8 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 33

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

    No owner ratings of noise for Winter Sport 5 or 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. 78

    Treadwear

    Winter Sport 5 +4
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 7 tests7871
    Reviews found online7980
    Abrasion (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 1–276%80%
    Wear (% of best) · 5 shared tests · wins 5–084%72%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 77.9 + 40% × 79.3 = 78

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

  7. 77

    Handling (owners)

    WinterContact TS 870 P +6
    83
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterContact TS 870 P
    Reviews found online7783
  8. 79

    Efficiency

    WinterContact TS 870 P +7
    86
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterContact TS 870 P
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 21 tests7986
    Fuel Consumption (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–197%98%
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–388%95%
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop Winter Sport 5Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Relative Score 76 81
Dry 69 81
Wet 84 90
Snow 83 78
Comfort 76 82
Noise 33 74
Treadwear 78 74
Handling (owners) 77 83
Efficiency 79 86

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
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Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 4

Winter Sport 5

± 4

WinterContact TS 870 P

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 8 tests that ran both, Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead 4 times and Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 4 times.

DisciplineCategoryWinter Sport 5WinterContact TS 870 PΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 95% 98% −3.1 0–6 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Dry Handling Dry 98% 100% −1.6 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 235/35 R19
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 92% 90% +2.6 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test · 205/60 R16
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 94% 96% −1.8 1–5 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Wet Braking Wet 93% 94% −0.8 2–6 in 8 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Wet Braking (concrete) Wet 95% 96% −0.2 1–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Wet Circle Wet 97% 93% +3.9 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Wet Handling Wet 98% 98% −0.1 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 235/35 R19
Ice Braking Snow 93% 91% +2.5 2–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Snow Braking Snow 96% 96% +0.4 4–4 in 8 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Snow Handling Snow 97% 98% −0.6 0–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 235/35 R19
Snow Slalom Snow 93% 97% −3.5 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18
Snow Traction Snow 96% 95% +1.7 5–1 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Noise Noise 96% 99% −2.5 0–5 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Abrasion Treadwear 76% 80% −4.3 1–2 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Wear Treadwear 84% 72% +11.8 5–0 in 5 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 97% 98% −0.8 0–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 88% 95% −6.8 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test · 235/35 R19
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 67% 61% +6.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 215/55 R17
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #9/20 #15/20 – 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18
Value Cost 66% 52% +14.6 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test · 225/45 R18
Overall Ranking Overall #5/31 #6/31 – 4–4 in 8 shared tests Newest: 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Winter Sport 5

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and braking performance in snow, slush, and heavy winter conditions
  • Strong wet weather handling and reliable water clearance to prevent hydroplaning
  • Impressive tread wear and long-term durability across multiple seasons

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls can lead to a mushy or floating steering response and unstable cornering when temperatures rise above 5-10°C
  • Reduced dry handling precision and longer braking distances in warmer ambient conditions
  • Inadequate or missing effective rim protection despite manufacturer claims
All owner themes in the Winter Sport 5 review

Tire B 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

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available46121
Rim diameters15″ – 21″16″ – 23″
Sizes in common3131

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better noise, dry and efficiency. Pick the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 if snow and treadwear matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 74 vs 33 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 81 vs 69 on dry.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 86 vs 79 on efficiency.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 90 vs 84 on wet.

Pick tire A Your priority is wear

Dunlop Winter Sport 5 won 5 of 5 shared wear tests.

Tire A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5
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Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
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Winter Sport 5 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Which is better in the wet, Winter Sport 5 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 90 vs 84 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Winter Sport 5 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 81 vs 69 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Winter Sport 5 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 83 vs 78 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Winter Sport 5 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 74 vs 33 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Winter Sport 5 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 82 vs 76 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Winter Sport 5 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 78 vs 74 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Winter Sport 5 or WinterContact TS 870 P?

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P, 86 vs 79 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