Continental WinterContact TS 860 S review
Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners Provisional
Owners 80 · 16 reviews analysed Road tests 71 · 1 test
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Continental WinterContact TS 860 S has a Relative Score of 75 out of 100 among winter tires. 16 owner reviews rate it 80 out of 100. 81% would buy it again.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews found online; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
How scores work
- Relative score
- 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
- Road tests
- 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
- Owner reviews
- 0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.
By owner reviews
80/100From 16 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.
By road tests
71/100Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 16 owner reviews found online.
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is widely praised as a high-performance winter tire offering exceptional handling and grip in wet, dry, and snowy conditions. While the vast majority of users highlight its summer-like handling dynamics, stiffness, and long wear life, a few experienced specific issues regarding lateral wet grip or strict compatibility needs on staggered setups.
Pros
- Exceptional handling and grip in wet, dry, and snow conditions
- Stiff sidewalls providing precise road feedback and cornering stability
- Summer-tire-like driving dynamics and confidence at low temperatures
- Good tread wear and longevity over multiple seasons
Cons
- Long break-in (scrub-in) period required before optimal grip is reached
- Lateral grip in wet conditions can occasionally feel lacking during sudden maneuvers
- High price point
Worth knowing
- Users emphasized the importance of using manufacturer-approved OEM spec tires on staggered rear-wheel-drive setups to avoid traction control intervention caused by rolling circumference discrepancies.
- Drivers running larger staggered sizes (such as 225/40R19 front with 255/35R19 rear, or 275/40/20 with 315/35/20) reported solid performance, though precision with sizing remains critical.
1 published test appearance
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2019 19 Inch Performance Winter tire Test · 255/35 R19
4th of 11
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 6th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 4th of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 2nd of 11 | |
| Snow Braking | 7th of 11 | |
| Snow Handling | 7th of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 1st of 11 | |
| Straight Aquaplaning | 10th of 11 | |
| Noise | 5th of 11 | |
| Price | 10th of 11 |
Source: Auto Bild Sportscars
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S specs & sizes
Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi |
| EU label: wet grip | C in 55% of sizes |
| EU label: energy | C in 68% of sizes |
| EU label: external noise | 70–75 dB |
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Reviews from our readers
Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.
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