Continental WinterContact TS 860 S review
Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners
Owners 78 · 14 reviews analysed Road tests 71 · 1 test
How scores workAdd your size for an exact match
The Amazon link then searches this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is widely regarded as a premium performance winter tire that excels in cold, dry, and wet conditions, often mimicking the handling characteristics of a summer tire. While the majority of users praise its sporty feedback and snow traction, some owners report specific issues with lateral grip in wet conditions and potential compatibility challenges with staggered wheel setups.
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
78/100From 14 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.
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 |
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 14 owner reviews found online.
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is widely regarded as a premium performance winter tire that excels in cold, dry, and wet conditions, often mimicking the handling characteristics of a summer tire. While the majority of users praise its sporty feedback and snow traction, some owners report specific issues with lateral grip in wet conditions and potential compatibility challenges with staggered wheel setups.
Pros
- Exceptional handling and feedback on dry and wet roads in cold temperatures
- Strong performance and confidence in snow and icy conditions
- Stiffer sidewalls compared to predecessors, offering improved cornering stability
- High durability and slow tread wear over multiple seasons
Cons
- Long break-in period required before optimal grip is achieved
- Potential for traction control interference on staggered RWD setups due to circumference variances
- Limited lateral grip in wet conditions compared to some competitors
- High price point relative to other winter tire options
Worth knowing
- Users with staggered RWD setups reported significant issues with traction control systems when using non-OEM specific tire variants.
- Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., BMW M2) noted that the stiffer sidewalls provide a more precise, less 'squishy' feel during spirited driving.
Reviews from our readers
Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.
No reviews from our readers yet
Driving on the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S? Tell other drivers how it grips, rides and wears.
Write a review
Thanks! Your review will appear here once we have checked it, usually within a few days.
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 Aqua | 10th of 11 | |
| Noise | 5th of 11 | |
| Price | 10th of 11 |
Source: Auto Bild Sportscars
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S compared
Other tires to consider
Ranked by our Relative score, weighed against how many reviews and tests stand behind it.
Top rated winter tires
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.