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Winter tire Updated October 2026

Continental WinterContact TS 870 review

Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners

Owners 76 · 25 reviews analysed Road tests 83 · 25 tests

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The Continental WinterContact TS 870 is widely regarded as a premium, high-performance winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, offering exceptional aquaplaning resistance and predictable handling. While the majority of users report high levels of confidence in snow and ice, a minority of drivers experienced inconsistent traction on steep inclines or specific snow conditions, suggesting performance may vary based on vehicle weight and driving style.

Continental WinterContact TS 870

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

76/100

From 25 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.

Would buy again 86%
Dry
Overall dry
76.4
Wet
Overall wet
81.7
Snow & ice
Overall snow & ice
70.8
Comfort
Overall comfort
75.1
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
74.2
Handling
Overall handling
75.4

Own these tires? Write a review →

By road tests

83/100

Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.

Dry
80
Wet
96.2
Snow
81.6
Comfort
72.1
Noise
84.2
Treadwear
76.8

Continental WinterContact TS 870 specs & sizes

Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.

SizeRetailer
155/65 R14 Amazon
165/60 R14 Amazon
165/65 R14 Amazon
165/70 R14 Amazon
175/65 R14 Amazon
175/70 R14 Amazon
185/60 R14 Amazon
185/65 R14 Amazon
185/70 R14 Amazon
165/60 R15 Amazon
165/65 R15 Amazon
185/55 R15 Amazon
185/60 R15 Amazon
185/65 R15 Amazon
195/50 R15 Amazon
195/55 R15 Amazon

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What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 25 owner reviews found online.

The Continental WinterContact TS 870 is widely regarded as a premium, high-performance winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, offering exceptional aquaplaning resistance and predictable handling. While the majority of users report high levels of confidence in snow and ice, a minority of drivers experienced inconsistent traction on steep inclines or specific snow conditions, suggesting performance may vary based on vehicle weight and driving style.

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
  • Good tread wear longevity over multiple seasons
  • Low noise levels and high comfort

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
  • Higher price point compared to mid-range alternatives

Worth knowing

  • Users with heavy SUVs, such as the Range Rover Evoque, reported issues with understeer in cold, damp conditions.
  • Electric vehicle owners (e.g., Smart EQ) noted a measurable decrease in battery range, likely due to rolling resistance characteristics.
  • Small car owners (e.g., 175/65/R14) reported excellent snow and ice capability, suggesting the tire performs optimally on lighter chassis.

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 870? Tell other drivers how it grips, rides and wears.

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25 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2026 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 11
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Snow Traction · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 11
Wet Handling1st of 11
Wet Circle1st of 11
Dry Braking4th of 11
Dry Handling4th of 11
Snow Traction9th of 11
Snow Handling4th of 11
Rolling Resistance3rd of 11
Straight Aqua4th of 11
Curved Aquaplaning5th of 11
Noise1st of 11

Source: Auto Express

2026 ADAC Winter tire Test - 225/50 R17 · 225/50 R17

2nd of 16
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Value · 14th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 16
Dry Braking4th of 16
Snow Braking7th of 16
Snow Traction10th of 16
Ice Braking4th of 16
Straight Aqua2nd of 16
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 16
Noise3rd of 16
Value14th of 16
Wear10th of 16
Fuel Consumption8th of 16
Abrasion8th of 16
Wet Braking - Concrete1st of 16

Source: ADAC

2026 ADAC Winter tire Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15

1st of 16
Best: Wet Braking · 3rd Weakest: Snow Traction · 15th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking3rd of 16
Dry Braking6th of 16
Snow Braking8th of 16
Snow Traction15th of 16
Ice Braking9th of 16
Straight Aqua4th of 16
Curved Aquaplaning3rd of 16
Noise10th of 16
Value12th of 16
Wear4th of 16
Fuel Consumption7th of 16
Abrasion7th of 16
Wet Braking - Concrete3rd of 16

Source: ADAC

2025 TUV Test of Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 vs Rivals · 225/45 R17

2nd of 5
Best: Snow Braking · 2nd Weakest: Wet Braking · 4th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 5
Wet Handling3rd of 5
Dry Braking4th of 5
Snow Braking2nd of 5
Snow Traction2nd of 5
Snow Handling3rd of 5
Rolling Resistance3rd of 5
Straight Aqua3rd of 5

Source: TÜV

2025 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

1st of 8
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Snow Braking · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 8
Wet Handling1st of 8
Dry Braking1st of 8
Dry Handling5th of 8
Snow Braking8th of 8
Snow Traction5th of 8
Snow Handling1st of 8
Rolling Resistance3rd of 8
Straight Aqua7th of 8
Curved Aquaplaning7th of 8
Noise1st of 8

Source: Auto Express

2025 Wybór Kierowców Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17

1st of 6

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Wybór Kierowców

2025 Teknikens Värld Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/50R17

6th of 15

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Teknikens Värld

2024 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 7

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Express

2024 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 20
Best: Dry Handling · 1st Weakest: Value · 16th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling2nd of 20
Dry Braking6th of 20
Dry Handling1st of 20
Snow Braking1st of 20
Snow Traction3rd of 20
Snow Handling5th of 20
Rolling Resistance5th of 20
Straight Aqua2nd of 20
Curved Aquaplaning2nd of 20
Noise5th of 20
Value16th of 20
Wear5th of 20
Total Cost of Ownership6th of 20

Source: Auto Bild

The Best Studded / Friction Winter tires for 2024 · 225/50 R17

1st of 17

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 12
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Snow Traction · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 12
Dry Braking5th of 12
Snow Braking2nd of 12
Snow Traction9th of 12
Ice Braking1st of 12
Straight Aqua2nd of 12
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 12
Noise4th of 12
Wear7th of 12
Fuel Consumption2nd of 12
Abrasion5th of 12
Wet Braking - Concrete1st of 12

Source: ADAC

2024 Winter 55 tire Braking Test · 205/55 R16

8th of 55
Best: Snow Braking · 3rd Weakest: Wet Braking · 13th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking13th of 55
Snow Braking3rd of 55

Source: Auto Bild

2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

1st of 15
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st Weakest: Value · 10th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 15
Dry Braking2nd of 15
Snow Braking3rd of 15
Snow Traction3rd of 15
Ice Braking2nd of 15
Straight Aqua1st of 15
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 15
Noise4th of 15
Value10th of 15
Wear4th of 15
Fuel Consumption6th of 15
Abrasion5th of 15

Source: ADAC

2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

17th of 17
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Snow Traction · 18th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 17
Wet Handling1st of 17
Dry Braking2nd of 17
Snow Braking13th of 17
Snow Traction18th of 17
Snow Handling17th of 17
Ice Braking16th of 17
Ice Handling18th of 17
Exterior Noise9th of 17
Rolling Resistance10th of 17
Subj. Dry Handling2nd of 17
Subj. Wet Handling2nd of 17
Ice Traction13th of 17

Source: UTAC

2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17

1st of 8
Best: Longitudinal Aquaplaning · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling · 5th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 8
Wet Handling5th of 8
Longitudinal Aquaplaning1st of 8
Transverse Aquaplaning1st of 8
Dry Braking2nd of 8
Dry Handling1st of 8
Snow Braking1st of 8
Snow Traction3rd of 8
Snow Handling1st of 8
Exterior Noise3rd of 8
Rolling Resistance3rd of 8
Subj. Dry Handling2nd of 8
Subj. Comfort1st of 8
Snow1st of 8
Wet1st of 8
Dry3rd of 8
Wet Lateral Stability2nd of 8

Source: Autožurnal

2022 ADAC SUV Winter tire Test - 215/60 R16 · 215/60 R16

2nd of 17

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: ADAC

2022 ADAC Winter tire Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15

1st of 15

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: ADAC

2022 Auto Zeitung Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

1st of 8
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Price · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 8
Wet Handling1st of 8
Dry Braking4th of 8
Dry Handling2nd of 8
Snow Braking1st of 8
Snow Traction4th of 8
Snow Handling1st of 8
Rolling Resistance3rd of 8
Straight Aqua1st of 8
Subj. Dry Handling1st of 8
Subj. Comfort5th of 8
Subj. Wet Handling1st of 8
Noise2nd of 8
Price7th of 8

Source: Auto Zeitung

2021 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

2nd of 8

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Express

2021 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 20
Best: Wear · 1st Weakest: Price · 19th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking6th of 20
Wet Handling5th of 20
Dry Braking9th of 20
Dry Handling2nd of 20
Snow Braking3rd of 20
Snow Traction3rd of 20
Snow Handling5th of 20
Rolling Resistance3rd of 20
Straight Aqua2nd of 20
Noise6th of 20
Value5th of 20
Price19th of 20
Wear1st of 20
Total Cost of Ownership3rd of 20

Source: Auto Bild

2021 AMS Winter tire Test · 195/55 R16

2nd of 10
Best: Rolling Resistance · 1st Weakest: Dry Braking · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 10
Wet Handling7th of 10
Dry Braking8th of 10
Dry Handling4th of 10
Snow Braking8th of 10
Snow Traction5th of 10
Snow Handling2nd of 10
Rolling Resistance1st of 10
Straight Aqua3rd of 10
Noise2nd of 10
Price8th of 10

Source: Auto Motor und Sport

2021 Winter tire Market Overview · 205/55 R16

4th of 49
Best: Snow Braking · 3rd Weakest: Wet Braking · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking6th of 49
Snow Braking3rd of 49

Source: Auto Bild

2021 TÜV SÜD Winter Tire Test R17 · 225/45R17

1st of 5

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: TÜV SÜD

2021 Autonavigator Winter Tire Test R16 · 205/55R16

2nd of 10

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Autonavigator

2020 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

2nd of 9

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Express

Continental WinterContact TS 870 compared

Compare any two
Continental WinterContact TS 870VSUniroyal WinterExpert
Continental WinterContact TS 870VSMichelin Alpin 7
Continental WinterContact TS 870VSDunlop Winter

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