75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
7 professional tests
User signal (40%)
78/100
30 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental VikingContact 7 vs Continental WinterContact TS 850 P — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
81/100
6 professional tests
User signal (40%)
79/100
20 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P — better dry, treadwear and handling. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if noise, snow and comfort matter most to you.
Read full
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Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 850 P leads by 26
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 48 | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 84 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 92% | 98% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 850 P leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 89 |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 89 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 93% | 100% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 100% | 99% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 74 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 77 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 99% | 94% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 94% | 99% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 98% | 78% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | 89 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 79 |
| SimpleTire owners | 94 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 61 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 850 P leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 61 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 850 P leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | Continental WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 80 |
| Dry | 59 | 85 |
| Wet | 76 | 87 |
| Snow | 86 | 75 |
| Comfort | 88 | 78 |
| Noise | 84 | 61 |
| Treadwear | 68 | 82 |
| Handling | 71 | 84 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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.
Neutral
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Important
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Neutral
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
75
/ 100
Tire A
80
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 92% #13/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 98% #5/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -5.9 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #2/8 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -1 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 97% #4/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 84% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +13.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #1/8 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | 95% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +2.4 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 89% #5/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #12/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | -10.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 25% #4/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | -8.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #5/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 94% #9/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | +5.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 94% #2/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -5 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 98% #3/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 78% #8/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +19.2 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 92% #8/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 91% #4/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +0.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 95% #4/8 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | 90% #3/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | +5 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #3/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 90% #2/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | -10 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 93% #5/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -7.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #8/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.8 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental VikingContact 7 is widely regarded as a premium, well-rounded studless winter tire that excels in comfort, noise suppression, and slush performance. While it receives high praise for its predictable handling and stability on cold, dry, or wet pavement, user consensus suggests it may slightly trail dedicated ice-focused competitors like the Bridgestone Blizzak in extreme stopping grip on pure ice.
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong performance in slush and deep snow
- Stable and predictable handling at highway speeds
- Excellent dry and wet road manners for a winter tire
Cons
- Mixed reports regarding tread life and longevity
- Noticeable decline in ice-braking performance compared to top-tier ice specialists
- Compound may harden or performance may degrade after multiple seasons
- Potential for reduced traction if driven in warmer, non-winter conditions
Observations
- Users noted that the tire maintains excellent fuel economy and low noise levels even on electric vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 and Mazda MX-30.
- Drivers of rear-wheel-drive sports cars (e.g., Mazda Miata) reported that the tire's soft compound can feel overwhelmed during aggressive acceleration on dry pavement.
- Downsizing to a smaller wheel diameter (e.g., -2 from OE) was successfully used to improve the tire's profile and winter performance on hybrid SUVs.
The Continental WinterContact TS 850 P is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, offering a comfortable and quiet ride. While most users praise its predictability and grip on snow and ice, a minority of drivers report inconsistent performance in extreme cold or icy conditions and concerns regarding tread longevity.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and handling in wet and dry conditions
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise output
- Predictable and confidence-inspiring performance on snow
- Strong braking performance on mixed surfaces
Cons
- Reports of rapid tread wear for some users
- Inconsistent lateral grip on ice and deep snow for some drivers
- High price point compared to competitors
- Stiff sidewall construction noted by some as harsh
Observations
- Performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., BMW, Golf GTI) report excellent dry/wet handling, though some note a loss of steering feedback compared to summer tires.
- Heavy vehicles like the Mercedes E350 and Volvo XC70 report stable, comfortable, and balanced performance, particularly with larger wheel setups.
- Users with front-wheel-drive vehicles noted the tire provides surprising capability in challenging winter conditions, often keeping pace with 4x4 vehicles.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 7 | B · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 18 | 1 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 22″ | 18″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | 44 - 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Continental
80
/ 100
Continental
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P — better dry, treadwear and handling. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if noise, snow and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 85 vs 59 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 84 vs 61 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 82 vs 68 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 84 vs 71 on handling.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 7
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental VikingContact 7 also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.