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Continental WinterContact TS 800 vs Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 — 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.
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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
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 800 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 1 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 70 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 800 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 82 |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 800 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 95 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 800 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 56 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 76 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 800 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 89 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 800 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 90 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 800 | Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 800 | Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 90 | 75 |
| Dry | 88 | 29 |
| Wet | 93 | 82 |
| Snow | 90 | 88 |
| Comfort | 89 | 64 |
| Noise | – | 89 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 90 |
| Handling | 88 | 80 |
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.
Tire A
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental WinterContact TS 800 is widely regarded by users as a top-tier winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction and confidence-inspiring performance in deep snow, slush, and icy conditions. While primarily designed for winter, many owners report that it maintains respectable handling and durability even when used outside of its intended temperature range.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep, fresh, and compressed snow
- Reliable braking and handling performance on wet and icy surfaces
- Impressive tread longevity even under varied driving conditions
- Comfortable ride quality compared to standard summer tires
Cons
- Increased road noise compared to some summer tire models
- Reduced handling precision and performance when temperatures exceed 10°C
- Soft compound can feel less stable during aggressive dry-weather driving
Observations
- Users driving smaller hatchbacks like the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Aygo, and Opel Corsa report high satisfaction with snow-starting capabilities on steep inclines.
- The tire is noted for maintaining safety and preventing sliding even on older vehicle platforms lacking modern ABS systems.
The Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 is widely regarded as a high-value, performance-oriented winter tire that excels in severe ice and snow conditions. Users consistently praise its robust stud retention and predictable handling, positioning it as a competitive alternative to premium European brands.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and braking performance on ice and packed snow
- High-quality stud retention and long-term durability
- Predictable side grip and cornering stability
- Excellent value-to-performance ratio
Cons
- Vague steering feedback on dry tarmac
- Noticeable understeer when driving on dry road surfaces
- Performance on dry pavement does not match the precision of premium summer-oriented winter tires
Observations
- Long-term users report that the rubber compound remains malleable and effective even after multiple seasons of harsh Nordic winters.
- The tire maintains consistent performance characteristics across various vehicle types, including those with higher horsepower outputs.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 800 | B · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter High Performance tires | Premium Touring Winter tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
Continental
Hankook
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 800 — better dry, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Continental WinterContact TS 800 scores 88 vs 29 on dry.
Continental WinterContact TS 800 scores 89 vs 64 on comfort.
Continental WinterContact TS 800 scores 93 vs 82 on wet.
Continental WinterContact TS 800 scores 88 vs 80 on handling.
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.