86
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
57 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental WinterContact TS 850 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 — 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
83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
79/100
8 professional tests
User signal (40%)
84/100
49 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental WinterContact TS 850 — better comfort and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 | WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 76 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 89 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 | WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 92 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 850 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 | WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 80 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 850 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 | WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 67 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 86 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 | WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 62 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 850 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 | WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 83 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 | WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 86 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 850 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 86 | 83 |
| Dry | 88 | 81 |
| Wet | 89 | 90 |
| Snow | 80 | 78 |
| Comfort | 89 | 75 |
| Noise | – | 62 |
| Treadwear | 85 | 83 |
| Handling | 85 | 86 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
86
/ 100
Tire A
83
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental WinterContact TS 850 is widely regarded as a benchmark winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction in snow, slush, and wet conditions. While most users report high levels of confidence and comfort, some note that the tire's soft sidewall construction can lead to a less precise steering feel and accelerated shoulder wear when pushed aggressively in warmer temperatures.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow and icy conditions
- Outstanding performance in wet weather with strong resistance to aquaplaning
- High levels of ride comfort and low cabin noise
- Strong longevity and durability over high mileage
- Improved fuel efficiency compared to many summer tire counterparts
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can result in a 'floating' or vague steering feel during cornering
- Performance degrades noticeably in temperatures above 10-15°C
- Reports of accelerated shoulder wear, particularly on heavier or RWD vehicles
- Occasional complaints regarding reduced grip levels after the first or second season
Observations
- RWD vehicle owners frequently report that these tires transform winter drivability, allowing for confident navigation in deep snow where other tires struggle.
- Users transitioning from larger summer wheels to smaller winter setups (e.g., 16-inch or 15-inch) often report significant improvements in ride comfort and fuel economy.
- Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles noted a lack of turn-in feedback due to the soft sidewall design, which may not suit those seeking a sporty driving experience.
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 is widely regarded as a top-tier, balanced winter tire that excels in wet and snowy conditions while maintaining impressive comfort and low noise levels. While the vast majority of users report high satisfaction with its safety and handling, a minority of owners noted a significant drop in performance as the tires aged or after several seasons of use.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and safety in wet and slushy conditions
- Outstanding performance on snow, providing high levels of confidence
- Remarkably low noise levels and high ride comfort
- Strong fuel efficiency and balanced overall performance
- Predictable handling on dry roads, often compared favorably to summer tires
Cons
- Performance degradation noted by some users after 3-4 seasons
- Soft sidewalls can lead to a slight loss of steering precision or 'wobble' in tight corners
- Tread pattern prone to picking up and throwing stones/sand
- Inconsistent reports regarding tread wear, with some users experiencing faster-than-expected depletion
Observations
- Users with high-torque vehicles noted that the tire can struggle with traction under heavy acceleration on snow if the vehicle lacks advanced torque management.
- Drivers of smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., VW Polo, Golf) reported excellent handling and confidence in varied winter conditions.
- Some users noted that the tire's soft sidewall is more noticeable on larger rim sizes or during spirited driving.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 | B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
86
/ 100
Continental
83
/ 100
Continental
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 850 — better comfort and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 89 vs 75 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 88 vs 81 on dry.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 850
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 860
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 850 also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 860 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.