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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Continental WinterContact TS 850 vs Continental WinterContact TS 870 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.

Tire A Continental

Continental WinterContact TS 850

Winter Premium Touring tires

Continental WinterContact TS 850 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
57 owner reviews
Dry
88
Wet
89
Snow
80
Comfort
89
Noise
–
Treadwear
85
Handling
85
Check price on Amazon

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Continental

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

Winter Ultra High Performance tires

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P tread pattern
Objective (60%)
93/100
29 professional tests
User signal (40%)
87/100
28 owner reviews
Dry
89
Wet
86
Snow
82
Comfort
85
Noise
59
Treadwear
89
Handling
88
Check price on Amazon

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictToo close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 850 and Continental WinterContact TS 870 P are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 850 is stronger on comfort and wet. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P is stronger on treadwear and handling.
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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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 1
A
88
B
89
Why this score
SourceWinterContact TS 850WinterContact TS 870 P
Professional tests (TWG score) – 90
Tyre Reviews owners 88 86

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 850 leads by 3
A
89
B
86
Why this score
SourceWinterContact TS 850WinterContact TS 870 P
Professional tests (TWG score) – 83
Tyre Reviews owners 89 91

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 2
A
80
B
82
Why this score
SourceWinterContact TS 850WinterContact TS 870 P
Professional tests (TWG score) – 78
Tyre Reviews owners 80 89

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 850 leads by 4
A
89
B
85
Why this score
SourceWinterContact TS 850WinterContact TS 870 P
Professional tests (TWG score) – 82
Tyre Reviews owners 89 90

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A
–
B
59
Why this score
SourceWinterContact TS 850WinterContact TS 870 P
Professional tests (TWG score) – 59

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 4
A
85
B
89
Why this score
SourceWinterContact TS 850WinterContact TS 870 P
Tyre Reviews owners 85 89

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 3
A
85
B
88
Why this score
SourceWinterContact TS 850WinterContact TS 870 P
Tyre Reviews owners 85 88

Scores at a glance

CategoryContinental WinterContact TS 850Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Relative Score 86 87
Dry 88 89
Wet 89 86
Snow 80 82
Comfort 89 85
Noise – 59
Treadwear 85 89
Handling 85 88

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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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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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

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.

Tire A Continental WinterContact TS 850

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.
Tire B Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P is widely regarded as a premium, highly balanced winter tire that excels in wet and slushy conditions while offering exceptional comfort and low noise levels. Most users report high levels of confidence in varied winter weather, though a small minority of users report inconsistent performance in severe snow and ice, and some note that steering response is less sharp than dedicated performance-focused alternatives.

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
  • High levels of cabin comfort and low road noise
  • Strong, predictable grip on snow and slush
  • Good balance of dry handling and rolling resistance
  • Solid tread life and durability for a performance winter tire

Cons

  • Premium price point compared to competitors
  • Steering feel can be perceived as 'soft' or 'jelly' compared to summer tires
  • Performance can drop off in temperatures above 8-10°C
  • Inconsistent feedback regarding extreme ice traction

Observations

  • EV and hybrid owners frequently praise the tire for its low rolling resistance and quiet operation.
  • Drivers of high-performance RWD vehicles report that while the tire provides excellent grip, it may feel less stiff and sharp during aggressive cornering compared to summer counterparts.
  • Users on larger wheel diameters (20-inch) report that the tire maintains high comfort levels without sacrificing handling.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
CategoryWinter Premium Touring tiresWinter Ultra High Performance tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Continental

Continental

Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 850 and Continental WinterContact TS 870 P are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 850 is stronger on comfort and wet. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P is stronger on treadwear and handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 89 vs 85 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 89 vs 85 on treadwear.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 89 vs 86 on wet.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 88 vs 85 on handling.

Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 850
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Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Check price on Amazon

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.