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 860 S — 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
81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
85/100
14 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better dry, treadwear and handling. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if noise matters 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 860 S leads by 30
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 48 | 93 |
| 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 860 S leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 80 |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | 89 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 93% | 91% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 85 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 89 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 99% | 96% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 96% | 98% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 89 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 88 |
| SimpleTire owners | 94 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 42
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 42 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 61 | 88 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 81 |
| Dry | 59 | 89 |
| Wet | 76 | 81 |
| Snow | 86 | 87 |
| Comfort | 88 | 88 |
| Noise | 84 | 42 |
| Treadwear | 68 | 88 |
| Handling | 71 | 87 |
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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Recomputed
Headline score
75
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 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% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -5.1 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #2/8 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 98% #2/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -2.3 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #8/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 96% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +4.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 89% #5/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -8.3 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | 7% #14/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | +17.9 | Same test |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #5/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +3.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 96% #4/9 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -2.4 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #3/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +5.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 93% #5/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +1.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #11/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.2 | 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 860 S is widely regarded as a premium performance winter tire that excels in cold, dry, and wet conditions, often mimicking the handling characteristics of a summer tire. While the majority of users praise its sporty feedback and snow traction, some owners report specific issues with lateral grip in wet conditions and potential compatibility challenges with staggered wheel setups.
Pros
- Exceptional handling and feedback on dry and wet roads in cold temperatures
- Strong performance and confidence in snow and icy conditions
- Stiffer sidewalls compared to predecessors, offering improved cornering stability
- High durability and slow tread wear over multiple seasons
Cons
- Long break-in period required before optimal grip is achieved
- Potential for traction control interference on staggered RWD setups due to circumference variances
- Limited lateral grip in wet conditions compared to some competitors
- High price point relative to other winter tire options
Observations
- Users with staggered RWD setups reported significant issues with traction control systems when using non-OEM specific tire variants.
- Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., BMW M2) noted that the stiffer sidewalls provide a more precise, less 'squishy' feel during spirited driving.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 7 | B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 18 | 4 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 22″ | 18″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | 50 - 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Continental
81
/ 100
Continental
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better dry, treadwear and handling. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 84 vs 42 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 89 vs 59 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 68 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 71 on handling.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 7
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental VikingContact 7 also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S 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.