82
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
80/100
38 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental WinterContact TS 830 P 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
86
/ 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 snow, handling and treadwear. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 830 P if wet 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 3
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 830 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 93 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 84 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 830 P leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 830 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 82 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 830 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 89 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 830 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 88 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 830 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 42 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 830 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 88 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 830 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 830 P | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 82 | 86 |
| Dry | 86 | 89 |
| Wet | 85 | 81 |
| Snow | 72 | 87 |
| Comfort | 86 | 88 |
| Noise | – | 42 |
| Treadwear | 83 | 88 |
| Handling | 77 | 87 |
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
82
/ 100
Tire A
86
/ 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 830 P is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in severe snow and icy conditions, providing exceptional traction and driver confidence. While the vast majority of users report superior handling and safety, a small minority of reviewers experienced inconsistent grip in wet conditions or premature tread wear, suggesting performance may vary based on specific vehicle setups.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and control on deep, packed snow and ice
- Strong braking performance in cold, winter conditions
- Low road noise levels compared to other winter tires
- Good longevity and tread wear for a high-performance winter compound
- Stable and predictable handling in freezing temperatures
Cons
- Reports of inconsistent wet weather grip and side-slipping
- Stiff sidewalls (particularly in run-flat variants) can lead to a harsh ride
- Occasional reports of severe sawtooth wear patterns
- Reduced steering feedback and 'floaty' feel in dry, warmer conditions
Observations
- Users with RWD vehicles (notably BMWs) reported significant improvements in winter mobility and hill-climbing ability.
- Heavy vehicles, such as the VW T4 Caravelle, noted excellent load-bearing performance and traction in deep snow.
- Drivers downsizing to smaller rim diameters for winter reported improved comfort and effective performance.
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 WinterContact TS 830 P | B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 4 |
| Rim diameters | — | 18″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10 - 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 - 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
82
/ 100
Continental
86
/ 100
Continental
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better snow, handling and treadwear. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 830 P if wet matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 72 on snow.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 77 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 83 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 830 P scores 85 vs 81 on wet.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 830 P
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 830 P 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.