80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
81/100
6 professional tests
User signal (40%)
79/100
20 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental WinterContact TS 850 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
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.
VerdictToo close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P and Continental WinterContact TS 860 S are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 850 P is stronger on noise and wet. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on snow, comfort and treadwear.
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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 4
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 86 | 93 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 84 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 93% | 98% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 850 P leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 82 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 98% | 91% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 74 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 89 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 96% | 96% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 96% | 98% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 88 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 850 P leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 61 | 42 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 88 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 850 P | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 87 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 850 P | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 81 |
| Dry | 85 | 89 |
| Wet | 87 | 81 |
| Snow | 75 | 87 |
| Comfort | 78 | 88 |
| Noise | 61 | 42 |
| Treadwear | 82 | 88 |
| Handling | 84 | 87 |
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.
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
80
/ 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 | 93% #13/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -4.7 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #4/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.2 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 89% #10/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -11.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 95% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.5 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 100% #10/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 7% #14/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | +17.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #14/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 96% #9/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -2.5 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +6.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 98% #4/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +6.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #3/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
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 P is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, offering a comfortable and quiet ride. While most users praise its predictability and grip on snow and ice, a minority of drivers report inconsistent performance in extreme cold or icy conditions and concerns regarding tread longevity.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and handling in wet and dry conditions
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise output
- Predictable and confidence-inspiring performance on snow
- Strong braking performance on mixed surfaces
Cons
- Reports of rapid tread wear for some users
- Inconsistent lateral grip on ice and deep snow for some drivers
- High price point compared to competitors
- Stiff sidewall construction noted by some as harsh
Observations
- Performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., BMW, Golf GTI) report excellent dry/wet handling, though some note a loss of steering feedback compared to summer tires.
- Heavy vehicles like the Mercedes E350 and Volvo XC70 report stable, comfortable, and balanced performance, particularly with larger wheel setups.
- Users with front-wheel-drive vehicles noted the tire provides surprising capability in challenging winter conditions, often keeping pace with 4x4 vehicles.
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 850 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 | 1 | 4 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ | 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?
80
/ 100
Continental
81
/ 100
Continental
Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 850 P and Continental WinterContact TS 860 S are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 850 P is stronger on noise and wet. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on snow, comfort and treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 61 vs 42 on noise.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 75 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 78 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P scores 87 vs 81 on wet.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 850 P
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 850 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.