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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Dunlop Winter Response 2 — 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
89
/ 100
Objective (60%)
76/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
92/100
10 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop Winter Response 2 — better wet, snow and comfort. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if handling and dry matter most to you.
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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 860 S | Winter Response 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 93 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 86 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter Response 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 90 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 98% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter Response 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 94 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 100 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 96% | 99% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter Response 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 93 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter Response 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 42 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter Response 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 87 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter Response 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Dunlop Winter Response 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 86 | 89 |
| Dry | 89 | 86 |
| Wet | 81 | 92 |
| Snow | 87 | 96 |
| Comfort | 88 | 93 |
| Noise | 42 | – |
| Treadwear | 88 | 87 |
| Handling | 87 | 82 |
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
89
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 50% #2/12 · 2018 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 175/65 R14 | -25 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/31 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | -3 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | -6.5 | 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 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.
The Dunlop Winter Response 2 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction in snow and wet conditions. Users frequently highlight its balanced performance, noting that it maintains impressive grip and low noise levels even in dry, cold weather, making it a strong value proposition in the premium winter segment.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and confidence in deep snow and icy conditions.
- Excellent wet weather grip and handling stability.
- Low road noise levels, even at motorway speeds.
- Strong value for money compared to other premium winter offerings.
Cons
- Some reports of faster-than-expected tread wear.
- Noticeable sidewall roll during cornering at higher speeds.
- Inconsistent performance ratings across different tire widths in independent testing.
Observations
- Users noted that the tire remains remarkably quiet on smaller vehicles like the Renault Clio, particularly in 185/55 R15 sizing.
- Longevity appears sufficient for moderate usage, with one user reporting 46,000 km of service while maintaining 4mm of tread depth.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Dunlop Winter Response 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Premium Touring 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?
86
/ 100
Continental
89
/ 100
Dunlop
Winner: Dunlop Winter Response 2 — better wet, snow and comfort. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if handling and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 92 vs 81 on wet.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 96 vs 87 on snow.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 82 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 93 vs 88 on comfort.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Dunlop Winter Response 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S also compared with
Dunlop Winter Response 2 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.