Tests 72 · 1 test Owners 78 · 14 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (rolling resistance)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterContact TS 860 S leads, 75–74 Narrow edge
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Tests 74 · 25 tests Owners 75 · 44 reviews
Best test result: #5 of 49 in 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview (wet braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
75
Dry
WinterContact TS 860 S +570Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 74 68 Reviews found online 78 72 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 94% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 98% -
74
Wet
Winter Sport 5 +983Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 86 Reviews found online 80 79 Wet Braking (% of best) 91% 96% Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 98% -
74
Snow
Winter Sport 5 +781Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 71 84 Reviews found online 78 77 Snow Braking (% of best) 96% 100% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 98% -
74
Comfort
Winter Sport 5 +377Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) – 80 Reviews found online 79 74 -
72
Noise
WinterContact TS 860 S +3438Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 74 21 Reviews found online 70 – -
72
Treadwear
Winter Sport 5 +476Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) – 76 Reviews found online 77 74 -
83
Handling
WinterContact TS 860 S +875Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sport 5 Reviews found online 83 75
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 74 |
| Dry | 75 | 70 |
| Wet | 74 | 83 |
| Snow | 74 | 81 |
| Comfort | 74 | 77 |
| Noise | 72 | 38 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 76 |
| Handling | 83 | 75 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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Recomputed
Headline score
75
/ 100
WinterContact TS 860 S
74
/ 100
Winter Sport 5
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 | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter Sport 5 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 94% #12/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +3.2 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #5/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | +1.1 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 93% #4/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | +7.1 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #13/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | +1.5 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 55% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 69% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −13.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 50% #2/8 · 2015 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | −25.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #4/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −4.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #10/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.5 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 91% #9/12 · 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test | −1.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #5/49 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview | −4.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | −0.8 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A WinterContact TS 860 S
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
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
Tire B Winter Sport 5
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance in snow, slush, and heavy winter conditions
- Strong wet weather handling and reliable water clearance to prevent hydroplaning
- Impressive tread wear and long-term durability across multiple seasons
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can lead to a mushy or floating steering response and unstable cornering when temperatures rise above 5-10°C
- Reduced dry handling precision and longer braking distances in warmer ambient conditions
- Inadequate or missing effective rim protection despite manufacturer claims
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 5 | — |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 22″ | — |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
74
/ 100
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S and Dunlop Winter Sport 5 are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on noise, handling and dry. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 is stronger on wet, snow and treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 72 vs 38 on noise.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 83 vs 74 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 83 vs 75 on handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 81 vs 74 on snow.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Dunlop Winter Sport 5
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How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.