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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 — 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
84
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
79/100
28 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 — better noise and wet. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if dry, comfort and handling 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 9
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 93 | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 84 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 91% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter i*cept evo2 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 78 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 96% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 97% | 98% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 73 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 96% | 97% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 82 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter i*cept evo2 leads by 58
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 42 | 100 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 83 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 81 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 84 |
| Dry | 89 | 80 |
| Wet | 81 | 84 |
| Snow | 87 | 82 |
| Comfort | 88 | 82 |
| Noise | 42 | 100 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 83 |
| Handling | 87 | 81 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
Tire A
84
/ 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 | 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 91% #11/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +6.2 | Same test |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +1 | Same test |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 78% #11/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +22.1 | Same test |
| Noise | Other | 96% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #11/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -4.2 | Same test |
| Price | Other | 97% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 71% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +26 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 7% #14/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | 20% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -12.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -1 | Same test |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.6 | Same test |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 93% #9/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -3.3 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #3/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -4.6 | Same test |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.4 | Same test |
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 Hankook Winter i cept evo2 is widely regarded as a high-value, comfort-oriented winter tire that performs reliably in mild to moderate winter conditions. While it excels in noise reduction and ride quality, user consensus is mixed regarding its performance in deep snow and its longevity, with some users noting a significant drop-off in grip as the tread wears down over several seasons.
Pros
- Excellent ride comfort and low noise levels
- Strong value-for-money proposition compared to premium competitors
- Predictable and progressive handling in wet and dry conditions
- Good traction in light to moderate snow and slush
Cons
- Noticeable decline in performance and grip as the tire ages/tread wears
- Struggles in deep snow or extreme winter conditions
- Soft sidewalls can lead to vague steering feedback during spirited driving
- Increased fuel consumption reported by some users
Observations
- BMW owners frequently use these as a comfortable alternative to factory run-flat tires, noting improved ride quality.
- Performance on RWD vehicles in deep snow is reported as inconsistent, with some users experiencing significant traction loss.
- Users with high-torque vehicles noted that the tire can struggle to put power down effectively on dry pavement.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Ultra High Performance Winter tire |
| 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?
81
/ 100
Continental
84
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 — better noise and wet. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if dry, comfort and handling matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 scores 100 vs 42 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 89 vs 80 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 82 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 81 on handling.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*cept evo2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S also compared with
Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 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.