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 Michelin Alpin A4 — 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
92
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
92/100
53 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Alpin A4 — better wet, treadwear and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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 1
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 93 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 88 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Alpin A4 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 95 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Alpin A4 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 92 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Alpin A4 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 93 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 42 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Alpin A4 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 94 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Alpin A4 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 88 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Michelin Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 86 | 92 |
| Dry | 89 | 88 |
| Wet | 81 | 95 |
| Snow | 87 | 92 |
| Comfort | 88 | 93 |
| Noise | 42 | – |
| Treadwear | 88 | 94 |
| Handling | 87 | 88 |
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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Recomputed
Headline score
86
/ 100
Tire A
92
/ 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 | 17% #6/16 · 2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter Tyre Test | +8.3 | 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 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 Michelin Alpin A4 is widely regarded as a benchmark winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction and confidence-inspiring performance in snow, ice, and cold wet conditions. While some users note a slight numbness in steering feedback and reduced performance in warmer, dry weather, the consensus highlights its durability, quiet ride, and ability to transform the handling of both front-wheel and rear-wheel drive vehicles in treacherous winter climates.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and braking performance on snow and ice
- High level of confidence and stability in wet, cold conditions
- Impressive tread life and durability over multiple seasons
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality compared to competitors
- Reliable handling that significantly improves safety for RWD vehicles
Cons
- Reduced steering feedback and 'numb' handling feel
- Performance decline in dry conditions when temperatures exceed 10°C
- Occasional reports of increased rolling resistance
- Potential for performance drop-off as tread depth wears down
Observations
- Users with high-power rear-wheel drive vehicles (e.g., BMW 3-series, Mercedes E-Class) report that the tires effectively mitigate common winter handling issues.
- Drivers opting for narrower tire widths on smaller rims noted improved traction and ride comfort in deep snow.
- Heavy-duty use, such as in taxi applications, confirms the tire's longevity and ability to handle high-mileage, stop-start driving cycles.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Michelin Alpin A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter 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?
86
/ 100
Continental
92
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Alpin A4 — better wet, treadwear and snow. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Alpin A4 scores 95 vs 81 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Alpin A4 scores 94 vs 88 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Michelin Alpin A4 scores 92 vs 87 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Alpin A4 scores 93 vs 88 on comfort.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Michelin Alpin A4
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S also compared with
Michelin Alpin A4 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.