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 Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 — 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
91
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
94/100
1,962 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 — better noise, wet and handling. 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)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 93 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 92 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 95 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 97% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 97% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 92 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 96% | 96% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 96% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 91 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 46
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 42 | 85 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 93 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Pilot Alpin 4 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 95 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 91 |
| Dry | 89 | 91 |
| Wet | 81 | 91 |
| Snow | 87 | 86 |
| Comfort | 88 | 94 |
| Noise | 42 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 91 |
| Handling | 87 | 96 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
Tire A
91
/ 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 | 95% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.1 | Same test |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.2 | Same test |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 86% #8/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +14.2 | Same test |
| Noise | Other | 96% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #9/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -3.2 | Same test |
| Price | Other | 97% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #11/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -2.6 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 7% #14/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | 17% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -9.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.3 | Same test |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #9/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2 | Same test |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 93% #8/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -3.3 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -5.6 | Same test |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0 | 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 Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 is widely regarded as a premier performance winter tire, offering an exceptional balance of cold-weather safety and dry-road handling characteristics. Users consistently praise its ability to maintain sporty driving dynamics in snow, ice, and wet conditions, often noting that it feels remarkably similar to a summer tire in terms of feedback and stability.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and confidence in snow, ice, and freezing wet conditions.
- Superior dry-road handling and steering feedback compared to typical winter tires.
- High level of comfort and relatively low road noise for a performance-oriented winter compound.
- Excellent longevity and tread life, with many users reporting multiple seasons of use.
Cons
- Premium price point compared to competitors.
- Some reports of increased noise levels at high highway speeds.
- Not intended for high-speed sustained driving (above 190-200 km/h) due to deep tread patterns.
- Can feel slightly 'mushy' or soft in initial steering response compared to dedicated summer performance tires.
Observations
- Users with high-performance RWD vehicles (e.g., BMW, Mustang) report significantly improved winter drivability and confidence.
- Drivers of performance-oriented SUVs (e.g., Audi SQ5, BMW X3) note that the tire maintains vehicle agility while providing necessary winter safety.
- Some users noted that the tire's performance is best suited for high-torque, sporty vehicles, and may be 'overkill' or too expensive for standard commuter cars.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Ultra 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?
81
/ 100
Continental
91
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 — better noise, wet and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 88 vs 42 on noise.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 91 vs 81 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 96 vs 87 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 scores 94 vs 88 on comfort.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Michelin Pilot Alpin 4
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S also compared with
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 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.