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 Pirelli P Zero Winter — 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
77
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
78/100
25 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better snow, handling and treadwear. Pick the Pirelli P Zero Winter if noise matters 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 | P Zero Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 93 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 74 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | P Zero Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 80 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 91% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 97% | 98% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | P Zero Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 51 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 89 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 96% | 88% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | P Zero Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 84 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
P Zero Winter leads by 42
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | P Zero Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 42 | 82 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | P Zero Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 88 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | P Zero Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 70 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Pirelli P Zero Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 77 |
| Dry | 89 | 86 |
| Wet | 81 | 81 |
| Snow | 87 | 65 |
| Comfort | 88 | 85 |
| Noise | 42 | 84 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 72 |
| Handling | 87 | 70 |
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
81
/ 100
Tire A
77
/ 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% #11/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +2.9 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #10/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.5 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 90% #8/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +9.5 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 96% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #6/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | -2.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 11% #9/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +13.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 88% #11/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +7.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #8/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 88% #10/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 91% #8/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/12 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | -0.5 | 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 Pirelli P Zero Winter is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in cold-weather traction and comfort, particularly for luxury and performance-oriented vehicles. While users consistently praise its handling and noise suppression, opinions on its dry-road dynamics and deep-snow cornering are mixed, with some drivers noting a distinct performance trade-off compared to dedicated summer or extreme-weather tires.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and confidence in cold, wet, and slushy conditions.
- Superior noise control and ride comfort compared to competitors.
- Strong acceleration and power delivery in winter environments.
- High-quality construction with effective rim protection and stiff sidewalls.
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, especially when driven aggressively or on high-torque vehicles.
- Unpredictable handling dynamics in dry or damp conditions for some sports car applications.
- Limited performance in deep snow cornering compared to dedicated deep-snow tires.
- Perceived lack of value or 'special' feel compared to top-tier Michelin alternatives.
Observations
- Users with high-torque vehicles (e.g., M760i) noted that the tire struggles to manage extreme power output on snow despite AWD.
- Performance EV owners (e.g., Model Y) report expectedly rapid tread wear due to vehicle weight and torque.
- Drivers of smaller, lighter sports cars (e.g., WRX) report excellent power delivery, while some Porsche 992 owners found the handling unpredictable in non-snow conditions.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Pirelli P Zero Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 4 | 13 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ – 22″ | 19″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | 50 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Continental
77
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S — better snow, handling and treadwear. Pick the Pirelli P Zero Winter if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli P Zero Winter scores 84 vs 42 on noise.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 65 on snow.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 70 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 72 on treadwear.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Pirelli P Zero Winter
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S also compared with
Pirelli P Zero Winter 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.