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 Scorpion 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
81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
77/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
80/100
17 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S and Pirelli Scorpion Winter are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on treadwear, snow and comfort. Pirelli Scorpion Winter is stronger on noise.
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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)
Scorpion Winter leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 93 | 94 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 80 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Scorpion Winter leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 81 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 90 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 99% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 97% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 81 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 93 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 96% | 97% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 81 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 93 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Scorpion Winter leads by 43
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 42 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 73 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 72 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 73 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 S leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 S | Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Pirelli Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 81 |
| Dry | 89 | 91 |
| Wet | 81 | 82 |
| Snow | 87 | 78 |
| Comfort | 88 | 80 |
| Noise | 42 | 85 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 73 |
| Handling | 87 | 80 |
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
81
/ 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 | 97% #4/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.1 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #1/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 94% #3/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +5.9 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 96% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #4/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | -1.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 97% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 81% #6/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +16.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 7% #14/19 · The Best Winter Tyres for 2020 | 20% #5/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -12.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/9 · 2018 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | -1.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #4/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 88% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/10 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter SUV / 4x4 Tyre Test | -8 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #8/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.4 | 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 Scorpion Winter is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, often mimicking the handling characteristics of a summer tire. While many users praise its confidence-inspiring grip on highways and in heavy rain, consensus is mixed regarding its performance in severe ice and deep slush, where some drivers report a lack of traction.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to aquaplaning
- Strong dry road handling and stability at high speeds
- Comfortable and quiet ride quality for long-distance cruising
- Predictable and confidence-inspiring grip in light to moderate snow
Cons
- Inconsistent performance on hard ice and slushy conditions
- Faster tread wear compared to standard summer tires
- Reduced snow traction as the tire ages and tread depth decreases
- High-speed stability can feel vague at extreme velocities
Observations
- Users with heavy SUVs and performance crossovers report high satisfaction with highway handling but note faster tread wear.
- Drivers utilizing staggered fitments on 20-inch wheels report good feedback and handling, though some note the design is aging compared to newer iterations.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Pirelli Scorpion Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | 4 | 44 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ – 22″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| 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
81
/ 100
Pirelli
Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S and Pirelli Scorpion Winter are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on treadwear, snow and comfort. Pirelli Scorpion Winter is stronger on noise.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Scorpion Winter scores 85 vs 42 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 73 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 87 vs 78 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 88 vs 80 on comfort.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Pirelli Scorpion Winter
More comparisons
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Pirelli Scorpion 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.