Tests 72 · 1 test Owners 78 · 14 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (rolling resistance)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterContact TS 860 S leads, 74–73 Narrow edge
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Tests 68 · 10 tests Owners 78 · 66 reviews
Best test result: #5 of 20 in 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (straight aqua)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
75
Dry
Winter Sottozero 3 +176Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 74 73 Reviews found online 78 81 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 98% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 98% -
73
Wet
Winter Sottozero 3 +780Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 78 Reviews found online 78 82 Wet Braking (% of best) 91% 97% Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 95% -
74
Snow
WinterContact TS 860 S +767Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 71 61 Reviews found online 78 77 Snow Braking (% of best) 96% 94% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 96% -
74
Comfort
WinterContact TS 860 S +173Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 72 Reviews found online 80 74 -
73
Noise
WinterContact TS 860 S +667Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) 74 59 Reviews found online 71 79 -
72
Treadwear
WinterContact TS 860 S +963Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sottozero 3 Professional tests (TWG score) – 57 Reviews found online 76 72 -
82
Handling
WinterContact TS 860 S +280Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 860 S Winter Sottozero 3 Reviews found online 82 80
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 73 |
| Dry | 75 | 76 |
| Wet | 73 | 80 |
| Snow | 74 | 67 |
| Comfort | 74 | 73 |
| Noise | 73 | 67 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 63 |
| Handling | 82 | 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
74
/ 100
WinterContact TS 860 S
73
/ 100
Winter Sottozero 3
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 | WinterContact TS 860 S | Winter Sottozero 3 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | −0.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | +1.0 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 84% #8/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | +16.0 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.3 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 55% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 51% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +4.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 18% #10/11 · 2020 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test R18 | +6.8 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 94% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +1.9 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #10/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #5/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −5.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #6/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/10 · 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | −5.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #5/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.6 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A WinterContact TS 860 S
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
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
Tire B Winter Sottozero 3
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and resistance to hydroplaning.
- Strong dry-road handling and steering precision for a winter tire.
- Excellent traction and stability in snow and slush.
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, particularly if driven in temperatures above 15°C or year-round.
- Susceptibility to sidewall damage and bubbling when encountering road hazards.
- Increased noise levels as the tire ages and tread depth decreases.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 5 | 32 |
| Rim diameters | 16″ – 22″ | 17″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | 10/32″ |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
73
/ 100
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S and Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 860 S is stronger on treadwear, snow and noise. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 is stronger on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 72 vs 63 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 74 vs 67 on snow.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 scores 80 vs 73 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S scores 73 vs 67 on noise.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
Tire B · Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
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How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.