81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
79/100
8 professional tests
User signal (40%)
84/100
49 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5 — 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
83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
89/100
24 professional tests
User signal (40%)
84/100
43 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 — better noise, comfort and snow. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 if wet and handling matter most to you.
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)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 76 | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 83 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 94% | 94% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 97% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 92 | 85 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 82% | 93% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 100% | 99% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 91 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 99% | 96% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 100% | 100% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 100% | 89% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 67 | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 84 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 62 | 78 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 87 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 860 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 860 | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 79 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 83 |
| Dry | 81 | 82 |
| Wet | 90 | 81 |
| Snow | 78 | 84 |
| Comfort | 75 | 87 |
| Noise | 62 | 78 |
| Treadwear | 83 | 87 |
| Handling | 86 | 79 |
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
83
/ 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 | 94% #5/9 · 2018 AMS All Season Tyre Test | 94% #14/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | -0 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 97% #7/9 · 2018 AMS All Season Tyre Test | 99% #6/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -1.9 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 98% #2/2 · All Season vs Winter vs Nordic vs Studded Tyres | 85% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +12.7 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 93% #6/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/16 · 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | -1.4 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 99% #1/2 · All Season vs Winter vs Nordic vs Studded Tyres | 100% #13/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | -1.3 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 96% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 91% #16/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +5.1 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 68% #18/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 55% #4/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | +12.8 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 65% #6/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 71% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -6.2 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/45 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | 20% #5/10 · 2020 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 96% #14/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +3.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #1/9 · 2018 AMS All Season Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +0.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/2 · All Season vs Winter vs Nordic vs Studded Tyres | 89% #1/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | +11.1 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #1/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/10 · 2020 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +2.2 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 90% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | -10 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 60% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 70% #6/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | -10 | Same test |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 90% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 80% #4/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +10 | Same test |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 100% #1/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 50% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +50 | Same test |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #6/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 82% #1/9 · 2018 AMS All Season Tyre Test | 93% #6/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -10.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #2/2 · All Season vs Winter vs Nordic vs Studded Tyres | 99% #5/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1 | 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 is widely regarded as a top-tier, balanced winter tire that excels in wet and snowy conditions while maintaining impressive comfort and low noise levels. While the vast majority of users report high satisfaction with its safety and handling, a minority of owners noted a significant drop in performance as the tires aged or after several seasons of use.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and safety in wet and slushy conditions
- Outstanding performance on snow, providing high levels of confidence
- Remarkably low noise levels and high ride comfort
- Strong fuel efficiency and balanced overall performance
- Predictable handling on dry roads, often compared favorably to summer tires
Cons
- Performance degradation noted by some users after 3-4 seasons
- Soft sidewalls can lead to a slight loss of steering precision or 'wobble' in tight corners
- Tread pattern prone to picking up and throwing stones/sand
- Inconsistent reports regarding tread wear, with some users experiencing faster-than-expected depletion
Observations
- Users with high-torque vehicles noted that the tire can struggle with traction under heavy acceleration on snow if the vehicle lacks advanced torque management.
- Drivers of smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., VW Polo, Golf) reported excellent handling and confidence in varied winter conditions.
- Some users noted that the tire's soft sidewall is more noticeable on larger rim sizes or during spirited driving.
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction and confidence-inspiring performance in deep snow, ice, and slush. While it excels in cold-weather environments, some users note that its soft sidewall construction can lead to a 'mushy' steering feel and reduced stability on dry pavement when temperatures rise above 10°C.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and braking performance on snow and ice
- Excellent longevity and slow tread wear
- High level of ride comfort and low road noise
- Strong resistance to hydroplaning in heavy rain and slush
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can cause unstable handling or 'squirming' in dry, warmer conditions
- Lack of effective rim protection despite marketing claims
- Steering response can feel lazy or imprecise on certain vehicle setups
- Performance noticeably degrades when ambient temperatures exceed 10-12°C
Observations
- Users with high-torque vehicles (e.g., Tesla Model 3, performance-oriented cars) reported that the tire can feel nervous or lack precision during hard acceleration.
- Drivers of heavier vehicles or those using wider tire formats noted that maintaining higher inflation pressures is often necessary to mitigate soft sidewall flex and improve steering feedback.
- The tire is highly regarded for AWD vehicles (e.g., Subaru Forester, Skoda Yeti), where it effectively complements the drivetrain's capability in deep snow.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 860 | B · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Continental
83
/ 100
Dunlop
Winner: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 — better noise, comfort and snow. Pick the Continental WinterContact TS 860 if wet and handling matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 78 vs 62 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 87 vs 75 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 90 vs 81 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 86 vs 79 on handling.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 860
Tire B · Dunlop Winter Sport 5
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 860 also compared with
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 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.