Tests 82 · 27 tests Owners 81 · 28 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 7 in 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test (subj. dry handling)
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Michelin X Ice Snow — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterContact TS 870 P is ahead, 81–71
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Tests 68 · 13 tests Owners 75 · 18 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (rolling resistance)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
82
Dry
WinterContact TS 870 P +1666Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 870 P X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 84 63 Reviews found online 79 70 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 96% Dry Handling (% of best) 99% 92% -
91
Wet
WinterContact TS 870 P +2467Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 870 P X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 94 60 Reviews found online 87 78 Longitudinal Aquaplaning (% of best) 94% 75% Wet Braking (% of best) 92% 80% Wet Circle (% of best) 99% 81% Wet Handling (% of best) 100% 95% -
79
Snow
WinterContact TS 870 P +376Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 870 P X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 79 73 Reviews found online 78 80 Snow Braking (% of best) 96% 69% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 98% Snow Traction (% of best) 95% 95% -
79
Comfort
X Ice Snow +483Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 870 P X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 77 88 Reviews found online 81 77 -
74
Noise
X Ice Snow +276Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 870 P X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 79 82 Exterior Noise (% of best) 98% 100% -
73
Treadwear
WinterContact TS 870 P +172Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 870 P X Ice Snow Professional tests (TWG score) 71 – Reviews found online 77 76 -
83
Handling
WinterContact TS 870 P +875Why this score
Source WinterContact TS 870 P X Ice Snow Reviews found online 83 75
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 71 |
| Dry | 82 | 66 |
| Wet | 91 | 67 |
| Snow | 79 | 76 |
| Comfort | 79 | 83 |
| Noise | 74 | 76 |
| Treadwear | 73 | 72 |
| Handling | 83 | 75 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
WinterContact TS 870 P
71
/ 100
X Ice Snow
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 870 P | X Ice Snow | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #2/16 · 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | 96% #6/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +2.5 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #7/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test | 92% #4/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | +6.7 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 81% #8/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −19.0 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 96% #12/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | −3.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 92% #7/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 70% #8/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | +21.6 | Different tests |
| Exterior Noise | Noise | 98% #8/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 100% #1/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −2.3 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #6/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | −0.9 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 44% #9/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 50% #14/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −5.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | 17% #6/7 · 2020 Motor Winter Studless Tire Test R16 | +16.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #5/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 69% #6/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +27.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #6/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 98% #5/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +0.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 95% #6/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 95% #7/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −0.1 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 93% #7/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 75% #3/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +17.8 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 70% #5/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 97% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | −26.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test | 78% #5/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +22.2 | Different tests |
| Subj. Ice Handling | Subj | 30% #17/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | 60% #11/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | −30.0 | Same test |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 94% #3/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test | 56% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +37.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test | 78% #5/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +22.2 | Different tests |
| Longitudinal Aquaplaning | Wet | 94% #4/7 · 2024 Al Volante Crossover Winter Tire Test R18 | 75% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | +19.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 92% #5/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 80% #2/5 · 2023 Autoreview Studless Winter Tire Test R16 | +12.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 99% #3/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test | 81% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +17.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #2/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 95% #6/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +4.5 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A WinterContact TS 870 P
Pros
- Exceptional wet grip, aquaplaning resistance, and braking performance
- Noticeably low noise levels and high ride comfort, often surpassing summer tires
- Predictable and reliable handling on snow and slush
Cons
- Higher price point compared to some competitors
- Softer sidewalls resulting in slightly less sharp initial steering response
- Dry grip and braking can degrade slightly in milder temperatures above 8°C
Tire B X Ice Snow
Pros
- Exceptional traction and lateral grip in deep snow and slush
- High level of confidence and stability on icy surfaces
- Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons
Cons
- Average performance and handling on dry or wet pavement
- Increased road noise as the tires wear over time
- Can feel slightly 'twitchy' or less stable at the absolute limit of handling
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | B · Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
71
/ 100
Michelin X Ice Snow
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better wet, dry and handling. Pick the Michelin X Ice Snow if comfort matters most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 91 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 82 vs 66 on dry.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 83 vs 75 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 83 vs 79 on comfort.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
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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.