83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
93/100
29 professional tests
User signal (40%)
87/100
28 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 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.
VerdictToo close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Dunlop Winter Sport 5 are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P is stronger on handling, dry and wet. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 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)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 83 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 95% | 93% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 85 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 96% | 87% |
| Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best) | 87% | 87% |
| Wet Circle (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 99% | 98% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 91 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 86% | 99% |
| Snow Circle (% of best) | 96% | 99% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 99% | 96% |
| Snow Slalom (% of best) | 97% | 93% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 96% | 96% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 84 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 59 | 78 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 87 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 79 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 83 |
| Dry | 89 | 82 |
| Wet | 86 | 81 |
| Snow | 82 | 84 |
| Comfort | 85 | 87 |
| Noise | 59 | 78 |
| Treadwear | 89 | 87 |
| Handling | 88 | 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
83
/ 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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 99% #4/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 92% #6/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | +6.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #8/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test | 93% #9/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #3/9 · 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #5/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | +0.4 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 91% #3/10 · 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test | 92% #4/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | -0.9 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 93% #5/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 95% #14/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | -1.7 | Same test |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 84% #27/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 90% #16/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | -6.5 | Same test |
| Abrasion | Other | 68% #3/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test | 77% #7/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | -8.5 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 95% #3/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -1.7 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 73% #7/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 91% #16/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -18 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 100% #20/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #18/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +1 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 88% #10/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 76% #8/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | +12.3 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 17% #6/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +8.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 86% #4/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 99% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -13.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Circle | Snow | 96% #4/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | -3.2 | Same test |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #7/10 · 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test | 96% #5/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | +3 | Different tests |
| Snow Slalom | Snow | 97% #5/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 93% #13/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +3.6 | Same test |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 96% #5/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 96% #9/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +0.3 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 99% #2/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/10 · 2020 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.1 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 95% #5/9 · 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test | 90% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +5 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test | 70% #6/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +30 | Different tests |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 94% #3/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test | 80% #4/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +13.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test | 50% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +50 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #14/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #12/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 96% #5/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | 87% #12/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | +8.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | Wet | 87% #7/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 87% #6/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 0 | Same test |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 98% #4/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #5/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | 98% #9/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.1 | 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 870 P is widely regarded as a premium, highly balanced winter tire that excels in wet and slushy conditions while offering exceptional comfort and low noise levels. Most users report high levels of confidence in varied winter weather, though a small minority of users report inconsistent performance in severe snow and ice, and some note that steering response is less sharp than dedicated performance-focused alternatives.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
- High levels of cabin comfort and low road noise
- Strong, predictable grip on snow and slush
- Good balance of dry handling and rolling resistance
- Solid tread life and durability for a performance winter tire
Cons
- Premium price point compared to competitors
- Steering feel can be perceived as 'soft' or 'jelly' compared to summer tires
- Performance can drop off in temperatures above 8-10°C
- Inconsistent feedback regarding extreme ice traction
Observations
- EV and hybrid owners frequently praise the tire for its low rolling resistance and quiet operation.
- Drivers of high-performance RWD vehicles report that while the tire provides excellent grip, it may feel less stiff and sharp during aggressive cornering compared to summer counterparts.
- Users on larger wheel diameters (20-inch) report that the tire maintains high comfort levels without sacrificing handling.
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 870 P | B · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Continental
83
/ 100
Dunlop
Too close to call: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Dunlop Winter Sport 5 are within 2 points overall. Continental WinterContact TS 870 P is stronger on handling, dry and wet. Dunlop Winter Sport 5 is stronger on noise.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 78 vs 59 on noise.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 88 vs 79 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 89 vs 82 on dry.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 86 vs 81 on wet.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire B · Dunlop Winter Sport 5
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 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.