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 Firestone Winterhawk 3 — 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
73
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
68/100
8 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better wet, handling and treadwear. Pick the Firestone Winterhawk 3 if noise matters 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)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 78 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 100% | 94% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 97% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 21
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 62 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 69 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 90% | 90% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 88% | 93% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 60 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 96% | 94% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 95% | 98% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 73 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winterhawk 3 leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 59 | 78 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 75 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 68 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 73 |
| Dry | 89 | 81 |
| Wet | 86 | 65 |
| Snow | 82 | 74 |
| Comfort | 85 | 73 |
| Noise | 59 | 78 |
| Treadwear | 89 | 75 |
| Handling | 88 | 68 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
Weight the categories that matter to you
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
73
/ 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 | 100% #1/11 · 2025 Autobild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 94% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +6 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 97% #3/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 98% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -0.7 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 77% #1/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 80% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -3.4 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #6/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 98% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -0.4 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 92% #9/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 72% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +20.4 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 90% #8/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test | 51% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +39.1 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 73% #17/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 62% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +11.2 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 4% #24/45 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | +20.8 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #4/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 94% #21/30 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | +1.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 95% #4/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 98% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -3.1 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #2/6 · 2023/24 Tyre Reviews UHP Winter Tyre Test | 90% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +5.1 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #14/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 90% #6/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 90% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 88% #6/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 93% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -4.8 | 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 Firestone Winterhawk 3 is generally perceived as a budget-friendly, average-performing winter tire that prioritizes comfort and longevity over high-performance handling. While some users appreciate its quiet ride and reliability in moderate conditions, others report significant shortcomings in wet weather and snow traction, leading to a polarized user experience.
Pros
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise
- Good longevity and tread wear resistance
- Affordable price point
- Satisfactory performance in dry conditions
Cons
- Inconsistent or poor grip on snow and ice
- Unreliable wet weather performance and braking
- Pronounced understeering tendencies
- Lack of steering feedback and road connection
Observations
- Users with smaller tire sizes, such as 155/65 R14, reported noticeable understeering and poor snow/ice performance.
- Performance feedback appears highly subjective, with some users finding the tire adequate for steady, non-aggressive driving while others find it lacking for more demanding vehicle dynamics.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | B · Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Continental
73
/ 100
Firestone
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better wet, handling and treadwear. Pick the Firestone Winterhawk 3 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 86 vs 65 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 88 vs 68 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Firestone Winterhawk 3 scores 78 vs 59 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 89 vs 75 on treadwear.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire B · Firestone Winterhawk 3
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P also compared with
Firestone Winterhawk 3 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.