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 General Altimax Winter 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%)
69/100
5 professional tests
User signal (40%)
85/100
3 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better noise, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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 11
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | 75 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 83 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 100% | 92% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 61 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 80 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 92% | 84% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 88% | 94% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Altimax Winter 3 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | 74 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 100 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 100% | 97% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 97% | 76% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 80 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 34
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 59 | 25 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 85 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 80 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | General Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 73 |
| Dry | 89 | 78 |
| Wet | 86 | 69 |
| Snow | 82 | 84 |
| Comfort | 85 | 80 |
| Noise | 59 | 25 |
| Treadwear | 89 | 85 |
| Handling | 88 | 80 |
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 | 92% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +8.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #3/9 · 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #17/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 100% #3/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | 82% #14/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +17.8 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #6/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 95% #5/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +3.5 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 90% #8/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test | 69% #3/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +21.4 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 88% #10/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 82% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +5.9 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/16 · 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | 3% #34/45 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | +13.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #4/6 · 2023/24 Tyre Reviews UHP Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/30 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | -0.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #1/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 97% #16/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 97% #6/9 · 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | 76% #4/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +20.5 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 94% #9/9 · 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test | 90% #20/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | +3.9 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #7/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 92% #12/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 84% #34/44 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | +7.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 88% #6/11 · 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 94% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | -6.3 | 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 General Altimax Winter 3 is viewed as a capable, budget-friendly winter tire that provides reliable traction in snow and slush. While users appreciate its value and resistance to aquaplaning, some find the handling feedback and noise levels at higher speeds to be less refined compared to premium competitors.
Pros
- Strong performance in snow and slush conditions
- Effective resistance to aquaplaning
- Competitive price-to-quality ratio
Cons
- Increased road noise at highway speeds
- Soft sidewalls resulting in vague handling and road feedback
- Mediocre emergency wet braking performance
Observations
- Users noted that the rubber compound feels firmer than premium alternatives like Michelin, impacting overall ride comfort.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | B · General Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Continental
73
/ 100
General
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better noise, wet and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 59 vs 25 on noise.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 86 vs 69 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 89 vs 78 on dry.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 88 vs 80 on handling.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire B · General Altimax Winter 3
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P also compared with
General Altimax Winter 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.