87
/ 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 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic — 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
69
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
2 professional tests
User signal (40%)
65/100
4 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better comfort, treadwear and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
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 25
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | 67 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 60 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 91% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 93 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 65 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 93% | 100% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 94% | 95% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
UltraGrip Ice Arctic leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 90 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 94% | 97% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 95% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 93% | 95% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 32
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 53 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 59 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 29
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 60 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinterContact TS 870 P leads by 20
Why this score
| Source | WinterContact TS 870 P | UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 68 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 87 | 69 |
| Dry | 89 | 64 |
| Wet | 86 | 82 |
| Snow | 82 | 83 |
| Comfort | 85 | 53 |
| Noise | 59 | – |
| Treadwear | 89 | 60 |
| 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.
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
87
/ 100
Tire A
69
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | 91% #2/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -7.8 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 77% #1/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 94% #7/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -16.8 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 92% #7/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 80% #5/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +11.9 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 100% #6/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | 76% #6/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +23.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 50% #2/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 17% #6/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +33.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% #8/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #6/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -2.8 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #4/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | 95% #7/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +3 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 93% #5/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | 95% #7/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -1.4 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 97% #5/10 · 2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 98% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -0.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 100% #1/7 · 2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test | 80% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | +20 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 93% #6/10 · 2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test | -7.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 94% #4/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | 95% #2/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -2 | 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 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic is highly regarded for its exceptional initial performance on packed snow and ice, particularly in extreme winter conditions. However, users consistently report a significant decline in reliability and safety after the second season, primarily due to premature stud loss and a sharp degradation in grip despite having substantial tread depth remaining.
Pros
- Excellent traction and handling on packed snow
- Strong performance on ice during the first two seasons
- Reliable winter grip in extreme arctic conditions
Cons
- Significant stud loss after two seasons of use
- Abrupt and dangerous decline in grip performance by the third year
- Poor longevity relative to competitors despite remaining tread depth
Observations
- Users noted that the tire's performance longevity is notably inferior when compared directly to competitors like the Continental IceContact 2.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | B · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| 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?
87
/ 100
Continental
69
/ 100
Goodyear
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P — better comfort, treadwear and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 85 vs 53 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 89 vs 60 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 89 vs 64 on dry.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scores 88 vs 68 on handling.
Tire A · Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Tire B · Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P also compared with
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic 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.