Tests 63 · 5 tests Owners 69 · 7 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Cinturato Winter vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterContact TS 860 is ahead, 77–66
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 78 · 7 tests Owners 77 · 49 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test (dry handling)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
63
Dry
WinterContact TS 860 +1477Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter WinterContact TS 860 Professional tests (TWG score) 60 75 Reviews found online 67 80 Dry Braking (% of best) 95% 94% Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 100% -
78
Wet
WinterContact TS 860 +684Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter WinterContact TS 860 Professional tests (TWG score) 79 85 Reviews found online 76 82 Wet Braking (% of best) 96% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) 100% 98% -
75
Snow
Level75Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter WinterContact TS 860 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 78 Reviews found online 73 72 Snow Braking (% of best) 99% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 100% 100% Snow Traction (% of best) 100% 100% -
60
Comfort
WinterContact TS 860 +1979Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter WinterContact TS 860 Professional tests (TWG score) 54 81 Reviews found online 68 77 -
73
Noise
WinterContact TS 860 +174Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter WinterContact TS 860 Professional tests (TWG score) 77 78 -
51
Treadwear
WinterContact TS 860 +2172Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter WinterContact TS 860 Professional tests (TWG score) 42 73 Reviews found online 64 72 -
69
Handling
WinterContact TS 860 +1180Why this score
Source Cinturato Winter WinterContact TS 860 Reviews found online 69 80
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Cinturato Winter | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 66 | 77 |
| Dry | 63 | 77 |
| Wet | 78 | 84 |
| Snow | 75 | 75 |
| Comfort | 60 | 79 |
| Noise | 73 | 74 |
| Treadwear | 51 | 72 |
| Handling | 69 | 80 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
66
/ 100
Cinturato Winter
77
/ 100
WinterContact TS 860
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 | Cinturato Winter | WinterContact TS 860 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #9/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 94% #11/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +0.8 | Same test |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | −2.2 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 78% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 95% #3/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | −16.6 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 99% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/2 · All Season vs Winter vs Nordic vs Studded Tyres | −1.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 68% #18/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 63% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +5.3 | Same test |
| Value | Other | 41% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 70% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | −29.2 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 40% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 65% #6/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −25.5 | Same test |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 10% #10/12 · 2018 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 175/65 R14 | 100% #1/6 · 2019 L’Argus Winter Tire Test R16 | −90.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | −0.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/11 · 2017 All Season VS Winter Tyre Test | −0.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/2 · All Season vs Winter vs Nordic vs Studded Tyres | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #6/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/11 · 2017 All Season VS Winter Tyre Test | −5.4 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 50% #12/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 90% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | −40.0 | Same test |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 40% #13/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 60% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | −20.0 | Same test |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 80% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 90% #2/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test | −10.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 40% #8/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 80% #3/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test | −40.0 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #17/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 96% #9/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/11 · 2017 All Season VS Winter Tyre Test | −4.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Cinturato Winter
Pros
- Amazing snow and ice grip
- Strong and reliable wet weather performance
- Good initial noise levels and overall ride comfort
Cons
- Average to deteriorating dry grip and emergency braking performance
- Increases significantly in noise as the tire ages
- Soft sidewalls affect handling precision
Tire B WinterContact TS 860
Pros
- Exceptional grip and safety in wet and slushy conditions
- Outstanding performance on snow, providing high levels of confidence
- Remarkably low noise levels and high ride comfort
Cons
- Performance degradation noted by some users after 3-4 seasons
- Soft sidewalls can lead to a slight loss of steering precision or 'wobble' in tight corners
- Tread pattern prone to picking up and throwing stones/sand
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Cinturato Winter | B · Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
66
/ 100
Pirelli Cinturato Winter
77
/ 100
Continental WinterContact TS 860
Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 860 — better treadwear, comfort and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 72 vs 51 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 79 vs 60 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 77 vs 63 on dry.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Continental WinterContact TS 860 scores 80 vs 69 on handling.
Tire A · Pirelli Cinturato Winter
Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 860
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.