Skip to content
tirewheelguide.com
Winter tire Winter Premium Touring tires Updated September 2026

Continental WinterContact TS 870 review

The Continental WinterContact TS 870 is widely regarded as a premium, high-performance winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, offering exceptional aquaplaning resistance and predictable handling. While the majority of users report high levels of confidence in snow and ice, a minority of drivers experienced inconsistent traction on steep inclines or specific snow conditions, suggesting performance may vary based on vehicle weight and driving style.

Relative score
84/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
84/100
23 reviews
Road tests
94/100
19 published tests

Owners rate it 9.6 points lower than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.

Check price Compare with another tire
Continental WinterContact TS 870
Scores

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

By owner reviews

84%
Would buy again 87%
Dry
Overall dry
88%
Wet
Overall wet
93%
Snow & ice
Overall snow & ice
84%
Comfort
Overall comfort
86%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
87%
Handling
Overall handling
81%

By road tests

93.6%
Dry
90.7%
Wet
87.6%
Snow
85.2%
Comfort
79.8%
Noise
68.9%
From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 23 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

The Continental WinterContact TS 870 is widely regarded as a premium, high-performance winter tire that excels in wet and dry conditions, offering exceptional aquaplaning resistance and predictable handling. While the majority of users report high levels of confidence in snow and ice, a minority of drivers experienced inconsistent traction on steep inclines or specific snow conditions, suggesting performance may vary based on vehicle weight and driving style.

Pros

  • Exceptional wet weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
  • High level of driver confidence and predictability in varied conditions
  • Strong dry road handling and steering feedback
  • Good tread wear longevity over multiple seasons
  • Low noise levels and high comfort

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance on steep, hard-packed snow for some users
  • Potential negative impact on electric vehicle range
  • Occasional reports of understeer on heavy vehicles in cold, greasy conditions
  • Higher price point compared to mid-range alternatives

Worth knowing

  • Users with heavy SUVs, such as the Range Rover Evoque, reported issues with understeer in cold, damp conditions.
  • Electric vehicle owners (e.g., Smart EQ) noted a measurable decrease in battery range, likely due to rolling resistance characteristics.
  • Small car owners (e.g., 175/65/R14) reported excellent snow and ice capability, suggesting the tire performs optimally on lighter chassis.
Test results

19 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2026 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 11
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Snow Traction · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 11
Wet Handling1st of 11
Wet Circle1st of 11
Dry Braking4th of 11
Dry Handling4th of 11
Snow Traction9th of 11
Snow Handling4th of 11
Rolling Resistance3rd of 11
Straight Aqua4th of 11
Curved Aquaplaning5th of 11
Noise1st of 11

2025 TUV Test of Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 vs Rivals · 225/45 R17

2nd of 5
Best: Snow Braking · 2nd Weakest: Wet Braking · 4th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking4th of 5
Wet Handling3rd of 5
Dry Braking4th of 5
Snow Braking2nd of 5
Snow Traction2nd of 5
Snow Handling3rd of 5
Rolling Resistance3rd of 5
Straight Aqua3rd of 5

2025 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

1st of 8
DisciplinePlacementField position

2024 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 7
DisciplinePlacementField position

2024 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 20
Best: Dry Handling · 1st Weakest: Value · 16th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling2nd of 20
Dry Braking6th of 20
Dry Handling1st of 20
Snow Braking1st of 20
Snow Traction3rd of 20
Snow Handling5th of 20
Rolling Resistance5th of 20
Straight Aqua2nd of 20
Curved Aquaplaning2nd of 20
Noise5th of 20
Value16th of 20
Wear5th of 20
Total Cost of Ownership6th of 20

The Best Studded / Friction Winter tires for 2024 · 225/50 R17

1st of 17
DisciplinePlacementField position

2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 12
Best: Wet Braking · 1st Weakest: Snow Traction · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking1st of 12
Dry Braking5th of 12
Snow Braking2nd of 12
Snow Traction9th of 12
Ice Braking1st of 12
Straight Aqua2nd of 12
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 12
Noise4th of 12
Wear7th of 12
Fuel Consumption2nd of 12
Abrasion5th of 12
Wet Braking - Concrete1st of 12

2024 Winter 55 tire Braking Test · 205/55 R16

8th of 55
Best: Snow Braking · 3rd Weakest: Wet Braking · 13th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking13th of 55
Snow Braking3rd of 55

2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

1st of 15
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st Weakest: Value · 10th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 15
Dry Braking2nd of 15
Snow Braking3rd of 15
Snow Traction3rd of 15
Ice Braking2nd of 15
Straight Aqua1st of 15
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 15
Noise4th of 15
Value10th of 15
Wear4th of 15
Fuel Consumption6th of 15
Abrasion5th of 15

2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

8th of 9
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Snow Handling · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling1st of 9
Dry Handling1st of 9
Snow Traction6th of 9
Snow Handling9th of 9
Ice Handling9th of 9
Rolling Resistance5th of 9
Straight Aqua1st of 9
Subj. Comfort6th of 9
Noise4th of 9
Ice Traction8th of 9
Snow Circle5th of 9

2022 ADAC SUV Winter tire Test - 215/60 R16 · 215/60 R16

2nd of 17
DisciplinePlacementField position

2022 ADAC Winter tire Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15

1st of 15
DisciplinePlacementField position

2022/23 Tyre Reviews Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

2nd of 9
Best: Curved Aquaplaning · 1st Weakest: Price · 9th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Handling2nd of 9
Dry Handling4th of 9
Snow Traction6th of 9
Snow Handling7th of 9
Rolling Resistance4th of 9
Straight Aqua2nd of 9
Curved Aquaplaning1st of 9
Subj. Comfort6th of 9
Noise6th of 9
Price9th of 9

2022 Auto Zeitung Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

1st of 8
Best: Wet Handling · 1st Weakest: Price · 7th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 8
Wet Handling1st of 8
Dry Braking4th of 8
Dry Handling2nd of 8
Snow Braking1st of 8
Snow Traction4th of 8
Snow Handling1st of 8
Rolling Resistance3rd of 8
Straight Aqua1st of 8
Subj. Dry Handling1st of 8
Subj. Comfort5th of 8
Subj. Wet Handling1st of 8
Noise2nd of 8
Price7th of 8

2021 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

2nd of 8
DisciplinePlacementField position

2021 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

1st of 20
Best: Wear · 1st Weakest: Price · 19th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking6th of 20
Wet Handling5th of 20
Dry Braking9th of 20
Dry Handling2nd of 20
Snow Braking3rd of 20
Snow Traction3rd of 20
Snow Handling5th of 20
Rolling Resistance3rd of 20
Straight Aqua2nd of 20
Noise6th of 20
Value5th of 20
Price19th of 20
Wear1st of 20
Total Cost of Ownership3rd of 20

2021 AMS Winter tire Test · 195/55 R16

2nd of 10
Best: Rolling Resistance · 1st Weakest: Dry Braking · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 10
Wet Handling7th of 10
Dry Braking8th of 10
Dry Handling4th of 10
Snow Braking8th of 10
Snow Traction5th of 10
Snow Handling2nd of 10
Rolling Resistance1st of 10
Straight Aqua3rd of 10
Noise2nd of 10
Price8th of 10

2021 Winter tire Market Overview · 205/55 R16

4th of 49
Best: Snow Braking · 3rd Weakest: Wet Braking · 6th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking6th of 49
Snow Braking3rd of 49

2020 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16

2nd of 9
DisciplinePlacementField position