Nokian WR A4 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
The Nokian WR A4 and the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S have met in one independent test so far, and the WinterContact TS 860 S finished ahead. The WR A4 was stronger in snow, the WinterContact TS 860 S in dry, wet, comfort and value.
Performance profile
9 measurements from the one shared test, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure.
Where each is furthest ahead
WR A4
WinterContact TS 860 S
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 94%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow.
Where each scores higher
WR A4
Not ahead in any category
WinterContact TS 860 S
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
WR A4
WinterContact TS 860 S
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the WR A4 85% from 25 reviews and the WinterContact TS 860 S 87% from 16. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Both tyres' figures from the one test that ran them together, on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The bar grows towards the tyre that did better.
| Measurement | WR A4 | Gap | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry WinterContact TS 860 S ahead | |||
| Dry Braking m | 41.9 | 1.7% | 41.2 |
| Dry Handling km/h | 119.3 | 1.2% | 120.7 |
| Wet WinterContact TS 860 S ahead | |||
| Wet Braking m | 54.8 | 8.8% | 50 |
| Wet Handling km/h | 90.2 | 2.9% | 92.8 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 59.9 | 10.4% | 66.1 |
| Snow WR A4 ahead | |||
| Snow Braking m | 28.5 | 1.4% | 28.9 |
| Snow Handling km/h | 48.7 | 0.6% | 48.4 |
| Comfort WinterContact TS 860 S ahead | |||
| Noise dB | 75 | 2.5 dB | 72.5 |
| Value WinterContact TS 860 S ahead | |||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.5 | 5.2% | 8.06 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared.
Head to head in 1 test in 2019
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | WR A4 | Field | WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | P10 of 11 | P4 of 11 |
WR A4 vs WinterContact TS 860 S: your questions
Is the Nokian WR A4 or the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S the better tyre?
The Nokian WR A4 and the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S have met in one independent test so far, and the WinterContact TS 860 S finished ahead. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WR A4 scores 7.4 and the WinterContact TS 860 S 9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WR A4 or the WinterContact TS 860 S?
The WinterContact TS 860 S led 3 of the 3 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. It stopped 8.8% shorter in the wet in the one shared test that measured it.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinterContact TS 860 S led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. It stopped 1.7% shorter in the dry in the one shared test that measured it.
Which is better in snow?
The WR A4 led 2 of the 2 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. It stopped 1.4% shorter on snow in the one shared test that measured it.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The WinterContact TS 860 S had 5.2% lower rolling resistance (1 test). Owners rate wear 8.1/10 for the WR A4 and 8.7/10 for the WinterContact TS 860 S.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The WinterContact TS 860 S was 2.5 dB quieter (1 test). Owners rate comfort 8.5/10 for the WR A4 and 9/10 for the WinterContact TS 860 S.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WR A4 85% from 25 reviews and the WinterContact TS 860 S 87% from 16. 81% of WR A4 owners would buy it again, against 81% for the WinterContact TS 860 S.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The WR A4 is made in 9 sizes (17 to 21 inch) and the WinterContact TS 860 S in 92 (16 to 23 inch). 4 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the WR A4 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the WinterContact TS 860 S C and C.
Which is the newer tyre?
The WinterContact TS 860 S is the newer design: it reached the market in 2017, the WR A4 in 2016. The WR A4 replaced the Nokian WR A3. The WinterContact TS 860 S replaced the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P.
More comparisons with these tyres
Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.