Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Continental WinterContact TS 870
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead 5 times and the Winterhawk 4 not once. The WinterContact TS 870 was stronger in dry, wet, snow and value.
Performance profile
13 measurements from the 5 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winterhawk 4
WinterContact TS 870
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 95%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 1 measurement recorded in only one shared test is left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Winterhawk 4
WinterContact TS 870
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
Winterhawk 4
Not ahead in any category
WinterContact TS 870
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6 reviews and the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | Winterhawk 4 | Gap | WinterContact TS 870 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry WinterContact TS 870 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 47.8 | 4.5% | 45.65 | 0-2 |
| Dry Handling km/h | 122.2 | 2.1% | 124.7 | 0-2 |
| Wet WinterContact TS 870 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 44.2 | 3.1% | 45.65 | 4-0 |
| Wet Handling km/h | 72.52 | 1.4% | 73.57 | 0-2 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.8 | 2.1% | 12.53 | 0-2 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 81.9 | 1.7% | 83.3 | 0-2 |
| Curved Aquaplaning m/sec2 | 3.2 | 13% | 3.6 | 0-2 |
| Snow WinterContact TS 870 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 29.75 | 4.5% | 28.4 | 0-4 |
| Snow Traction N | 2,633 | 1.9% | 2,680 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling km/h | 58.1 | 0.9% | 58.65 | 0-2 |
| Snow Slalom m/sec2 | 3.12 | 5.1% | 3.28 | 0-1 |
| Comfort Level | ||||
| Noise dB | 70.85 | 0.1 dB | 70.8 | 1-1 |
| Value WinterContact TS 870 ahead | ||||
| Wear km | 36,750 | 27% | 46,685 | 0-2 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.05 | 2.1% | 7.89 | 0-2 |
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 5 tests, 2021 to 2024
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 | Winterhawk 4 | Field | WinterContact TS 870 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P18 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test | P10 of 55 | P8 of 55 | |
| 2022 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | P9 of 15 | P1 of 15 | |
| 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P10 of 20 | P1 of 20 | |
| 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview | P5 of 50 | P4 of 50 |
Winterhawk 4 vs WinterContact TS 870: your questions
Is the Firestone Winterhawk 4 or the Continental WinterContact TS 870 the better tyre?
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead 5 times and the Winterhawk 4 not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winterhawk 4 scores 8.1 and the WinterContact TS 870 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winterhawk 4 or the WinterContact TS 870?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 8 of the 12 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 13% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 4 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.5% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 8 of the 9 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.5% shorter on snow across 4 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The WinterContact TS 870 lasted 27% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) and had 2.1% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Winterhawk 4 and 8.8/10 for the WinterContact TS 870.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the Winterhawk 4 and 8.4/10 for the WinterContact TS 870.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6 reviews and the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26. 67% of Winterhawk 4 owners would buy it again, against 83% for the WinterContact TS 870.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the WinterContact TS 870 was the dearer tyre in 2 of them, by 26.4% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winterhawk 4 is made in 83 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the WinterContact TS 870 in 44 (14 to 19 inch). 28 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winterhawk 4 is graded B for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the WinterContact TS 870 B and C.
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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.