Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
- TR Score
- 9.3/10
- Owners say
- 85% · 33
- TR Score
- 7.9/10
- Owners say
- 91% · 4
In the 16 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P finished ahead 16 times and the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro not once. The WinterContact TS 870 P had 13.3% lower rolling resistance; the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro held a 1.3% higher speed on the wet circle.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P for almost all buyers: it's the consistently safer tyre in the wet (often dramatically shorter braking), far stronger against aquaplaning, more dependable on snow braking/handling, and typically cheaper to run thanks to low rolling resistance and better wear. Consider the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro only if it's heavily discounted and your winter driving is mostly cool, dry roads with minimal standing water-and even then, be aware that multiple tests flag its wet braking/aquaplaning limits as the main safety concern.
Where the WinterContact TS 870 P is stronger
- Wet braking safety edge is often substantial (e.g., 33.9 m vs 42.4 m in a 2026 braking test; 52.0 m vs 65.2 m in Auto Bild Sportscars 2026)
- Consistently stronger aquaplaning protection, especially in corners (curved aquaplaning wins 10-0 across shared data; huge gap in AMS SUV 2023: 2.82 vs 1.85 m/s²)
- Very low rolling resistance/efficiency focus (frequent category wins; highlighted as EV/fuel-saving pick in Tyre Reviews 2023)
Where the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro is stronger
- Can feel comfortable and quiet for the category (often rated acceptable/good comfort; occasional noise wins)
- Shows competitive lap-style grip in some wet-circle/wet-handling measures (wet circle wins 5-3 overall in the category tally, albeit not always aligned with braking safety)
- Sometimes slightly stronger straight-line snow traction than the Continental (snow traction category is closer, 4 wins vs 7)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
WinterContact TS 870 P vs EUROWINTER HS02 Pro at a glance
| Category | WinterContact TS 870 P | Gap | EUROWINTER HS02 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won16 shared tests | 16 | 0 | |
| Dry25 measurements | 18 | The WinterContact TS 870 P stopped 1.8% shorter in the dry (11 tests) | 7 |
| Wet59 measurements | 46 | The WinterContact TS 870 P stopped 4.7% shorter in the wet (14 tests) | 13 |
| Snow46 measurements | 40 | The WinterContact TS 870 P stopped 4.3% shorter on snow (14 tests) | 5 |
| Ice2 measurements | 0 | 1 | |
| Comfort15 measurements | 10 | 3 | |
| Value15 measurements | 13 | The WinterContact TS 870 P had 13.3% lower rolling resistance (11 tests) | 2 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.3/10 | The WinterContact TS 870 P by 1.4 | 7.9/10 |
| Owner rating33 and 4 reviews | 85% | The EUROWINTER HS02 Pro by 6 points | 91% |
| Pricein the 12 tests that listed prices | +33.6% | The WinterContact TS 870 P was dearer in 12 of 12 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 121 | 71 sizes made in both | 110 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 16 tests, 2023 to 2026
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 | WinterContact TS 870 P | Field | EUROWINTER HS02 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 12 | P11 of 12 | |
| 2026 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 50 Sets | P2 of 50 | P28 of 50 | |
| 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | P1 of 6 | P6 of 6 | |
| 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | P3 of 5 | P4 of 5 | |
| 2025 Autobild SUV Winter Tyre Test | P1 of 11 | P9 of 11 | |
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 20 | P20 of 20 | |
| 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | P13 of 51 | P20 of 51 | |
| 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 12 | P10 of 12 | |
| 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 10 | P8 of 10 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | P1 of 10 | P7 of 10 | |
| 2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 9 | P9 of 9 | |
| 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test | P3 of 11 | P9 of 11 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P3 of 20 | P17 of 20 | |
| 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | P7 of 54 | P20 of 54 | |
| 2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | P3 of 11 | P10 of 11 | |
| 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 7 | P7 of 7 |
Performance profile
20 measurements from the 16 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
WinterContact TS 870 P
EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
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 85%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 8 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
WinterContact TS 870 P
EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
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
WinterContact TS 870 P
EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 P 85% from 33 reviews and the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro 91% from 4. 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterContact TS 870 P scores 9.3 and the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro 7.9 out of 10.
| WinterContact TS 870 P | Category | EUROWINTER HS02 Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94 | Dry | 76 | ||
| 92 | Wet | 66 | ||
| 77 | Comfort | 57 | ||
| 76 | Value | 18 | ||
| 73 | Snow | 23 | ||
| 30 | Ice | 53 | ||
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.
What owners say
| WinterContact TS 870 P | Category | EUROWINTER HS02 Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | Dry Grip | 9.8 | ||
| 9 | Wet Grip | 9.5 | ||
| 8.1 | Road Feedback | 6.5 | ||
| 8.7 | Handling | 9 | ||
| 8.7 | Wear | 8 | ||
| 8.9 | Comfort | 9 | ||
| 8.7 | Snow Grip | 9.5 | ||
| 7.8 | Ice Grip | 9 | ||
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 P 85% from 33 reviews and the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro 91% from 4. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
- 85%from 33 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 294,700 milesdriven by reviewers
Across 26 owner reviews averaging 85.8%, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P is most consistently praised for strong, confidence-inspiring grip in both the wet and the dry, often paired with a notably quiet, comfortable ride. Many owners also report good longevity for a winter tyre, with several noting healthy tread remaining after substantial mileage. Winter performance is generally rated as capable, but a meaningful minority (around two in five of those mentioning it) found snow traction lacking, and opinions are split on ice grip and steering feel; a small number also note it can feel softer when temperatures rise.
- Strong wet grip and confident wet cornering
- Strong dry grip with secure traction
- Noticeably quiet on the road
- Comfortable, supple ride quality
- Snow traction not as strong as expected for some drivers
- Ice grip is inconsistent depending on conditions
- Steering feel not the sharpest
Summarised by AI from 26 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 33 WinterContact TS 870 P reviewsI've driven the tyres in the winter, but on roads devoid of snow and ice so I can't comment on that. They made me feel very secure, however, I have to say that they are far too sporty for my driving style and needs. They carry a lot of responsibility for my decision to buy the car, as they are very comfortable, quiet and make the car feel very surefooted and responsive in the dry and in the wet.
There is one gripe, though, they have absolutely no rim protection, so I blame them for all the scratching on my wheels. I would expect more from a tyre of this class from a reputable brand, and, honestly, it is a strong enough reason (albeit the only one) for me not to buy them again. In every other aspect they are brilliant, they even equal summer tyres in fuel consumption.
Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
- 91%from 4 reviews
- 18,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 4 EUROWINTER HS02 Pro reviewsReally solid tyres, I didn't expect them to be good through snow however they performed very well. But they're even better on dry and wet roads.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 121 sizes of the WinterContact TS 870 P and 110 of the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro, 71 of them made in both.
| Category | WinterContact TS 870 P | EUROWINTER HS02 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 121 sizes, 16 to 23 inch | 110 sizes, 16 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 71 sizes 225/55 R16235/60 R16225/50 R17225/55 R17225/60 R17225/65 R17235/45 R17235/50 R17235/55 R17235/60 R17235/65 R17245/55 R17and 59 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B99%C1% | B96%C4% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C62%B37%D1% | D51%C44%B5% |
| EU label noise | 70-75 dB B100% | 70-74 dB B97%A3% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 221 of 221 | 134 of 134 |
| On the market since | - | 2022 |
| Replaced | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S (2017) | - |
| Replaced by | Continental WinterContact 8 S | - |
| Awards | Highly Recommended: Best Winter SUV Tyre (DriverReviews, 2025/26) Winner: Best Winter SUV Tyres (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: Winter Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2024) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The WinterContact TS 870 P was the dearer tyre in 12 of the 12 tests that listed prices, by 33.6% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Continental's WinterContact TS 870 P and Falken's EUROWINTER HS02 Pro sit in the same “performance winter” space: they're built to keep modern, powerful passenger cars confident on cold, wet asphalt while still delivering usable snow traction. On paper that makes them direct rivals for drivers in Central/Western European-style winters (slush, rain, cold motorway miles), where wet braking and aquaplaning resistance often matter more often than deep-snow mobility.
Across 16 shared professional comparisons, though, this turns into a fairly one-sided matchup. The TS 870 P repeatedly lands near the top of group tests (e.g., 4/12 in Auto Bild Sportscars 2026, 1/11 in Auto Bild SUV 2025, 2/12 in Auto Bild SUV 2024) and is also a standout for efficiency. The Falken more often appears in the lower half or near the bottom (e.g., 11/12 in Auto Bild Sportscars 2026 and 20/20 in Auto Bild Winter 2025), with a consistent theme: acceptable comfort and some handling competence, but too many safety-critical weaknesses-especially in wet stopping distances and aquaplaning-depending on the test.
Conclusion
The clearest separator is wet-safety consistency. In the most punishing datasets, the Continental opens up massive real-world gaps: Auto Bild Sportscars 2026 shows 52.0 m wet braking for the TS 870 P versus 65.2 m for the Falken (about 20% longer), and the 2026 “50 sets” braking test shows 33.9 m vs 42.4 m (again ~20%). That's the kind of difference you feel as “I stopped before the hazard” versus “I arrived still carrying speed.” Add to that a strong, repeatable advantage for the Continental in aquaplaning-especially in bends (e.g., 2.82 vs 1.85 m/s² in AMS SUV 2023, and repeated double-digit percentage wins elsewhere)-and the TS 870 P builds a much larger safety envelope in typical wet winter driving.
On snow, neither tyre is a Nordic/ice specialist (they are Central European winter tyres in mixed-class Scandinavian tests), but the Continental is markedly more dependable within that brief. It wins snow braking and snow handling almost everywhere in the shared data (snow braking wins 14-0; snow handling 11-0), and it also tends to last longer (e.g., 46,640 km vs 33,920 km projected wear in Auto Bild Winter 2025). The Falken's occasional bright spots-slightly better snow traction in a few tests, some good wet-circle/handling times, and marginally lower fuel consumption in a couple of Scandinavian runs-aren't enough to offset the repeated red flags (early aquaplaning and long wet braking in multiple Auto Bild reports, including “advised against”).
Practical takeaway: if you want one performance winter tyre that behaves like a premium product in the conditions you actually face most (cold wet roads, slush, motorway standing water), the WinterContact TS 870 P is the safer, more rounded and typically cheaper-to-run choice despite a higher purchase price. The EUROWINTER HS02 Pro only makes sense if it is substantially discounted and your winters are mostly cool, dry roads with only occasional light snow-while accepting that its wet emergency performance can be a limiting factor.
WinterContact TS 870 P vs EUROWINTER HS02 Pro: your questions
Is the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P or the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 Pro the better tyre?
In the 16 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P finished ahead 16 times and the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterContact TS 870 P scores 9.3 and the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro 7.9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WinterContact TS 870 P or the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro?
The WinterContact TS 870 P led 46 of the 59 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.7% shorter in the wet across 14 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinterContact TS 870 P led 18 of the 25 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.8% shorter in the dry across 11 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterContact TS 870 P led 40 of the 46 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.3% shorter on snow across 14 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The WinterContact TS 870 P lasted 30.6% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) and had 13.3% lower rolling resistance (11 tests). Owners rate wear 8.7/10 for the WinterContact TS 870 P and 8/10 for the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.9/10 for the WinterContact TS 870 P and 9/10 for the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 P 85% from 33 reviews and the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro 91% from 4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 12 tests that listed prices, the WinterContact TS 870 P was the dearer tyre in 12 of them, by 33.6% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The WinterContact TS 870 P is made in 121 sizes (16 to 23 inch) and the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro in 110 (16 to 22 inch). 71 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the WinterContact TS 870 P is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro B and D.
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Review the WinterContact TS 870 P Review the EUROWINTER HS02 Pro
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.
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