Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 26
- TR Score
- 9.3/10
- Owners say
- 91% · 6
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead 2 times and the WinterCraft WP52+ not once. The WinterCraft WP52+ stopped 1.4% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Continental WinterContact TS 870 for its more assured handling and stronger aquaplaning resistance. Choose the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ if lower measured cost per kilometre and slightly shorter dry braking matter more, and you can accept its handling and aquaplaning compromises.
Where the WinterContact TS 870 is stronger
- Finished ahead overall in both shared tests
- Stronger aquaplaning resistance in ADAC's 2026 test
- Precise handling praised by both testers
Where the WinterCraft WP52+ is stronger
- Slightly shorter dry braking in both tests
- Lower cost per 1,000 km in both tests
- Strong snow traction in ADAC's 2026 test
Conclusion
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead in both shared tests, but the results are more nuanced than the overall positions suggest. In AvD's 2026 winter tyre test it was fourth to the Kumho's sixth, with a wet braking lead of less than 2%, lower rolling resistance and praise for precise steering, comfort and low noise. The Kumho stopped about 1% shorter in the dry and matched it for snow braking. AvD also found the Kumho agile on snow, but marked down its aquaplaning resistance, particularly in curves.
In ADAC's 2026 winter tyre test the Continental won while the Kumho shared twelfth place. ADAC found the Continental stable and precise on dry roads and good across dry, wet and winter conditions. The Kumho's dry braking was again slightly shorter, and it also had a small wet braking advantage, but ADAC criticised its imprecise steering and oversteer in evasive manoeuvres. This explains much more of the overall gap than braking does. ADAC measured a clearer separation in standing water: the Continental's straight-line aquaplaning speed was about 9% higher, and its curved aquaplaning result about 28% higher. On snow, the Kumho had slightly better traction and braking in ADAC's test; ice braking was identical.
The Kumho cost less per 1,000 km in both tests, so it has a consistent running-cost advantage on those measures. Predicted wear is less settled: AvD estimated about 10% more distance from the Continental, whereas ADAC estimated about 17% more from the Kumho. That reversal is unusual and should not be presented as a reliable tread-life lead for either tyre. Choose the Continental if predictable handling and resistance to aquaplaning matter most. The Kumho suits a driver who prioritises lower measured cost per kilometre and strong braking, while accepting its less convincing dry handling and aquaplaning results.
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 vs WinterCraft WP52+ at a glance
| Category | WinterContact TS 870 | Gap | WinterCraft WP52+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won2 shared tests | 2 | 0 | |
| Dry2 measurements | 0 | The WinterCraft WP52+ stopped 1.4% shorter in the dry (2 tests) | 2 |
| Wet5 measurements | 3 | 2 | |
| Snow3 measurements | 0 | The WinterCraft WP52+ stopped 1% shorter on snow (2 tests) | 2 |
| Ice1 measurement | 0 | Level between the two. | 0 |
| Comfort1 measurement | 1 | 0 | |
| Value5 measurements | 4 | 1 | |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.2/10 | The WinterCraft WP52+ by 0.1 | 9.3/10 |
| Owner rating26 and 6 reviews | 83% | The WinterCraft WP52+ by 8 points | 91% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 83% | The WinterCraft WP52+ by 17 points | 100% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | +68% | The WinterContact TS 870 was dearer in 2 of 2 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 44 | 36 sizes made in both | 115 |
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 2 tests in 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 | Field | WinterCraft WP52+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 AvD Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 15 | P6 of 15 | |
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | P1 of 16 | P12 of 16 |
Performance profile
13 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
WinterContact TS 870
WinterCraft WP52+
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 90%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow.
Where each scores higher
WinterContact TS 870
WinterCraft WP52+
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
WinterCraft WP52+
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the WinterCraft WP52+ 91% from 6. 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.
| Measurement | WinterContact TS 870 | Gap | WinterCraft WP52+ | Wins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.4 | 1.4% | 42.8 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 41.7 | 0.4% | 41.65 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 39.4 | 1% | 39 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 95.1 | 8.9% | 87.3 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 4.1 | 28.1% | 3.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 17.8 | 1% | 17.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 2,772 | 3.5% | 2,868 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 21.5 | = | 21.5 | 0-0 | |||||||||
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| 72.1 | 1 dB | 73.1 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 38,470 | 3.4% | 39,412 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 8.23 | 8.9% | 9.03 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 5.5 | 1.8% | 5.6 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 82 | 13.7% | 95 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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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 scores 9.2 and the WinterCraft WP52+ 9.3 out of 10.
| WinterContact TS 870 | Category | WinterCraft WP52+ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | Dry | 92 | ||
| 98 | Wet | 88 | ||
| 53 | Comfort | 46 | ||
| 68 | Value | 79 | ||
| 70 | Snow | 68 | ||
| 16 | Ice | 35 | ||
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 | Category | WinterCraft WP52+ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | Dry Grip | 9.3 | ||
| 9 | Wet Grip | 9.3 | ||
| 7.3 | Road Feedback | 9 | ||
| 8.1 | Handling | 9 | ||
| 8.8 | Wear | 8.3 | ||
| 8.4 | Comfort | 8.8 | ||
| 7.9 | Snow Grip | 9.3 | ||
| 7.3 | Ice Grip | 8.4 | ||
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the WinterCraft WP52+ 91% from 6. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Continental WinterContact TS 870
- 83%from 26 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 166,321 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally rate the Continental WinterContact TS 870 very highly, highlighting strong wet-road grip, impressive aquaplaning resistance, and a secure, confidence-inspiring feel at speed. Many also report good comfort/low noise and solid all-round performance across typical European winter conditions, with several noting decent wear. A smaller but noticeable group reports weaker traction on hard-packed snow/ice (especially hill starts/climbing) and a few mention efficiency/range penalties and some wet-surface noise/whistling.
- Excellent wet grip and wet braking
- Strong resistance to aquaplaning/standing water
- High stability and confidence at motorway speeds
- Comfortable ride with generally low noise
- Hard-packed snow/ice traction and hill-start/climbing can be disappointing for some
- Efficiency/rolling resistance concerns (reduced EV range or worse fuel economy) mentioned by a few
- Some report noticeable noise/whistling, particularly on wet roads
Summarised by AI from 22 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 26 WinterContact TS 870 reviewsBeen a few years with these tires now and they are ok. Not as great as everyone makes them out to be, but a solid winter tire nonetheless.
The pros:
-Quiet
-Economic (no difference in fuel consumption compared to my summer tires)
- Good grip in all conditions but snow.The cons:
-Not very good on snow. I've had cheap tires that performed the same for half of the price. They are fine on Ice though.
-I got them on sale for 70ish Euros and that's a good price for what you are getting. But I have seen them go for 140 and more (same size and all) and that is honestly a rip-off. Check that you are getting a decent price.Would I buy them again? At 70 euros maybe. But I think I will opt for Nordic Winter Tires next time.
Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
- 91%from 6 reviews
- 100%would buy again
- 40,507 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers report the Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus delivers impressively strong winter performance for the price, with repeated praise for confident grip (especially in wet conditions) and secure handling. Reviews consistently highlight low road noise and noticeably improved ride comfort versus some premium or run-flat alternatives, with multiple users describing a premium feel and excellent value. No recurring performance drawbacks were reported across the reviews.
- Strong wet grip and water shedding
- Confident handling and traction in cold/winter conditions
- Low road noise / quiet ride
- Good ride comfort
Summarised by AI from 5 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 6 WinterCraft WP52+ reviewsI bought these after looking at the tests. They offer performance close to premium tires while being very affordable. That's actually the reason I chose this tire. If you don't have extreme winter conditions where you are, you can go for this tire. If the winter conditions are bad, Barum might be a good alternative since it's still reasonably priced.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 44 sizes of the WinterContact TS 870 and 115 of the WinterCraft WP52+, 36 of them made in both.
| Category | WinterContact TS 870 | WinterCraft WP52+ |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 44 sizes, 14 to 19 inch | 115 sizes, 13 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 36 sizes 155/65 R14165/60 R14165/65 R14165/70 R14175/65 R14175/70 R14185/60 R14185/65 R14185/70 R14165/65 R15185/55 R15185/60 R15and 24 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B82%C18% | B82%A18% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C78%D22% | C65%D32%B2%E1% |
| EU label noise | 69-72 dB B100% | 70-73 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 90 of 90 | 209 of 211 |
| On the market since | - | 2025 |
| Replaced | Continental WinterContact TS 860 (2016) | - |
| Awards | Winner: Best Winter Tyre (DriverReviews, 2025/26) Highly Recommended: Best Winter Tyres (DriverReviews, 2024/25) | Winner: Winter Touring Tyre of the Year (WhatTyre, 2026/27) |
| Price in the shared tests | The WinterContact TS 870 was the dearer tyre in 2 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 68% 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.
Two independent tests put the Continental WinterContact TS 870 and Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ side by side: AvD's 2026 winter tyre test and ADAC's 2026 winter tyre test. The Continental finished ahead in both, fourth against sixth in AvD's 225/45 R17 test and first against joint twelfth in ADAC's 185/65 R15 test. The larger ADAC gap reflects a marked difference in dry handling, not a large gap in braking distances.
The Kumho stopped slightly shorter in the dry in both tests, and its wet braking was close to the Continental's. It also cost less per 1,000 km in both. The Continental's clearer advantages are aquaplaning resistance, measured by ADAC, and its more secure, precise road behaviour in the testers' notes. Snow braking was identical in AvD's test and close in ADAC's, while the wear estimates went in opposite directions. These are two tests in different sizes, so the consistent results matter more than either wear figure alone.
WinterContact TS 870 vs WinterCraft WP52+: your questions
Is the Continental WinterContact TS 870 or the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ the better tyre?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead 2 times and the WinterCraft WP52+ not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterContact TS 870 scores 9.2 and the WinterCraft WP52+ 9.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WinterContact TS 870 or the WinterCraft WP52+?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 3 of the 5 wet measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinterCraft WP52+ led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.4% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterCraft WP52+ led 2 of the 3 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.4/10 for the WinterContact TS 870 and 8.8/10 for the WinterCraft WP52+.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the WinterCraft WP52+ 91% from 6. 83% of WinterContact TS 870 owners would buy it again, against 100% for the WinterCraft WP52+.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the WinterContact TS 870 was the dearer tyre in 2 of them, by 68% 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 is made in 44 sizes (14 to 19 inch) and the WinterCraft WP52+ in 115 (13 to 21 inch). 36 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the WinterContact TS 870 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the WinterCraft WP52+ 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.
Review the WinterContact TS 870 Review the WinterCraft WP52+
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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