90%
- Volvo XC70 D5
- 225/45 R17
- 3,000 miles
Driving in northern Norway, coastal climate, it has good handeling in mild slippery weather, excellent in proper winter driving
Continental IceContact 3
Replaced by the IceContact 8 Replaces the IceContact 2
The Continental IceContact 3 is a studded winter tyre with good snow and bare-road handling and often low noise for its type. Later tests repeatedly find less ice grip than leading studded rivals, despite unusually strong early results.
The Continental IceContact 3 is more convincing on snow and bare roads than on ice in its later independent tests. Snow traction and handling receive repeated praise, while wet handling has several leading results against studded rivals. Recent tests also favour dry handling, although earlier assessments were less consistent. Noise is often low for a studded tyre, with an exception in the 2025 Tekniikan Maailma test. This balance gives it more appeal for mixed snow and asphalt use than for drivers seeking maximum ice grip.
Ice is the recurring limitation: eight of thirteen tester accounts criticise it, and in 2025 Tekniikan Maailma it was last of seven studded tyres for ice braking and traction despite second in class overall. Its 2019 Vi Bilagare win, including leading ice braking and traction, was unusually strong beside the later record. Economy also varies, from highest fuel consumption at Vi Bilagare in 2024 to lowest in 2025. Class-leading results on snow or asphalt therefore need to be weighed against the repeated ice shortfall and inconsistent efficiency.
The quick answer
Tests say
3rd
average finish across 13 independent tests · 3 wins
Latest: P3 of 8 · Studded Winter Tyres · 2025
See every test
Strengths & weaknesses
Snow, Comfort
Ice, Value
Relative to its rivals across every test we hold
Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tyre - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated January 2026.
- 3owner reviews
- 16,500miles driven
- 13professional tests
All Tests
View Test ResultsTested 13 times by independent publications, the Continental IceContact 3 has taken 3 test wins with an average finish of 3rd.
13
Tests
3
Test Wins
3rd
Average
1st
Best
6th
Worst
Finishing position in each test
The latest test
2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test P3 of 8Studded Winter Tyres
The Continental IceContact 3 delivers somewhat poorer ice grip than the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic 2 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10, but performs better in all test aspects on bare pavement. The stud grip is good when the car rolls straight, but performance diminishes more than it should when steering input is added. In other respects, this is a well-performing studded tyre that even rolls reasonably lightly, contributing to decent fuel efficiency. The comfort is adequate for a studded tyre, with noise levels that are almost in the class of the worst Central European friction tyres - which means an entirely acceptable noise level. Where Continental succeeds is in providing better bare pavement stability than many studded competitors, making the test vehicle more predictable and easier to control. It represents a sensible middle ground in the studded category, sacrificing some ultimate ice grip for improved everyday usability on cleared roads.
| Year | Test | Result | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre TestTeknikens Varld · 235/45 R18 | P3 / 8Studded Winter Tyres | |
| 2025 | 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre TestTekniikan Maailma · 205/55 R16 | P2 / 7Studded Winter Tyres | |
| 2025 | The BEST Studded Tyres for 2025Vi Bilagare · 235/60 R18 | P3 / 8 | |
| 2024 | 2024 Studded Tyre TestVi Bilagare · 225/45 R17 | P5 / 8 | |
| 2024 | The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tyres for 2024Teknikens Varld · 225/50 R17 | P6 / 6Studded Winter Tyres | |
| 2023 | 2023 Studded Tyre TestVi Bilagare · 225/45 R17 | P5 / 8 | |
| 2022 | 2022 Studded Winter Tyre TestVi Bilagare · 235/55 R18 | P5 / 8 | |
| 2021 | 2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tyre TestMoottori · 205/55 R16 | P5 / 8 | |
| 2021 | 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre TestTeknikens Varld · 205/55 R16 | P6 / 9Studded Winter Tyres | |
| 2020 | 2020 Studded Winter Tyre TestVi Bilagare · 205/60 R16 | P2 / 8 | |
| 2020 | The Best Winter Tyres for 2020Tyre Reviews · 205/55 R16 | P1 / 19 | Tested by Tyre Reviews |
| 2020 | 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre TestTest World · 205/55 R16 | P1 / 5Studded Winter Tyres | |
| 2019 | 2019 Studded Winter Tyre TestVi Bilagare · 225/50 R17 | P1 / 8 |
On the full record: Record by disciplineHead-to-head recordEvery published verdict
Videos
10 of the BEST Winter Tires for 2020
Alternative Tyres
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View AllFrequently Asked Questions
How good is the Continental IceContact 3 in the wet?
Across the 10 wet-braking tests it has featured in, the Continental IceContact 3 stops 2.6% shorter than premium rivals, 3.5% shorter than mid-range rivals and 2.2% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tyre Reviews wet score of 78/100, and owners rate it 8/10 in the wet from 3 reviews.
How good is the Continental IceContact 3 in the dry?
Across the 10 dry-braking tests it has featured in, the Continental IceContact 3 stops 0.9% shorter than premium rivals, 0.1% shorter than mid-range rivals and level with budget rivals. It has a Tyre Reviews dry score of 64/100, and owners rate it 8.7/10 in the dry from 3 reviews.
How good is the Continental IceContact 3 in the snow?
Across the 10 snow-braking tests it has featured in, the Continental IceContact 3 stops 0.7% shorter than premium rivals, 1.6% shorter than mid-range rivals and 3.2% shorter than budget rivals. Across the 10 snow-traction tests, it is 0.2% better than premium rivals, 1.4% better than mid-range rivals and 3.7% better than budget rivals. It has a Tyre Reviews snow score of 89/100, and owners rate it 9/10 in the snow from 3 reviews.
How good is the Continental IceContact 3 on ice?
Across the 10 ice-braking tests it has featured in, the Continental IceContact 3 stops 5.9% longer than premium rivals, 1.2% longer than mid-range rivals and 16.2% shorter than budget rivals. Across the 10 ice-traction tests, it is 4.9% worse than premium rivals, 4.1% better than mid-range rivals and 19.7% better than budget rivals. It has a Tyre Reviews ice score of 56/100, and owners rate it 7/10 on ice from 3 reviews.
How fuel efficient is the Continental IceContact 3?
Across the 1 test measuring rolling resistance, the Continental IceContact 3's rolling resistance is 0.9% lower than premium rivals, 2.5% higher than mid-range rivals and 1.9% higher than budget rivals.
More questions about the Continental IceContact 3 (2)
What does the Continental IceContact 3 replace?
The Continental IceContact 3 is the successor to the Continental IceContact 2 in Continental's range.
Has the Continental IceContact 3 been replaced?
The Continental IceContact 3 has been replaced by the Continental IceContact 8.
Owner Questions
Ask a questionQuestions and Answers for the Continental IceContact 3
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Continental IceContact 3 Owner Reviews
Review this tyreWhat owners say
Across 3 owner ratings the Continental IceContact 3 averages 76%. Owners rate Snow Grip highest at 9 out of 10 and Wear lowest at 5.
Owner ratings averaged from 3 ratings
- Owner score 76%
- Snow Grip 90%
- Dry Grip 87%
- Handling 83%
- Wet Grip 80%
- Road Feedback 80%
- Comfort 73%
- Ice Grip 70%
- Wear 50%
All 3 Continental IceContact 3 reviews
Score spread across 3 written reviews
66%
- Mercedes Benz E220Cdi
- 225/45 R17
- 5,000 miles
- Mostly Motorways
- Easy Going
I bought those tires in October 2021. Overall, the tires were amazing, on par with Michelin X-Ice North 4, which I have on my other car. Most of the time, the tires were used on highways mixed with relatively little city driving. The driving style was gentle, as the car has always on ASR, that makes sideways driving unpredictable.
After about 5k miles, there is still a lot of rubber to go, but the studs have given out. They work perfectly fine when accelerating/braking, but they have turned into skis when cornering. The studs are rectangular in shape and the sides of the studs have rounded off, making them not grip on ice on lateral motion. I found it out when I was driving on black ice on a windy day and an oncoming truck caused the car to fishtail at 45MPH.
I really liked those tires, but I can not recommend them due to the stud rounding out issue.
After about 5k miles, there is still a lot of rubber to go, but the studs have given out. They work perfectly fine when accelerating/braking, but they have turned into skis when cornering. The studs are rectangular in shape and the sides of the studs have rounded off, making them not grip on ice on lateral motion. I found it out when I was driving on black ice on a windy day and an oncoming truck caused the car to fishtail at 45MPH.
I really liked those tires, but I can not recommend them due to the stud rounding out issue.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tyres perform against premium summer and winter tyres!
80%
- Saab Automobile 9 5 2.0t BioPower Estate (180bhp)
- 215/55 R16 T
- 8,500 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
I had regular studs
Superb grip on packed snow and ~1 cm of snow on top of the packed snow. Grip on ice is great also tested on lake ice track. One can have fun throwing the car around on ice and tyres feel good especially while braking. I felt confident with them on slippery surfaces. When there is around 4-5 cm of snow these tyres are too wide and lose contact with hard surface on higher speeds. For those days I wish i had narrower tyres but it is not "the tyres fault".
Dry and Wer grip is pretty good but unstudded tyres could be better for those conditions. Atleast these tyres are not able to handle 360Nm of torque (not stock) as well as my previous (old) unstudded tyres.
When it gets above freezing these tyres feel quite soft under a heavy car. Below freezing the feedback and response is ok for 16" winter tyres.
Noisy tyres there is no going around that even in fairly quiet car but it does not bother me.
Combined with 55 profile the ride is smooth and comfortable. They also take the worst out of poorly maintained winter roads.
Overall great tyres for narrow and windy roads with changing conditions. For warm, dry and wet conditions these tyres are overkill and can not really shine in what they are best at even though they are not bad. Go for narrower tyre if possible in case you get a lot of soft snow but driving carefully solves that problem too.
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