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Continental WinterContact TS 870 P View Gallery (5)
195-325/30-70 R16-23 196 sizes Winter rated
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Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

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The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P is a premium ultra high performance winter tyre that delivers a reassuring, confidence-inspiring drive in real-world cold, wet and snowy conditions. It stands out for its strong wet grip and braking, secure high-speed stability and a quiet, comfortable ride. Independent tests back up its consistently high all-round performance, with frequent top-three results and multiple outright wins, especially in the wet.

9.6
Tyre Reviews Score Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews
High Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
85%
Wet Grip
90%
Road Feedback
81%
Handling
88%
Wear
88%
Comfort
90%
Buy again
86%
Snow Grip
89%
Ice Grip
82%
25 Reviews
87% Average
175,700 miles driven
30 Tests (avg: 4th)
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

Winter Premium
BETA
9.6 / 10
Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews · High Confidence · Updated 23 Feb 2026

The Tyre Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tyre scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Category Scores
Wet
82.9
1.93x / 130 tests
Comfort
80.6
0.32x / 35 tests
Dry
79.9
1.13x / 55 tests
Value
79.5
0.42x / 54 tests
Snow
79
1.5x / 100 tests
Ice
61.4
1.2x / 6 tests
Cross-Category Performance

Cross-category scores are derived metrics that combine data from multiple test disciplines to evaluate real-world performance characteristics.

Handling
83.4
90 tests
Braking
79.7
94 tests
Traction
74.6
26 tests
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 31
Publications: 10
Period: 2021 - 2025
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 25
Avg Rating: 86.6%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 0.43
History Points: 10
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tyre tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.9 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 12 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.75 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
combined_penalty_floor 0.2
Data Sources
TestPublicationDateSizePositionMetrics
2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test Teknikens Varld 2025 235/45 R18 3/20 6 metrics
2025 AZ Performance Winter Tyre Test Auto Zeitung 2025 245/45 R19 5/10 19 metrics
2025 Autobild SUV Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild Sportscars 2025 235/50 R19 1/13 12 metrics
2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild 2025 225/40 R18 7/22 16 metrics
2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! Auto Bild 2025 225/40 R18 13/52 2 metrics
2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test Auto Motor Und Sport 2025 215/55 R17 1/10 16 metrics
2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test ADAC 2025 225/40 R18 6/31 12 metrics
2025 Die Reifentester Winter Tyre Test Die Reifentester 2025 215/55 R17 1/8 12 metrics
The Best All Season Tyres for 2025/26 Tyre Reviews 2025 205/45 R17 10/11 15 metrics
2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild Allrad 2024 245/45 R18 2/13 12 metrics
2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild Sportscars 2024 235/35 R19 3/11 12 metrics
2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test 2024 235/55 R18 2/10 12 metrics
2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test Auto Zeitung 2024 215/55 R17 3/10 13 metrics
2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test ADAC 2024 215/55 R17 6/16 10 metrics
The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 Tyre Reviews 2024 235/35 R19 4/9 18 metrics
2023/24 Tyre Reviews UHP Winter Tyre Test Tyre Reviews 2023 255/40 R19 1/6 22 metrics
2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild Allrad 2023 225/60 R18 1/11 14 metrics
2023 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test Sport Auto 2023 225/40 R18 4/9 14 metrics
2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild Sportscars 2023 225/40 R18 3/12 12 metrics
2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild 2023 225/45 R18 3/22 15 metrics
2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test ADAC 2023 205/60 R16 4/16 12 metrics
2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test Tyre Reviews 2023 235/60 R18 1/9 17 metrics
2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test Auto Bild 2023 225/45 R18 7/54 2 metrics
2023 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test Tyre Reviews 2023 225/45 R18 3/13 14 metrics
2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test Auto Motor Und Sport 2023 255/45 R20 4/7 13 metrics
2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild Sportscars 2022 245/40 R19 3/10 14 metrics
2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild 2022 215/55 R17 8/22 16 metrics
2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test Auto Bild Allrad 2022 225/45 R19 2/10 14 metrics
2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview Auto Bild 2022 215/55 R17 2/57 2 metrics
2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test Auto Motor Und Sport 2022 245/45 R19 1/8 13 metrics
2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test Tyre Reviews 2021 225/40 R18 1/10 14 metrics

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In Depth Tyre Comparisons
View More Comparisons
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Michelin Alpin 7
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Michelin Alpin 7
All Tests
View Test Results
30
Tests
4th
Average
1st
Best
13th
Worst
Latest Tyre Test Results
2025 Autobild SUV Winter Tyre Test
235/50 R19 • 2025
1st/13
The CONTINENTAL WinterContact TS 870 P is characterized as a sovereign all-rounder, but its standout feature is having the sportiest and most responsive handling on dry roads—a surprising feat for a winter specialist. The text notes that winter tyres are often tortured by dry handling tests at higher temperatures, but the Continental handles these challenges surprisingly well. This strong all-weather capability makes it a versatile choice, though its primary trade-offs are a slightly diminished performance in aquaplaning resistance compared to the leaders and a high purchase price.
2025 AMS Winter Tyre Test
215/55 R17 • 2025
1st/10
The Continental TS 870 P takes the overall test victory with reliable and secure performance across all conditions. On snow, it delivers a safe and predictable driving experience, while on wet roads it provides outstanding grip for the shortest braking distances and excellent cornering stability. The testers found it to be particularly trustworthy and secure across all winter conditions. On dry asphalt, it also achieves the best braking performance with flawless overall capability. Minor limitations were noted in rolling comfort, where it can feel somewhat harsh over cross joints, but this doesn't detract from its status as the top choice for those prioritizing wet grip and all-around winter safety.
2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets!
225/40 R18 • 2025
13th/52
Size Fuel Wet Noise
16 inch
205/60 R 16 92 H C B 71
215/70 R 16 100 T C B 71
215/70 R 16 104 H XL C B 71
215/60R16 95 H C B 71
17 inch
225/50 R 17 98 H XL C B 71
205/50 R 17 93 V XL C B 71
205/50 R 17 93 H XL C B 71
215/55 R 17 98 V XL B B 71
215/55 R 17 94 H C B 71
215/55 R 17 94 H C B 71
215/55 R 17 98 H XL B B 71
235/65 R 17 108 H XL C B 71
235/65 R 17 108 V XL C B 71
225/60 R 17 99 H C B 71
225/60 R 17 103 V XL C B 71
265/65 R 17 112 T C B 73
265/65 R 17 116 H XL B B 73
225/50 R 17 98 H XL B B 71
215/55R17 94 V C B 71
18 inch
225/40 R 18 92 V XL C B 71
235/60 R 18 107 H XL B B 71
235/60 R 18 107 V XL B B 71
235/60 R 18 103 V B B 71
245/40 R 18 97 V XL C B 71
245/40 R 18 97 W XL C B 71
245/45 R 18 100 V XL C B 71
235/60 R 18 103 V B B 71
225/40 R 18 92 W XL C B 71
19 inch
235/35 R 19 91 W XL C B 71
20 inch
255/45 R 20 105 V XL C B 71
255/45 R 20 101 T C B 71
255/45 R 20 101 T C B 71
View All Sizes and EU Label Scores for the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P >>

Questions and Answers for the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P

Ask a question
October 17, 2021

I have been Winter driving on Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 for a number of years and with living and working in the countryside they are good. However a new car has meant a move from 18" to 19" rims. The 19" rim has tyre size of 225/35R19 fitted. There are not many UHP Winter tyres in this size, particularly the Continental Winter Contact TS870P. The closest that is offered for this tyre is a 235/35R19. This means that they are 10mm wider and possibly 3mm taller. What are the issues with fitting this slightly larger tyre?

While the TS870P is an excellent winter tyre choice, I sadly can't advise on whether it is safe to change tyre sizes away from non-OE specification, sorry. If you check the owners manual there might be an alternative size or a smaller wheel option for winter tyres.
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Review Summary

Based on 19 user reviews

Most drivers rate the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P very highly, praising its outstanding wet grip and braking, strong snow traction, stable high-speed behavior, and quiet, comfortable ride. Many note predictable handling and good wear/longevity, with some EV owners highlighting low noise and rolling resistance. A minority mention softer steering feel and less sharp dry handling, and several point out a high price. One outlier reports poor snow/ice performance, which contrasts with the overwhelmingly positive winter feedback from others.

Strengths
  • Excellent wet grip and braking
  • Strong snow traction and control
  • Quiet and comfortable ride
  • High-speed stability
  • Predictable handling
  • Good tread life/wear
  • Low rolling resistance/economy
  • Competent in slush and light off-road
Areas for Improvement
  • High price
  • Soft steering/road feedback; not very sporty

Top 3 Continental WinterContact TS 870 P Reviews

Given 89% while driving a Audi A4 2.0 TDI Ultra 163 (205/60 R16) on a combination of roads for 6,500 average miles
I have driven these tires for around 10 000 km, it was mild winter this year in the Baltics so not very much of testing for it. But mostly on wet roads it felt very nice, braking performance is really good. Noting to worry about the driving - so I assume it is a feature of a decent tire if you don't have to rethink your driving in special conditions. It's pretty quiet too.
Helpful 922
March 28, 2025
Given 42% while driving a Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.9T V6 Quadrifoglio (255/45 R20) on a combination of roads for 2,000 average miles
Using these for second season for about 3-4 months in winter only. DOT 2023 . First season I didn't had chance to drive in real winter snow/ice conditions. Overall these handle fine in dry and wet. Yesterday we had a lot of snow, ice and water and I can only say .........if you want to live don't ever buy this tyre and use it in winter conditions !!!! Absolutely horrible traction, braking and handling in winter conditions. I was very lucky I survived yesterday. The tyres feels very hard after just around 3-4K km and absolutely useless in snow and ice. I never had such bad experience with any premium tyre in my driver life which is around 30 years. The pressure is at factory recommendations and the tyres were kept in closed excellent conditions when not driven. I don't know what exactly did the guys at Continental but I guess the rubber compound is terribly mistaken at the factory. Hard as hell . Before I bought them I looked to all the tests from everywhere and this awful tyre was always in the top 3 in the tests ???? I will never buy whatever from Continental in my life again !!!
Helpful 873
February 18, 2025
Given 82% while driving a BMW 320d touring (225/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 12,000 average miles
An excellent winter tyre, i had runflats on a BMW at the time, and these went up steep moutain roads that had no visible asphalt because they were covered in hard packed snow, no stones or salt down, in a storm at -19 degrees outside. Car felt grippy and did hairpin bends without needing to slow much from a sensible speed up snow covered roads which probably makes all the difference in being able to continue on up to destination.
Helpful 976
September 24, 2024

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Latest Continental WinterContact TS 870 P Reviews

Initial Impressions Review
Given 100% while driving a BMW 528i Touring Sport (225/45 R17) on for 15,000 miles
In the rain and heavy but a lot of heavy rain, even with chunks of snow in highway, at 120km/h, these tyres fitted in a bmw F11 perform wonderfully.
I did used them a lot in the rain, but yesterday had unexpected encounter with snow and they handled perfect! Really great stuff!
Helpful 88
January 29, 2026
Initial Impressions Review
Given 86% while driving a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 4x4 2023. (225/45 R17) on for 5,000 miles
Excellent on snow, 30cm fresh powder is not a problem, 15 cm icy snow uphill also like a dream, but 4x4 helps. Had Alpine 5 last year and didn't notice any difference on traction. Didnt have any problems with gravel and mud in autmn. They go trough rain like butter. A bit jelly, soft ride above 20 deg cels, but that's expected. I am not a sporty driver, so cant say they are made for high speeds, but for mountain snow driving and skiing trips, i am impressed. Economy is fine.
Helpful 90
January 12, 2026
Check out how the BEST all seasons tyres perform against premium summer and winter tyres!
Given 87% while driving a Mercedes Benz C63 AMG (255/30 R19) on mostly motorways for 10,000 average miles
I'm about to start season 3 on the same set of 870P's at the front (16,000 km approx) and a fresh set at the back (I had to change them for reasons unrelated to wear). Grip on snow and ice is just amazing, considering this is on an RWD with nearly 500hp... Compared to my summer tires, I find the road feel a bit softer - interestingly, more comfortable - but steering is not as sharp. Not a surprise you would tell me... Grip on dry will set off ESP on gear changes when foot to the floor. On a spirited drive with a bit more caution, the difference with summer tires is not that much. On snow / ice the feeling is safe and predictable. I avoided high snow depths but this car is my daily and will take the highway in *whatever* weather conditions. I have not tried really adverse conditions in narrow winter mountain roads, for general purpose driving in winter these tires are almost too good :)
Helpful 224
November 8, 2025
Given 80% while driving a Toyota GR86 (215/40 R18) on a combination of roads for 12,000 spirited miles
Great winter tyre nothing bad to say about it, great all rounder on a sporty car.
After around 20'000km they got 5mm left, the only bad thing is the increased price, next winter i think i will get Pirelli's Cinturato Winter 2.
Helpful 1091
March 12, 2024
Given 90% while driving a Audi (235/50 R18) on a combination of roads for 3,000 spirited miles
Coming from winter Hankook, a very directional tyre and good on dry roads but very very low comfort and terrible over snow (but it's really a winter tyre or a four season ?).
Continental work well in every condition and it's so much more comfortable.
Top
Helpful 829
March 1, 2024
Given 90% while driving a Subaru forester 2.5xt (215/65 R16) on a combination of roads for 8,000 spirited miles
Main drawback is the price, overall the tires perform phenomenally on any terrain in the winter. Wet performance is amazing, you don't even feel the wheel loose any grip up to a certain puddle depth when driving over it. Off-road performance is very good too, absolutely no issues here. In reality I can not think of anything that could be better considering its not a soft compound and not studded. Control while doing "spirited driving" on snow is very good, even on ice with 4WD I have plenty of grip to control the car, but they are not magical, ice is still ice whithout studs. I didn't notice any noise on dry roads and performance on the dry, I would think is on par with some summer tires. In conclusion amazing tire if you can afford it, but for me the tire was overkill considering how much it costs. Living in rural area i would choose a cheaper studded tire.
Helpful 870
January 29, 2024
Given 88% while driving a Alfa Romeo Giulia q4 2.0T 280+ (225/45 R18) on a combination of roads for 5,000 average miles
This is now the second season I'm using these tires. The first season saw quite a bit of long distance driving on highways etc, also at high speeds. They generally feel very good and comfortable at acceptable noise levels, especially since the roads here in Sweden are generally extremely loud. Where I live there isn't that much snow, but the weather in winter is often around freezing with a lot of wet roads, and the tires have behaved really well in these conditions, they are a joy to drive.

Even at high speeds (I've tried them up to 220 km/h), the car feels very stable on the road. After about 5000km, they have over 8mm of tread left, so I expect to get quite a few more seasons out of them. Overall a very good tire that I would happily buy again
Helpful 909
November 28, 2023
Given 83% while driving a Citroën DS3 (215/60 R17) on mostly country roads for 2,000 easy going miles
Very balanced tyres. Ideal for my EV thanks to the low noise and rolling resistance.
Helpful 1100
November 4, 2023
Given 98% while driving a Volkswagen (B8) 1.4 TSI (150 Hp) DSG ACT (235/45 R18) on a combination of roads for 30,000 average miles
I like the Continental WinterContact 870 P tires. I use them year-round, and they perform well overall. Their grip on ice is not as good as Nordic winter tires, but they still handle well when driven cautiously. They can handle southern Finland winters. I've driven 40000 km on them over two and a half years, and there's probably one more year left in them.
Helpful 810
September 30, 2023
Given 84% while driving a Volvo V90 Cross Country B5 Mild Hybrid Diesel (245/45 R20) on a combination of roads for 3,190 easy going miles
When I picked up my 2023 Volvo V90 Cross Country B5 Mild Hybrid Diesel the selection of winter tyres offered by Volvo did not satisfy me and I have asked to for getting the Continental Winter Contact TS870P mounted on my 20 inch wheels. From the start the tyre did not disappoint me. It feels very comfortable on the road and is very quiet. Dry handling and driving is how I would I expect it. We had lots of rain in the winter and spent some time in northern Germany and this tyre is superb in handling heavy rain. Compared to the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 (with 255/35 R20 on my previous Volvo V90 D5) it felt even better. With only a few days of snow we did not get a chance to really test true winter capabilities. After driving 3190 miles (5134km) I did not see much signs of wear. We have the same tyre mounted on my wife's V60 D4 (235/45 R18) and that tyre is so comfortable to drive and even is on par with the summer tyres.
Helpful 873
April 4, 2023
Given 97% while driving a Jaguar xf premium luxury (235/55 R17) on a combination of roads for 5,000 average miles
This is a mid life type of review (2nd winter) and 5000 miles mark. The tires are amazing. On slushy roads (mountains roads with snow, melted snow, ice, water, road dirt, etc), the tires are like glue to the road. With semi-spirited drive (without risking the safety on the mountains roads driving), the ESP was not needed. It grips and grips with no problems. Of course, on fully iced roads, the grip is not amazing, but again these are not studded tires. On snow, however ....a pleasure to drive. On wet and dry roads, the situation is the same: grips and grips without any downside. Braking is also very good, in some emergency braking occasions, the car stopped very quickly from 120km/h speedo` area to 0 km/h. Will definitively buy again next time, as I`m confident I have fund my perfect winter tire.
Helpful 982
January 26, 2023
Given 91% while driving a Audi Audi A6 (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 2,500 spirited miles
Tire size: 225/55 R 17 101V, Car: Audi A6 C7 3.0 TFSI Quattro. I bought these tires after watching Tyrereviews winter tire test. After switching from old Michelin Alpin 4, the first thing I've noticed was... silence. The gap was huge. These tires are quieter than my summer tires- Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (245/45 R18 99Y). I've tested them in almost every weather conditions. They are great. The bigest disadvantage is maybe snow grip- good but not exceptional (new winter tires are better in mild climate), but they saved me 2-3 times during winter skidding :). Definitely worh to buy, especially with cash back from Conti. In my opinion, considering value for money- better than Michelin.
Helpful 1293
May 10, 2022
Rate the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P