Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The data shows a consistent pattern: the TS 870 sets the benchmark in wet safety (especially aquaplaning), snow braking/traction, and longevity/efficiency, while the Pirelli often feels more playful subjectively and can shine in isolated braking or comfort metrics. If you drive through a wide mix of winter conditions-including heavy rain, slush and frequent snow-the performance gaps are meaningful, not marginal.
Test Results
Independent comparison tire tests are the best source of data to get tire information from, and the good news is there have been eight tests which compare both tires directly!
| Tire | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Continental WinterContact TS 870 | seven | |
| Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 | one |
While it might look like the Continental WinterContact TS 870 is better than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tires are very complicated objects which means where one tire is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tires compare across multiple tire test categories.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding aquaplaning resistance; e.g., +10-23% advantage in ADAC/Auto Bild curved aquaplaning
- Consistently shorter braking on snow/ice; multiple wins across ADAC, AZ, Auto Bild, Tire Reviews
- High mileage and low wear; +24-29% wear advantage in 2024 ADAC/Auto Bild
- Lower rolling resistance and better efficiency, aiding fuel economy
- Engaging, predictable handling feel with low cabin noise
- Can excel in single-metric braking (e.g., wet or dry) in some tests
- Good comfort and stability; favorable subjective scores in several 2022 tests
- Typically lower purchase price than Continental in like-for-like sizes
Dry Braking
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during three dry braking tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stopped the vehicle in 0.09% less distance than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Dry Braking: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during two dry handling [s] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 0.83% faster around a lap than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 1.63% faster around a lap than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 scored 2.44% more points than the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from six tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during two wet braking tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stopped the vehicle in 0.43% less distance than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Wet Braking: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stopped the vehicle in 1.28% less distance than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during two wet handling [s] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 2.14% faster around a wet lap than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 0.33% faster around a wet lap than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 scored 4.44% more points than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 1.21% faster around a wet circle than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Wet Circle: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during five straight aqua tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 floated at a 5.01% higher speed than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Straight Aqua: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from five tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during five curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 slipped out at a 16.44% higher speed than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from six tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during six snow braking tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stopped the vehicle in 4.91% less distance than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Snow Braking: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 and Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 performed equally well in snow traction tests.
Best In Snow Traction: Both tires performed equally well
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during three snow traction tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 had 1.37% better snow traction than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Snow Traction: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one snow handling [s] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 0.9% faster around a lap than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 and Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 performed equally well in snow handling [km/h] tests.
Best In Snow Handling [Km/H]: Both tires performed equally well
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one subj. snow handling tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 scored 0.87% more points than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one snow slalom tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was 0.91% faster through a slalom than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Snow Slalom: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during two ice braking tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stopped the vehicle 2.83% shorter than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Ice Braking: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 scored 9.35% more points than the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from four tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during three noise tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 measured 0.56% quieter than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Noise: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during one noise tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 measured 1.44% quieter than the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Best In Noise: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during three wear tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 is predicted to cover 15.01% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Wear: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one value tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 proved to have a 9.1% better value based on price/1000km than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Value: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Price
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 was better during three price tests. On average the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 cost 5.08% less than the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Best In Price: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during three rolling resistance tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 had a 7.63% lower rolling resistance than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 used 0.92% less fuel than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 was better during two abrasion tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 emitted 18.71% less particle wear matter than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Best In Abrasion: Continental WinterContact TS 870
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Tire Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Continental WinterContact TS 870 and Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
In total the Continental WinterContact TS 870 has been reviewed 22 times and drivers have given the tire 84% overall.
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 has been reviewed 3 times and drivers have given the tire 78% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Conclusion
Pirelli's Cinturato Winter 2 is competitive and likeable to drive-often praised for subjective handling, low cabin noise, and occasional strong braking results-but it trails in aquaplaning, has weaker mileage, and usually finishes mid-pack overall. It can be a smart pick if you value a quieter, engaging feel and can find it at a lower price, but for broad winter security and value retention, the TS 870 is the safer, longer-lasting bet.
Key Differences
- Overall results: TS 870 wins 7 tests; Winter 2 wins 1
- Aquaplaning: TS 870 leads decisively (often 4-23% better straight/curved)
- Snow/ice stopping: TS 870 consistently shorter; Pirelli mid-pack to good
- Wet braking split: Pirelli occasionally ahead in single tests; TS 870 still stronger overall wet package
- Wear/longevity: TS 870 substantially higher mileage (+24-29% in 2024 ADAC/Auto Bild)
- Efficiency: TS 870 lower rolling resistance; Pirelli higher RR in multiple tests
- Subjective feel: Pirelli often more enjoyable/quiet; Continental more precise/safe at the limit
- Value over time: Continental's higher price offset by longer life and lower fuel use; Pirelli cheaper upfront
Overall Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870
Based on the tire test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tire has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tire buying choice.Similar Comparisons
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Footnote
This page has been developed using tire industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tires in the same test.
Why is this important? Tire testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tire test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tire tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tire Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tire comparison, Tire Reviews doesn't.