Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 26
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 90% · 15
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead 10 times and the UltraGrip Performance 3 once. The WinterContact TS 870 had 6.5% lower rolling resistance; the UltraGrip Performance 3 lasted 11% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Continental WinterContact TS 870 if you want the most consistently top-ranked winter tire with the strongest wet/ice safety buffer (especially wet-concrete braking and ice braking). Choose the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 if you prioritize longevity and cost-per-kilometer while still getting a premium, very capable wet-weather winter tire-just be aware that its ice performance is more often the limiting factor versus the Continental.
Where the WinterContact TS 870 is stronger
- Top-tier wet braking and wet control, including standout wet-concrete braking in ADAC testing (e.g., 38.2 m vs 39.5 m in ADAC 2026 225/50 R17) and frequent wet-category wins
- Stronger ice braking safety margin across ADAC datasets (e.g., 18.3 m vs 21.2 m in ADAC 2024; 17.1 m vs 18.7 m in ADAC 2026 225/50 R17)
- Very consistent all-rounder results and overall rankings (multiple 1st places: ADAC 2024, ADAC 2026 185/65 R15, Auto Express 2026, Auto Bild 2024)
Where the UltraGrip Performance 3 is stronger
- Often class-leading or near-leading wear and environmental metrics, including very long projected mileage in ADAC 2026 225/50 R17 (55,800 km vs 43,200 km) and lower abrasion (62 vs 74 mg/km/t)
- Competitive aquaplaning performance, with several straight/curved aquaplaning wins depending on size (e.g., ADAC 2026 185/65 R15; Auto Express 2026)
- Good snow traction bias in the numbers overall (wins snow-traction head-to-head count 5 vs 2), which can help with moving off and climbing
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 UltraGrip Performance 3 at a glance
| Category | WinterContact TS 870 | Gap | UltraGrip Performance 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won11 shared tests | 10 | 1 | |
| Dry11 measurements | 6 | The WinterContact TS 870 lapped the dry handling course 0.7% faster (2 tests) | 3 |
| Wet31 measurements | 21 | The WinterContact TS 870 stopped 0.9% shorter in the wet (9 tests) | 10 |
| Snow21 measurements | 11 | The WinterContact TS 870 stopped 0.8% shorter on snow (9 tests) | 9 |
| Ice3 measurements | 3 | The WinterContact TS 870 stopped 9% shorter on ice (3 tests) | 0 |
| Comfort6 measurements | 4 | 2 | |
| Value16 measurements | 8 | The WinterContact TS 870 had 6.5% lower rolling resistance (5 tests) | 6 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.2/10 | The UltraGrip Performance 3 by 0.3 | 9.5/10 |
| Owner rating26 and 15 reviews | 83% | The UltraGrip Performance 3 by 7 points | 90% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 83% | The UltraGrip Performance 3 by 17 points | 100% |
| Pricein the 7 tests that listed prices | +3.4% | The WinterContact TS 870 was dearer in 5 of 7 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 44 | 21 sizes made in both | 175 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire 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 11 tests, 2024 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires 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 | UltraGrip Performance 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 AvD Winter Tire Test | P4 of 15 | P3 of 15 | |
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 | P2 of 16 | P3 of 16 | |
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P1 of 16 | P6 of 16 | |
| 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P1 of 11 | P6 of 11 | |
| 2025 TUV Test of Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 vs Rivals | P2 of 5 | P3 of 5 | |
| 2025 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P1 of 8 | P2 of 8 | |
| 2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P1 of 7 | P2 of 7 | |
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P1 of 20 | P2 of 20 | |
| The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 | P1 of 5 | P4 of 5 | |
| 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tire Test | P1 of 12 | P2 of 12 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test | P8 of 55 | P9 of 55 |
Performance profile
18 measurements from the 11 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
WinterContact TS 870
UltraGrip Performance 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. 4 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
UltraGrip Performance 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire 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
UltraGrip Performance 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15. 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 tires 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 | UltraGrip Performance 3 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 137 | 0.2% | 137 | 3-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 58.42 | 0.7% | 58.83 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 68.7 | 0.9% | 68.1 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 128 | 0.9% | 129 | 5-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 127 | 2.3% | 130 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 78.4 | 0.2% | 78.23 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 46.7 | 0.4% | 46.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.2 | 0.9% | 12.3 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 52.3 | 0.1% | 52.3 | 4-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 48.6 | 2.6% | 48 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71 | 0.8% | 70 | 5-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 6.6 | 2.3% | 6.4 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 453 | 0.6% | 455 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 76.19 | 1.6% | 77.23 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 37.3 | 0.2% | 37.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 10.8 | 1.5% | 10.6 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 62 | 9% | 68 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 70.47 | = | 70.47 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 26,335 | 11% | 29,366 | 2-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.01 | 6.5% | 8.57 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.4 | 0.6% | 5.43 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.67 | 8.6% | 65.33 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 tires 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 Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterContact TS 870 scores 9.2 and the UltraGrip Performance 3 9.5 out of 10.
| WinterContact TS 870 | Category | UltraGrip Performance 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | Dry | 89 | ||
| 98 | Wet | 95 | ||
| 53 | Comfort | 85 | ||
| 68 | Value | 70 | ||
| 70 | Snow | 87 | ||
| 16 | Ice | 22 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire 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 | UltraGrip Performance 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | Dry Grip | 8.6 | ||
| 9 | Wet Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 7.3 | Road Feedback | 8.6 | ||
| 8.1 | Handling | 8.1 | ||
| 8.8 | Wear | 9 | ||
| 8.4 | Comfort | 8.8 | ||
| 7.9 | Snow Grip | 9.5 | ||
| 7.3 | Ice Grip | 8.1 | ||
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15. 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 tire 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.
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
- 90%from 15 reviews
- 100%would buy again
- 62,800 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers rate the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 very highly, praising its excellent grip and braking on dry and wet roads, strong traction in snow, and a quiet, comfortable, and predictable ride. Handling is often described as stable and confidence-inspiring, with several noting good highway manners. A minority mention weaker performance on pure ice and a softer, less sporty steering feel at the limit. Overall sentiment is strongly positive with only a few caveats.
- strong dry grip and braking
- excellent wet grip and braking
- very good snow traction
- quiet and comfortable ride
- limited grip on pure ice compared to some rivals
- softer steering feel and less sporty lateral grip at high speeds
Summarised by AI from 12 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 15 UltraGrip Performance 3 reviewsThis is exceptional tire in winter i swapped it now with Michelin PA 5 which is even better on snow but lucks a bit on wet. But you cant go wrong with niether of those. I cant wait Michelin s to worn out so i can try pirelli.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 44 sizes of the WinterContact TS 870 and 175 of the UltraGrip Performance 3, 21 of them made in both.
| Category | WinterContact TS 870 | UltraGrip Performance 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 44 sizes, 14 to 19 inch | 175 sizes, 14 to 23 inch |
| Made in both | 21 sizes 175/65 R14185/60 R15185/65 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15185/50 R16185/55 R16185/60 R16195/55 R16195/60 R16205/45 R16205/55 R16and 9 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B82%C18% | B60%C39%D0%A0% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C78%D22% | C74%B16%D9%A1%E0% |
| EU label noise | 69-72 dB B100% | 69-74 dB B87%A13% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 90 of 90 | 415 of 415 |
| Replaced | Continental WinterContact TS 860 (2016) | - |
| Awards | Winner: Best Winter Tire (DriverReviews, 2025/26) Highly Recommended: Best Winter Tires (DriverReviews, 2024/25) | Commended: Best Winter Tire (DriverReviews, 2025/26) |
| Price in the shared tests | The WinterContact TS 870 was the dearer tire in 5 of the 7 tests that listed prices, by 3.4% on average. Each test priced the tires 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 and Goodyear's UltraGrip Performance 3 sit in the same premium European winter space, but they come at the problem from slightly different angles: the TS 870 is positioned as a premium-touring winter tire with a strong safety-and-comfort bias, while the UltraGrip Performance 3 leans more “UHP winter” in feel and longevity.
Across 10 shared professional tests in popular sizes (from 185/65 R15 up to 225/50 R17), the pattern is consistent: the Continental tends to land at the very top of overall rankings (multiple wins, plus a close 2nd), while the Goodyear is usually the nearest challenger-often on the podium-but with more visible trade-offs depending on size and the test's weighting. The interesting part isn't that both are good; it's where they differ: wet safety margins (especially on wet concrete and in aquaplaning) and ice braking skew toward Continental, while wear/environmental metrics and some snow-traction measures regularly favor Goodyear.
Conclusion
If you want the “default best answer” winter tire in a broad range of European winter conditions, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 is the safer bet on the evidence here. It repeatedly takes 1st place overall (ADAC 2024 205/55 R16: 1/12; ADAC 2026 185/65 R15: 1/16; Auto Express 2026: 1/11; Auto Bild 2024: 1/20) and even when it doesn't win, it's right there (ADAC 2026 225/50 R17: 2/16). Its biggest real-world advantage is how often it produces meaningful wet and ice gains: for example, in ADAC 2026 (225/50 R17) it stops 1.4 m shorter in wet braking (34.7 m vs 36.1 m) and 1.6 m shorter on ice (17.1 m vs 18.7 m), alongside stronger aquaplaning metrics. That combination is exactly what turns into fewer “oh no” moments on cold, wet motorways and polished winter junctions.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 is still an excellent premium winter tire, and it makes a strong case if you value durability and cost-per-kilometer as much as outright safety margins. In ADAC 2026 (225/50 R17) it projects substantially longer wear (55,800 km vs 43,200 km) and better value (2.65 vs 3.47 price/1000), and it frequently posts competitive aquaplaning and wet-road results. Where it most often concedes ground is on the most “wintery” parts of testing-especially ice braking (e.g., ADAC 2024: 21.2 m vs 18.3 m; ADAC 2026 225/50 R17: 18.7 m vs 17.1 m). Practical takeaway: pick the Continental if your priority is maximum winter safety headroom (wet + ice, consistently), and pick the Goodyear if you want a premium winter tire that's very capable in the wet while typically delivering better longevity and running-cost efficiency.
WinterContact TS 870 vs UltraGrip Performance 3: your questions
Is the Continental WinterContact TS 870 or the Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 the better tire?
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead 10 times and the UltraGrip Performance 3 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterContact TS 870 scores 9.2 and the UltraGrip Performance 3 9.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WinterContact TS 870 or the UltraGrip Performance 3?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 21 of the 31 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.9% shorter in the wet across 9 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 6 of the 11 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it lapped the dry handling course 0.7% faster across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 11 of the 21 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.8% shorter on snow across 9 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The WinterContact TS 870 had 6.5% lower rolling resistance (5 tests) and used 0.6% less fuel (3 tests); the UltraGrip Performance 3 lasted 11% longer in the wear tests (5 tests) and shed 8.6% less rubber in the abrasion test (3 tests). Owners rate wear 8.8/10 for the WinterContact TS 870 and 9/10 for the UltraGrip Performance 3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.4/10 for the WinterContact TS 870 and 8.8/10 for the UltraGrip Performance 3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the UltraGrip Performance 3 90% from 15. 83% of WinterContact TS 870 owners would buy it again, against 100% for the UltraGrip Performance 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 7 tests that listed prices, the WinterContact TS 870 was the dearer tire in 5 of them, by 3.4% 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 UltraGrip Performance 3 in 175 (14 to 23 inch). 21 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 UltraGrip Performance 3 B and C.
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Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires 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 Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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