Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Vredestein Wintrac Pro
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 26
- TR Score
- 9.0/10
- Owners say
- 87% · 30
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead 3 times and the Wintrac Pro not once. The WinterContact TS 870 had 9.8% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Continental WinterContact TS 870 for mixed wet/snow winters, maximum safety margins, and lower running costs over time. Choose Vredestein Wintrac Pro if you drive mainly on cold, mostly dry roads, want a sportier dry feel, and prioritize a lower purchase price in milder winter climates.
Where the WinterContact TS 870 is stronger
- Class-leading wet grip and aquaplaning resistance (up to +24% in curved aquaplaning)
- Consistently better snow braking and traction across all tests
- Lower rolling resistance and fuel use; strong predicted mileage
Where the Wintrac Pro is stronger
- Strong dry performance with short braking and fast handling
- Lower purchase price and good value per test euro
- Low noise and good efficiency scores in select tests
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 Wintrac Pro at a glance
| Category | WinterContact TS 870 | Gap | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won3 shared tests | 3 | 0 | |
| Dry7 measurements | 5 | The WinterContact TS 870 stopped 0.9% shorter in the dry (3 tests) | 2 |
| Wet13 measurements | 12 | The WinterContact TS 870 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 8.5% higher speed (3 tests) | 1 |
| Snow10 measurements | 9 | The WinterContact TS 870 stopped 4.7% shorter on snow (3 tests) | 0 |
| Ice1 measurement | 0 | Level between the two. | 0 |
| Comfort5 measurements | 2 | The WinterContact TS 870 was 0.7 dB quieter (3 tests) | 1 |
| Value5 measurements | 4 | The WinterContact TS 870 had 9.8% lower rolling resistance (2 tests) | 1 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.2/10 | The WinterContact TS 870 by 0.2 | 9.0/10 |
| Owner rating26 and 30 reviews | 83% | The Wintrac Pro by 4 points | 87% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 83% | The Wintrac Pro by 10 points | 93% |
| Pricein the 3 tests that listed prices | +22.9% | The WinterContact TS 870 was dearer in 3 of 3 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 44 | 4 sizes made in both | 119 |
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 3 tests, 2022 to 2023
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 | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire Test | P1 of 15 | P5 of 15 | |
| 2022/23 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test | P2 of 9 | P6 of 9 | |
| 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test | P1 of 8 | P5 of 8 |
Performance profile
15 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
WinterContact TS 870
Wintrac Pro
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. 5 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
Wintrac Pro
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
Wintrac Pro
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the Wintrac Pro 87% from 30. 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 | Wintrac Pro | Wins | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 141 | 0.9% | 140 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 71.75 | 0.3% | 71.9 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.5% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 128 | 3.9% | 133 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 93.7 | 2% | 95.6 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 33.8% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 49.4 | 8.5% | 45.6 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 15.7 | 19.2% | 13 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 69 | 4.7% | 72 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 5.1 | 5.6% | 5.4 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 333 | 3.5% | 331 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 99.15 | 2.6% | 101.6 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | 38.2% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 64 | = | 64 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 70.83 | 0.7 dB | 71.5 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 34,735 | 14.5% | 30,323 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 8.25 | 9.8% | 9.15 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 5.7 | 1.7% | 5.8 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 65.3 | 0.9% | 64.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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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 Wintrac Pro 9 out of 10.
| WinterContact TS 870 | Category | Wintrac Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | Dry | 67 | ||
| 98 | Wet | 86 | ||
| 53 | Comfort | 33 | ||
| 68 | Value | 29 | ||
| 70 | Snow | 58 | ||
| 16 | Ice | 67 | ||
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 | Wintrac Pro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | Dry Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 9 | Wet Grip | 9 | ||
| 7.3 | Road Feedback | 8.5 | ||
| 8.1 | Handling | 8.2 | ||
| 8.8 | Wear | 8.7 | ||
| 8.4 | Comfort | 8.7 | ||
| 7.9 | Snow Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 7.3 | Ice Grip | 8.1 | ||
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the Wintrac Pro 87% from 30. 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.
Vredestein Wintrac Pro
- 87%from 30 reviews
- 93%would buy again
- 226,700 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers report the Vredestein Wintrac Pro is a highly confidence-inspiring winter tire with standout wet-road grip and surprisingly sporty, summer-like steering feel and stability in cold dry conditions. Most users also praise strong traction and braking in snow/slush, along with good comfort, low noise for the category, and impressive tread life/value over multiple seasons. A smaller subset note higher fuel consumption/rolling resistance and that the tire can need some warm-up or a short bedding-in period to deliver its best grip.
- Strong wet grip and braking (good aquaplaning resistance)
- Stable, predictable handling with good steering feedback (sporty/summer-like feel)
- Very capable snow and slush traction and confidence
- Good comfort and generally quiet for a winter/UHP tire
- Higher fuel consumption / rolling resistance than some alternatives
- Needs some warm-up or short bedding-in to reach best grip
Summarised by AI from 28 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 30 Wintrac Pro reviewsVery good tires for winter. Used in upstate New York from November to April. Great grip even in -15 F. Started to get a little vague when it was dry around 65F.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 44 sizes of the WinterContact TS 870 and 119 of the Wintrac Pro, 4 of them made in both.
| Category | WinterContact TS 870 | Wintrac Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 44 sizes, 14 to 19 inch | 119 sizes, 17 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 4 sizes 215/40 R17215/45 R17225/45 R17225/50 R17 | |
| EU label wet grip | B82%C18% | B98%A2%C1% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C78%D22% | D47%C46%E5%B1% |
| EU label noise | 69-72 dB B100% | 70-74 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 90 of 90 | 253 of 253 |
| On the market since | - | 2018 |
| Replaced | Continental WinterContact TS 860 (2016) | Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S (2015) |
| Awards | Winner: Best Winter Tire (DriverReviews, 2025/26) Highly Recommended: Best Winter Tires (DriverReviews, 2024/25) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The WinterContact TS 870 was the dearer tire in 3 of the 3 tests that listed prices, by 22.9% 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.
This comparison pits two very different winter tires against each other: Continental's WinterContact TS 870, a premium touring tire aimed at broad, real-world winter use, versus Vredestein's Wintrac Pro, an ultra-high-performance winter tire with a sportier brief. Both target 225/45 R17 passenger cars, but they prioritize different outcomes.
Across three shared professional tests (ADAC 2023, Tire Reviews 2022/23, Auto Zeitung 2022), the TS 870 consistently finished ahead, winning all three. The data shows a clear pattern: Continental dominates wet grip and aquaplaning resistance, is stronger in snow braking and traction, and delivers better efficiency and longevity-while Vredestein fights back with sharper dry stopping and a lower purchase price.
Conclusion
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 establishes itself as the safer, more rounded choice for typical European winters. It leads convincingly in wet braking and both straight and curved aquaplaning, crucial in slushy, rainy cold conditions. It also edges the Wintrac Pro in snow braking and traction across all tests, and pairs that grip with lower rolling resistance and higher predicted mileage-strong value over the tire's life despite a higher upfront price.
The Vredestein Wintrac Pro appeals to drivers prioritising dry-road feel and budget. It posts shorter dry braking in one test and competitive dry handling, is quiet, and usually costs around 18-20% less. However, its weaker aquaplaning performance and lower snow capability make it a compromise in harsher or wetter winters. If you regularly face mixed wet/snow conditions, choose the Continental. If your winters are mostly cold and dry with occasional light snow-and you value a keen price and sporty dry response-the Vredestein can still fit the brief.
WinterContact TS 870 vs Wintrac Pro: your questions
Is the Continental WinterContact TS 870 or the Vredestein Wintrac Pro the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished ahead 3 times and the Wintrac Pro not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterContact TS 870 scores 9.2 and the Wintrac Pro 9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WinterContact TS 870 or the Wintrac Pro?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 12 of the 13 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 8.5% higher speed across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 5 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.9% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterContact TS 870 led 9 of the 10 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.7% shorter on snow across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The WinterContact TS 870 had 9.8% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.8/10 for the WinterContact TS 870 and 8.7/10 for the Wintrac Pro.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The WinterContact TS 870 was 0.7 dB quieter (3 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.4/10 for the WinterContact TS 870 and 8.7/10 for the Wintrac Pro.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WinterContact TS 870 83% from 26 reviews and the Wintrac Pro 87% from 30. 83% of WinterContact TS 870 owners would buy it again, against 93% for the Wintrac Pro.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the WinterContact TS 870 was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 22.9% 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 Wintrac Pro in 119 (17 to 22 inch). 4 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 Wintrac Pro B and D.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
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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