Tested 9 times by independent publications, the Continental VikingContact 8 has taken 7 test wins with an average finish of 1st. Its strongest discipline is Subj. Comfort, beating 87% of the field across 5 tests; its weakest is Straight Aqua, at 32% across 5 tests.
2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tire Test P2 of 3
The VikingContact 8 finishes second and is the best all-rounder here, picked out for its balance. It gives up some snow and ice braking to the other two but is the nicest of the three to live with on cleared roads, which suits drivers whose winters mix dry commutes with the occasional storm.
Where the Continental VikingContact 8 finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tires. Field beaten is the share of the other tires it outranked in that measurement.
| Discipline | Tests | Avg finish | Field beaten | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | ||||
| Dry Braking | 6 | P2.7 of 6.2 | 64% | - |
| Dry Handling | 1 | P4 of 6 | 40% | - |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 4 | P2.3 of 7.3 | 81% | 1 |
| Dry Circle | 2 | P2 of 4 | 63% | - |
| Subj. Road Score | 3 | P2 of 4.3 | 67% | - |
| Dry Lane Change | 1 | P2 of 5 | 75% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 6 | P3.5 of 6.2 | 51% | - |
| Wet Handling | 4 | P3.3 of 7.3 | 64% | - |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 4 | P2 of 6.3 | 81% | 2 |
| Wet Circle | 3 | P2.7 of 4.7 | 53% | - |
| Straight Aqua Weak | 5 | P4.8 of 6.8 | 32% | - |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 1 | P6 of 6 | 0% | - |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking | 6 | P4 of 6.3 | 40% | - |
| Snow Traction | 4 | P1.5 of 7.5 | 92% | 2 |
| Snow Handling | 5 | P1.8 of 6.2 | 79% | 1 |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 5 | P1.4 of 5.4 | 85% | 3 |
| Snow Slalom | 1 | P2 of 7 | 83% | - |
| Ice | ||||
| Ice Braking | 6 | P2.8 of 6.3 | 57% | - |
| Ice Traction | 6 | P2.5 of 6.3 | 62% | 1 |
| Ice Handling | 3 | P1.7 of 7.7 | 89% | 2 |
| Subj. Ice Handling | 3 | P1 of 6.3 | 100% | 3 |
| Comfort | ||||
| Subj. Comfort Strong | 5 | P1.6 of 5 | 87% | 3 |
| Subj. Noise | 3 | P2 of 5 | 72% | 1 |
| Noise | 3 | P2.7 of 7.3 | 76% | 1 |
| Value | ||||
| Rolling Resistance | 1 | P1 of 6 | 100% | 1 |
| Fuel Consumption | 4 | P3.3 of 7 | 65% | 1 |
Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Continental VikingContact 8. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
7 shared: 6 ahead, 1 behind
Compare with UltraGrip Ice 3 |
7 | 6 | 1 | - | 86% |
 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
6 shared: 6 ahead, 0 behind
Compare with Hakkapeliitta R5 |
6 | 6 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Michelin X Ice Snow
6 shared: 6 ahead, 0 behind
Compare with X Ice Snow |
6 | 6 | 0 | - | 100% |
 Pirelli Ice Friction
3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind
Compare with Ice Friction |
3 | 3 | 0 | - | 100% |
The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.
| Tire | Tests | Wins | Avg finish | Field beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental VikingContact 7 Predecessor | 9 | 5 | 2nd | 81% |
| Continental VikingContact 8 This tire | 9 | 7 | 1st | 93% |
Drawn from 9 tests. Updated October 20, 2026.
Continental VikingContact 8 consistently ranks at (or extremely near) the top of the Nordic friction (studless) winter category, averaging 1.2 overall across 9 tests and taking multiple class wins including an outright test win (2025/26 Tire Reviews Nordic Studless Winter Tire Test, 1st/5). The clearest recurring pattern is class-leading winter-surface capability paired with unusually high refinement: testers repeatedly praise its ice performance (e.g. Teknikens Värld 2026 calling it “the best ice handling of all 18 tires”, 1st/5 in its class; Vi Bilägare 2025: 1st/8 overall with 1st in ice handling and 2nd in ice braking at just +0.5% from best) and note it as the “most comfortable tire” and among the quietest (Tire Rack 2026 winter test: comfort 1st/3; Tire Rack 2026 all-weather vs winter: comfort 1st/5 and noise 1st/5). It also repeatedly stands out for efficiency in its class, with lowest rolling resistance / fuel use results (Tire Reviews 2025/26: rolling resistance 1st/6; Teknikens Värld 2025: fuel consumption 1st/7) and testers highlighting a calm, stable on-road character rather than the traditional “spongy” Nordic feel.
The main, repeated caveat is water performance: aquaplaning resistance is frequently identified as the Achilles heel (explicitly labelled so by Teknikens Värld 2025), with poor straight and especially curved aquaplaning results (Tire Reviews 2025/26: straight aquaplaning 5th/6 at +34.2% from best; curved aquaplaning 6th/6 at +55.1%). Wet braking can also be notably off the pace in some line-ups (Tire Rack 2026 all-weather vs winter: 3rd/5 in its winter class, +17.6% from best; Tire Reviews 2025/26: 3rd/6, +26.9%). A smaller exception to its “winter king” narrative appears in one Tire Rack head-to-head where it was last on ice metrics (ice braking 3rd/3 at +15.7%, ice traction 3rd/3 at +8.1%) and also last for snow braking (3rd/3, +10.5%), even though the same test still called it the “best all-rounder” for day-to-day cleared-road driving.
backed that up with strong snow and ice traction- 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tire Test (2026)
The Continental VikingContact 8 had the best ice handling of all 18 tires,- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
On ice, it provides the best grip in the entire test- 2025 Friction Winter Tire Test (2025)
logical and easy-to-control tire on ice, thanks to its good grip- 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test (2025)
best overall on ice- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
the most comfortable tire in the test- 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tire Test (2026)
had the most comfortable ride of the three- 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tire Test (2026)
It was also rated the most comfortable tire in the test,- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
good comfort with lowest external noise- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
among the quietest- 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tire Test (2026)
noise and steering close to the best- 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tire Test (2026)
excellent damping and low noise levels- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
lowest external noise- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
good straight-line stability and low road noise- 2025 Friction Winter Tire Test (2025)
had the second-lowest fuel use- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
low rolling resistance- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
lowest rolling resistance- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
being the most fuel-efficient tire in the test- The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 (2024)
took full marks for snow handling- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
capable of higher cornering speeds than competitors while remaining safe and predictable at the limit- 2025 Friction Winter Tire Test (2025)
rated the best tire in the comparison on snow, offering excellent grip with safe and calm handling- 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test (2025)
best overall in snow- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
felt calm and stable on the road- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
provides outstanding stability that makes the test vehicle easy to handle- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
It provided a good balance of comfort and stability on the road- The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 (2024)
better stability on tarmac- 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test (2024)
Steering response was natural and consistent- 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tire Test (2026)
noise and steering close to the best- 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tire Test (2026)
eliminated this characteristic with a reasonably firm setup that genuinely enhances the driving experience- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
thanks to its good grip and precise steering feel- 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test (2025)
backed that up with strong snow and ice traction- 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tire Test (2026)
successfully maintained the excellent ice and snow performance of its predecessor- The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 (2024)
Excellent in the dry- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
combine both grip and stability with low rolling resistance- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
Aquaplaning is its weak point: it was the second slowest of the Nordic tires in the straight-line test,- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
Aquaplaning remains the Achilles heel- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
Low curved aquaplaning resistance- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
Its main weakness was poor resistance to aquaplaning- 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test (2024)
It was near the back of the field for wet braking- 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tire Test (2026)
had one of the lowest wet cornering figures in the test- 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tire Test (2026)
While it steers a bit imprecisely on wet asphalt- 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test (2025)
had the longest braking on both snow and ice- 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tire Test (2026)
dry braking was long- 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tire Test (2026)
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
The VikingContact 8 finishes second and is the best all-rounder here, picked out for its balance. It gives up some snow and ice braking to the other two but is the nicest of the three to live with on cleared roads, which suits drivers whose winters mix dry commutes with the occasional storm.
The Continental VikingContact 8 won the test outright for the third year in a row and was best in the Nordic friction class. It combines top-level ice and snow grip with class-leading comfort and low rolling resistance, which makes it the most complete winter tire here.
The VikingContact 8 is the most complete winter tire here. It pairs front-running snow and ice ability with the best on-road refinement in the group, and that combination is what carries it to the top of our combined order. The trade is weak wet grip, so it suits a driver who wants genuine winter capability without a harsh daily drive.
The Continental VikingContact 8 delivers the most consistently high performance across all test conditions, earning it the test victory. On ice, it provides the best grip in the entire test, capable of higher cornering speeds than competitors while remaining safe and predictable at the limit with a slightly understeering balance. The tire excels at managing two tasks simultaneously on winter surfaces - accelerating or braking while cornering. In this larger SUV dimension, Continental has achieved the impressive feat of being best on slippery ice while still performing well on wet asphalt, with significantly improved aquaplaning resistance compared to previous years. On dry pavement, it offers good straight-line stability and low road noise, though steering response is somewhat more sluggish than the best competitors. The tire has no real weaknesses, making it a worthy test winner with excellent control even when pushed beyond the grip limit.
The Continental ContiVikingContact 8 takes its second consecutive victory in Teknikens Värld's winter tire test, demonstrating an impressive ability to combine both grip and stability with low rolling resistance. The tire delivers winning fuel efficiency while maintaining generally high performance levels across most surfaces. Historically, Nordic friction tires suffered from a spongy feel on the road, but Continental has successfully eliminated this characteristic with a reasonably firm setup that genuinely enhances the driving experience. Aquaplaning remains the Achilles heel, as is typical for Nordic friction tires which struggle with water and slush. However, the tire excels in comfort with excellent damping and low noise levels, and provides outstanding stability that makes the test vehicle easy to handle. Overall, it presents a well-developed product that successfully balances winter grip with refined road manners.
The new Continental VikingContact 8 wins the test, displaying impressively consistent results across all categories. It was one of the best in the dry, very good in the wet if you ignore an usually low curved aquaplaning result, the best overall in the snow, the best overall on ice, the quietest AND the lowest rolling resistance. That is a mega combination of abilities for the new Continental, which make it a deserved winner overall.
The Continental VikingContact 8 is a logical and easy-to-control tire on ice, thanks to its good grip and precise steering feel. It was rated the best tire in the comparison on snow, offering excellent grip with safe and calm handling. While it steers a bit imprecisely on wet asphalt, it never loses control unexpectedly. On dry roads, it is easy to drive and handles evasive maneuvers well, despite a slow reaction to steering inputs.
The Continental VikingContact 8, newly released with EV certification, secured second place. This updated model improved upon its predecessor's already strong reputation with better stability on tarmac, likely designed with heavier electric vehicles in mind. While ice grip remained good, particularly in terms of handling at the limit, it wasn't quite class-leading. Its main weakness was poor resistance to aquaplaning, but strong performance across other areas and excellent noise levels kept it near the top.
The Continental ContiVikingContact 8 emerged as the overall winner of the test. This Nordic non-studded tire successfully maintained the excellent ice and snow performance of its predecessor while significantly improving wet performance, particularly in aquaplaning resistance. It increased the top speed before aquaplaning by 3 mph compared to the CVC 7, addressing a common weakness in Nordic non-studded tires. The CVC 8 also excelled in rolling resistance, being the most fuel-efficient tire in the test. It provided a good balance of comfort and stability on the road, representing a well-executed evolution that maintains strengths and addresses previous weaknesses.
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