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Continental WinterContact TS 850 P Test Results

Tested 2014 to 2021 6 publications

Tested 15 times by independent publications, the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P has taken 4 test wins with an average finish of 4th. Its strongest discipline is Wet Handling, beating 82% of the field across 8 tests; its weakest is Dry Braking, at 27% across 8 tests.

  • 15Independent tests
  • 4Test wins
  • 9Podium finishes
  • 4thAverage finish
  • 76%Field beaten on average
  • 6Publications
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P

15 tests, 2014 to 2021

0%50%100%20142015201620172018201920202021Average 76%2014 AutoBild 235/35 R19 Winter Tire Test (2014): P3 of 6, Beat 60% of the field2015 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test (2015): P2 of 8, Beat 86% of the field2015 Sport Auto 19 Inch Winter Tire Test (2015): P1 of 7, Beat 100% of the field2016 AutoBild Winter UHP Tire Test (2016): P2 of 8, Beat 86% of the field2016 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2016): P1 of 6, Beat 100% of the field2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tire Test (2017): P1 of 10, Beat 100% of the field2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test (2017): P2 of 10, Beat 89% of the field2017 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2017): P1 of 10, Beat 89% of the field2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tire Test (2018): P2 of 10, Beat 89% of the field2019 AMS Winter SUV Tire Test (2019): P4 of 11, Beat 70% of the field2020 Winter Tire Market Overview - 52 Tire Braking Test (2020): P4 of 51, Beat 94% of the field2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test (2020): P7 of 20, Beat 68% of the field2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 235/55 R17 (2020): P12 of 13, Beat 8% of the field2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test (2021): P5 of 10, Beat 44% of the field2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tire Test (2021): P7 of 13, Beat 50% of the field
Share of the field beaten in each test, oldest to newest. Hover or tap a point for the test.
  • Test win
  • Second
  • Third
  • Average 76%
The latest test

2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tire Test P7 of 13

Weak: Dry Braking Winner: Hankook Winter i cept evo3

Record by discipline

Where the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P 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 Weak 8 P9.8 of 12.4 27% -
Dry Handling 8 P4.5 of 12.4 68% -
Subj. Dry Handling 1 P2 of 11 90% -
Wet
Wet Braking 9 P4 of 16.4 75% 1
Wet Handling Strong 8 P2.9 of 12.4 82% 3
Subj. Wet Handling 1 P5 of 11 60% -
Wet Circle 2 P5.5 of 12.5 57% -
Straight Aqua 7 P8.1 of 12.9 40% -
Curved Aquaplaning 2 P8.5 of 12.5 38% -
Snow
Snow Braking 9 P7.4 of 14.3 55% -
Snow Traction 3 P6.3 of 15.3 61% -
Snow Handling 8 P4.3 of 12.1 70% 1
Subj. Snow Handling 1 P2 of 11 90% -
Snow Slalom 2 P6.5 of 12.5 54% -
Comfort
Subj. Comfort 1 P2 of 11 90% -
Noise 7 P7.7 of 12.7 39% -
Value
Wear 1 P4 of 20 84% -
Value 1 P17 of 20 16% -
Rolling Resistance 7 P4.9 of 12.6 71% 1

Head-to-head record

Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.

Rival Shared tests Ahead Behind Level Finished ahead
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 13 shared: 11 ahead, 2 behind 13 11 2 - 85%
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 8 shared: 6 ahead, 2 behind 8 6 2 - 75%
Vredestein Wintrac Pro 7 shared: 2 ahead, 5 behind 7 2 5 - 29%
Vredestein Wintrac xtreme S 6 shared: 6 ahead, 0 behind 6 6 0 - 100%
Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 6 shared: 5 ahead, 1 behind 6 5 1 - 83%
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 6 shared: 0 ahead, 6 behind 6 0 6 - 0%
Hankook Winter i cept evo2 5 shared: 5 ahead, 0 behind 5 5 0 - 100%
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1 5 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind 5 2 2 1 50%
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+ 5 shared: 1 ahead, 4 behind 5 1 4 - 20%
Cooper Weather Master SA2+ 4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind 4 4 0 - 100%
Nokian WR A4 4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind 4 4 0 - 100%
Kleber Krisalp HP3 4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind 4 2 2 - 50%
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind 4 0 4 - 0%
Falken Eurowinter HS01 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Giti GitiWinterW1 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Fulda Kristall Control HP2 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Toyo Snowprox S954 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 3 shared: 3 ahead, 0 behind 3 3 0 - 100%
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind 3 2 1 - 67%
Semperit Speed Grip 3 3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind 3 2 1 - 67%

Against its own line

The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.

Tire Tests Wins Avg finish Field beaten
Continental WinterContact TS 830 P Predecessor 12 5 2nd 76%
Continental WinterContact TS 850 P This tire 15 4 4th 76%
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S Successor 2 0 4th 46%

Performance Analysis

Drawn from 15 tests. Updated September 21, 2025.

Continental's WinterContact TS 850 P delivers consistently strong wet and dynamic handling performance with multiple overall test wins, but shows recurring weaknesses in dry braking and pricing. Across 15 winter tests it averages 3.6th overall, highlighted by victories in 2017 AMS and Sport Auto and frequent top-three finishes, especially in wet handling and wet braking. Snow performance is generally good-to-very good but not class-leading, while rolling resistance is often a strength. Dry braking and aquaplaning resistance fluctuate and can slip to mid-pack or worse, and the tire is frequently expensive.

Overall, it's a balanced UHP winter tire with standout wet grip and precise handling, solid snow capability, and efficiency benefits. However, repeated bottom-tier dry braking results and mediocre aquaplaning performance limit its dominance, and high purchase price affects value scores.

Performance Strengths

Performance Weaknesses

Do owners agree with the tests?

Every tester write-up on the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P (14 tests) and 17 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.

Where owners and testers agree

  • Wet grip strength in 7 of 14 tests 9 praise, 0 criticise of 17 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Dry handling strength in 6 of 14 tests 5 praise, 1 criticise of 17 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Snow traction strength in 3 of 14 tests 7 praise, 0 criticise of 17 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Road noise strength in 2 of 14 tests 5 praise, 2 criticise of 17 reviews · Read those reviews

Every test, newest first 15

Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.

2021 2 tests
P5 of 10 Beat 44% of the field

2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test

Auto Bild Allrad 235/55 R18

StrongRolling Resistance WeakDry BrakingNoise WinnerGoodyear UltraGrip Performance+ SUV

2020 3 tests
2019 1 test
P4 of 11 Beat 70% of the field

2019 AMS Winter SUV Tire Test

Auto Motor Und Sport 215/55 R17

Excellent

StrongSubj. Dry HandlingWet BrakingSubj. Snow HandlingSubj. ComfortRolling Resistance WinnerGoodyear UltraGrip Performance+

2018 1 test
2017 3 tests
P2 of 10 Beat 89% of the field

2017 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test

Auto Bild Allrad 225/55 R17

Recommended

StrongSnow HandlingNoiseRolling Resistance WeakDry Braking WinnerGoodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1

2016 2 tests
2015 2 tests
2014 1 test

Back to the Continental WinterContact TS 850 P overview

Owner reviews, sizes and EU label data, comparisons and the Tire Reviews score. All Continental tires

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