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Continental WinterContact TS 850 - Test Results

Test Statistics

31

Tests Completed

2nd

Average Position

1st

Best Result

15th

Worst Result

Performance Analysis

Continental WinterContact TS 850 - Official Image

The Continental WinterContact TS 850 delivers outstanding, broadly balanced winter performance with exceptional consistency across snow and wet disciplines, translating into a superb average overall position of 2.2 over 29 tests. It amassed numerous overall wins across major European magazines (ADAC, Auto Express, Auto Zeitung, Auto Bild, AMS), frequently finishing top or top-three in mixed-condition evaluations. Patterns show repeat dominance in wet and snow braking/handling and strong overall drivability, with only occasional dips to 3rd-4th in competitive UHP sizes and a clear outlier in a single summer test. Wear was noted slightly higher than some rivals in one key test.

Its strengths are most pronounced in wet and snow performance and overall test-winning capability, including large comparison fields. Weaknesses are limited: slightly elevated wear in one test, mid-pack results in some UHP-focused winters, and very weak performance in the lone summer evaluation-contextually less relevant for a winter tire but still notable.

Performance Strengths
  • Wet Weather Performance Strong
    • Won wet braking and wet handling in 2013 AMS Sports Winter Tire Test (1/8)
    • Auto Bild 2014 Winter Test (3/16 overall) with strong wet scores; 2014 50 Tire Braking Overview 4/48 indicates top-tier wet/snow stop
  • Snow Performance Strong
    • Auto Bild 2015 Top 18 Winter Test winner (1/18), article notes dominance in snow tests
    • Auto Bild 2013 Top 15 Shootout 3/15 with strong snow balance; 2013 Overview Braking 2/50
  • Overall Consistency and Awards Strong
    • Overall wins: 2012-2014 ADAC (1/14, 1/14, 1/17, 1/15, 1/19 across sizes)
    • Magazine wins: 2012 Auto Express 1/8, 2012-2014 Auto Zeitung 1/8 & 1/11, 2012 Auto Bild Top 15 1/15, 2014 AMS 1/10
  • All-round Winter Balance (dry/wet/snow/environmental) Strong
    • 2015 Auto Bild Top 18: overall 1/18 for 'complete performance'
    • 2013 AMS Sports: rarely finished outside top 3 across 11 disciplines
  • Qualification Strength in Large Fields Strong
    • 2012 Auto Bild 42 Tire Braking Test 1/43
    • 2014 50 Tire Braking Overview 4/48
Performance Weaknesses
  • Wear / Tread Life Minor
    • 2015 Auto Bild Top 18 winner noted 'slightly higher wear than some of the competition'
    • Mentioned as the only notable drawback in the winning assessment
  • UHP-Size Competitiveness Variability Moderate
    • 2015 AMS UHP Winter Test 4/10 despite strong brand expectation
    • 2015 Auto Express Winter Test 4/8 in 225/45 R17
  • Summer Performance (off-mission) Strong
    • 2014 Test World Summer Tire Test 15/16
    • Significant drop versus summer-focused rivals
Performance Over Time

Test History

4
of 10
2015 AMS UHP Winter Tire Test

2015
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1

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1
of 8
2015 ACE 17 Inch Winter Tire Test

2015

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4
of 8
2015 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

2015
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance Gen 1

Impressive wet grip combined with low rolling resistance
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1
of 18
2015 Auto Bild Top 18 Winter Tire Test

2015

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6
of 16
2015 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 165/70 R14

2015
Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip 9

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1
of 19
2015 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16

2015

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3
of 51
2015 Winter Tire Market Overview

2015
Winner: Dunlop Winter Response 2

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1
of 10
2014 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

2014

A good all round performance with few compromises make this a winter tire winner
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1
of 11
2014 AZ Winter Tire Test

2014

The Continental WinterContact TS850 wins this test. Best in snow, excellent in the wet and dry, the TS850 is a very safe winter tire
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1
of 10
2014 AMS Winter Tire Test

2014

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1
of 14
2014 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 175/65 R14

2014

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1
of 14
2014 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 195/65 R15

2014

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3
of 16
2014 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test

2014
Winner: Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D

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4
of 48
2014 50 Winter Tire Braking Overview

2014
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

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15
of 16
2014 Test World Summer Tire Test

2014
Winner: Continental Premium Contact 5

The Continental TS850 P is a european winter tire included for comparison purposes. While it wasn't last in wet braking (the Hercules was the worst summer tire) it did stop 5.6 meters later than th...
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1
of 8
2013 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test

2013

The Conti TS850 wins with a very good performance in the snow, and best marks on wet and dry roads
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1
of 9
2013 Winter Tire Buying Guide

2013

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3
of 15
2013 Auto Bild Top 15 Winter Tire Shootout

2013
Winner: Michelin Alpin A4

Recommended
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2
of 9
2013 Auto Bild Sports Winter Tire Test

2013
Winner: Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

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2
of 50
2013 Winter Tire Overview - Braking

2013
Winner: Pirelli Winter Snow Control Series 3

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1
of 8
2013 AMS Sports Winter Tire Test

2013

Particularly recommended
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1
of 17
2013 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/60 R15

2013

Good
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1
of 15
2013 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/45 R17

2013

Good
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1
of 9
2013 ACE Winter Tire Test

2013

Highly Recommended
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1
of 9
2012 EVO Winter Tire Test

2012

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1
of 15
2012 Auto Bild Top 15 Winter Tire Test

2012

Exemplary
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1
of 8
2012 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

2012

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1
of 3
2012 Winter Tire Buying Guide

2012

Developed to replace the multiple award winning TS 830, Continental had a real challenge making the TS 850 better than the outgoing model, but somehow they've managed it. It has featured in fiv...
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1
of 16
2012 European Tire Test - 205/55 R16

2012

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1
of 8
2012 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test

2012

The new TS 850 from Continental is balance and extremely safe to drive on
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1
of 43
2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tire Braking Test

2012

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