A premium Central European winter tire with a clear focus on wet-weather safety. The WinterContact TS 870 is consistently confidence-inspiring in rain and standing water, while remaining a comfortable, refined choice for everyday winter driving.
The quick answer
Owners say82%from 26 owner reviews83% would buy againRead the reviews
Strengths & weaknessesWet, DryComfort, IceRelative to its rivals across every test we hold
Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated October 2026.
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 finished fourth and is rated very good. It is a balanced, safe premium winter tire with strong wet and dry grip and good efficiency, held back only by its cost per kilometer.
Strong: Wet Braking ·Weak: Value ·Winner: Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
Every independent test of the Continental WinterContact TS 870, newest first
In 225/45 R17, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 is projected to cost €30.76 per 1,000 miles to buy and run - about €769 over 25,000 miles - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2026 AvD Winter Tire Test.
Tire purchase + fittingExtra fuel vs the most efficient tirecost per 1,000 miles
Assumes a typical car doing 29 mpg (rolling resistance causing 20% of fuel use), fuel at €6.25 per gallon and €70 fitting per set of four. Purchase prices are from the time of the 2026 test; financing costs are excluded.
How good is the Continental WinterContact TS 870 in the wet?
Across the 19 wet-braking tests it has featured in, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stops 3% shorter than premium rivals, 6.1% shorter than mid-range rivals and 15% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews wet score of 98/100, and owners rate it 9/10 in the wet from 26 reviews.
How good is the Continental WinterContact TS 870 in the dry?
Across the 17 dry-braking tests it has featured in, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stops 0.1% shorter than premium rivals, 0.8% shorter than mid-range rivals and 2.9% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews dry score of 84/100, and owners rate it 8.8/10 in the dry from 26 reviews.
How good is the Continental WinterContact TS 870 in the snow?
Across the 19 snow-braking tests it has featured in, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stops 2.6% shorter than premium rivals, 3.4% shorter than mid-range rivals and 5.7% shorter than budget rivals. Across the 16 snow-traction tests, it is 2.1% better than premium rivals, 3.4% better than mid-range rivals and 7.3% better than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews snow score of 70/100, and owners rate it 7.9/10 in the snow from 26 reviews.
How good is the Continental WinterContact TS 870 on ice?
Across the 6 ice-braking tests it has featured in, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stops 10.7% longer than premium rivals, 10.8% longer than mid-range rivals and 4% longer than budget rivals. Across the 2 ice-traction tests, it is 54.3% worse than premium rivals, 64.8% worse than mid-range rivals and 13.9% worse than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews ice score of 16/100, and owners rate it 7.3/10 on ice from 26 reviews.
How fuel efficient is the Continental WinterContact TS 870?
Across the 13 tests measuring rolling resistance, the Continental WinterContact TS 870's rolling resistance is 1.4% lower than premium rivals, 3.8% lower than mid-range rivals and 7% lower than budget rivals.
More questions about the Continental WinterContact TS 870(12)
How many miles does the Continental WinterContact TS 870 last?
Based on test and owner data, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 is expected to last around 27,803 miles (44,744 km).
What do owners say about the Continental WinterContact TS 870?
Across 26 owner ratings the Continental WinterContact TS 870 averages 82%. Owners rate Wet Grip highest at 9 out of 10 and Ice Grip lowest at 7.3. 7 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles. 86% of owners score it 70% or better.
How much does the Continental WinterContact TS 870 cost to run?
In 225/45 R17, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 is projected to cost €30.76 per 1,000 miles to buy and run - about €769 over 25,000 miles - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2026 AvD Winter Tire Test. The cheapest to run in that test is the Bridgestone Blizzak 6, at €22.96.
What is the Continental WinterContact TS 870's EU tire label rating?
Across its range, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 most commonly carries EU label ratings of C for fuel efficiency, B for wet grip and 70 dB for noise.
How comfortable and quiet are the Continental WinterContact TS 870?
Owners rate the Continental WinterContact TS 870 8.4 out of 10 for comfort and noise across 23 reviews.
How well do the Continental WinterContact TS 870 wear, according to owners?
Owners rate the Continental WinterContact TS 870 8.8 out of 10 for wear across 23 reviews. 7 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles, and the typical review covers 5,500 miles.
Would owners buy the Continental WinterContact TS 870 again?
83% of owners say they would buy the Continental WinterContact TS 870 again, based on the 23 owner reviews that answered the question. 52% of them gave it the highest possible answer.
What do owners say about the Continental WinterContact TS 870's wet grip?
Of the 24 owner reviews analyzed for the Continental WinterContact TS 870, 16 mention wet grip: 15 praise it (confident wet grip) and 1 criticise it (weak wet grip). One owner wrote: "they're very good in both dry and wet conditions". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Continental WinterContact TS 870's snow traction?
Of the 24 owner reviews analyzed for the Continental WinterContact TS 870, 14 mention snow traction: 8 praise it (strong snow traction) and 6 criticise it (weak snow traction). One owner wrote: "I've had the opportunity to test them in light, fresh snow as well as deeper snow, and the grip has been excellent". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Continental WinterContact TS 870's dry grip?
Of the 24 owner reviews analyzed for the Continental WinterContact TS 870, 11 mention dry grip: 11 praise it (strong dry grip) and 0 criticise it (limited dry grip). One owner wrote: "the car on dry maintains an excellent driving feeling and excellent grip". Read those reviews
What does the Continental WinterContact TS 870 replace?
Questions and Answers for the Continental WinterContact TS 870
Hello, I'm choosing between premium all-season tires (particularly Goodyear Vector All Season 4) and separate summer/winter tires (Continental WinterContact TS 870… Show moreHello,
I'm choosing between premium all-season tires (particularly Goodyear Vector All Season 4) and separate summer/winter tires (Continental WinterContact TS 870 for winter).
I live in Sofia, Bulgaria, where summer temperatures frequently exceed 35°C and winters can be below -10°C. I drive up to 10,000 km annually, roughly two-thirds in summer, mostly on maintained roads, with occasional mountain trips. I also travel with a young child, so safety is my priority.
Two major tire retailers recommend separate summer and winter tires, claiming that all-seasons become too soft and noisy in summer and lose too much grip in extreme cold.
Based on your testing experience, are these concerns still justified for the latest premium all-season tires?
I'm particularly interested in braking performance during hot summers, winter grip after 3-4 years of wear, and whether you would personally recommend separate sets for this usage.
Thanks! Show less
October 13, 2026
Go look at any of the many all-season tire tests on the site that has a summer tire included. Then you'll see the issue with dry braking.
Ultimately, it's up to you as to what compromise you want to make.
Show all questions(3)
The VikingContact 8 from your latest tests is somewhat merged/linked into the results of the TS870. That does not seem to be correct, does it?
October 16, 2025
The TS870 was a reference tire for that test, so was part of the test. It's an interesting view to how it performs against it's more snow focused brother.
Hello! Need a littel help from the experts, i have a 2022 Hyundai Kona and i need to fit it with winter tires, (205/60 r16) What should i buy the 870 or the 870P? Show moreHello! Need a littel help from the experts, i have a 2022 Hyundai Kona and i need to fit it with winter tires, (205/60 r16) What should i buy the 870 or the 870P? Who is better in the snow/ wet snow district? Show less
August 10, 2022
I would buy the TS870, not the P as that is more performance orientated.
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.
What owners mention most counted across 24 reviews
Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.
Owner ratings averaged from 26 ratings
Owner score82%
Wet Grip90%
Wear88%
Dry Grip88%
Comfort84%
Handling81%
Snow Grip79%
Road Feedback73%
Ice Grip73%
Featured reviews
Most helpful 80%
“Mounted today, they replace the factory Toyo Pxs R55A summer tires for the winter. Obviously I didn't push them to the limit, I drove very carefully and smoothly, I can only say that the car became slightly noisier...”
“I replaced the TS860s I had for these TS870 in my Smart EQ. A very bad tire IMHO. My electric range has reduced in at least 10%. Feedback is non existent. On hard snow it has absolutely no grip. On dry it is very good...”
“Got these tires on a used car about 1 year old some wear but not too much. Did quite some highway driving in central/southeast Europe with decent amount of rain during autumn and winter and occasional snowfall. If the...”
Been 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.
Initial Impressions76% 500 miles
Bought these as a lot of reviews recommended them and they were on sale. I am a bit disappointed to be honest - dry and wet grip is great and even in harder turns it never lost grip. BUT in snow and ice it is no better than a lot of the cheaper tires i have tried. Have had wheel spin several times when driving off on snow/ice (and no, i do NOT have a lead-foot). My pair of Fulda Kristall Montero 3 i had previously were far better in that regard.
There is very little tire noise. Fuel consumption seems to be about average.
I paid about 67 euro for each TS 870 which was very cheap. I would probably buy the Fulda again rather than the Conti.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
Got these tires on a used car about 1 year old some wear but not too much. Did quite some highway driving in central/southeast Europe with decent amount of rain during autumn and winter and occasional snowfall. If the rain was not pouring at 150 kph I had full confidence in the tire. Snow grip is quite good, had a lot of confidence both on highway at around 80-90 kph and in town driving around the streets. Did some spirited driving on the backroads here and there just for fun, not pushing it to the limit, didn't feel sporty, but there was enough grip to have a bit of fun. I would say that wear affected the tire's performance quite gradually. As for comfort and noise levels, the tire is little bit noisy but it is certainly not severe. Wear seems to be quite good, this was their fourth "winter" season during which the temperatures are mostly higher than 7 degrees celsius and it's still few millimeters above the snowflake wear indicator.
Which tires do you drive?
Researching the Continental WinterContact TS 870? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
This is my first time using Continental winter tires. I wanted to try them because reviews highlight them as some of the best on the market, and I have to say they're very good in both dry and wet conditions. I've had the opportunity to test them in light, fresh snow as well as deeper snow, and the grip has been excellent, inspiring a lot of confidence and security.
On long highway journeys in the rain, the feeling of safety and grip is great, even when driving at high speeds. It's a comfortable and quite quiet tire. The purchase price is quite reasonable, at least for the price of my car, and it stands out from other premium brands that are clearly more expensive. Without a doubt, a highly recommended option, a safe bet.
These are the first set of tires I have tried on this car, but I find their confidence inspiring in the wet and good in ice . Still to try in full snow but the small amount of snow running has been great. Dry grip is fine and I find the tire is comfortable and quite enough . I would definitely recommend and buy these again. I like Conti product but am very impressed with these good effort from Continental.
Overall very good tire. Good grip in all conditions, especially in the wet compared to my hankook ventus s1 evo 3 summer tires.
Like i expected it to be with a slightly higer sidewall, the car swings around a bit more but its never unsafe or scary. Just not very sporty.
I have a whistling noise from the tires when driving in the wet, but its not disturbing.
Excellent tire. Whether it's dry, rain or snow you can be sure that it won't let you down. I'll definitely buy them again.
This is data for three seasons:
2022./2023. - 11.516 km
2023./2024. - 3.835 km
2024./2025. - 6.393 km
Third review after about 3000km, tested today on both fresh and compact snow, even on ice. Climbs, descents, tight curves, nothing complicated, the tire simply makes you drive as if you were on dry. Even on ice, uphill and downhill the car never had any difficulty, except on one climb where I had to deactivate the traction control, after which I immediately went up. On wet, already at 9-10 degrees the tire is excellent, but with temperatures of 4-5 degrees and sleet with wet asphalt, the car goes even better, even driving aggressively, the tire simply keeps you glued to the asphalt, incredible
I replaced the TS860s I had for these TS870 in my Smart EQ. A very bad tire IMHO. My electric range has reduced in at least 10%. Feedback is non existent. On hard snow it has absolutely no grip. On dry it is very good but what’s the point if it is very bad in snow and wet?
After 600km, the car on dry maintains an excellent driving feeling and excellent grip, very precise and direct steering despite being thermal. But on wet... These tires are something spectacular, never tried tires like this before on any car tested. On smooth and very wet asphalt, with temperatures of 9-10°c, the car enters the curve at high speeds without ever losing grip, never feeling the tire at the limit. Tried to brake from 80kmh to 0, not even the ABS came in, the car is simply stuck to the ground despite the very cold, slippery and wet surface. I don't know how else to describe these tires, they are perfect.
Mounted today, they replace the factory Toyo Pxs R55A summer tires for the winter. Obviously I didn't push them to the limit, I drove very carefully and smoothly, I can only say that the car became slightly noisier, which is quite normal for thermals, but the steering didn't seem to have become much more "empty" compared to the summer ones, in fact, it was very direct even on the center. Always choose premium tires, it's worth it. I will update my review soon.
This was my first winter on these tires. They replaced the Conti Winter Contact 850P, that lasted 5 winters and nearly 50000 km on italian country roads. I hadn't had the chance to drive on snow and ice during last winter, so I can't say anything about it.
I can say that 870 are more sport tourer oriented than the 850P and have a very good progressiveness. As for the previous 850P, on dry surfaces the grip is good, on wet the grip is excellent, wear is really good as well as fuel consumption. The price is quite high but Continental Winter tires are always worthy from my experience. Comfort: the sidewall is a little bit stiffer than 850P, a very little noise on wet surface can be noticed. I would recommend these tires.
