Two Tests, Two Wins: Continental’s WinterContact Family Delivers from Everyday Winter Driving to Sporty Performance
- WinterContact TS 870 marks its third Auto Express success in the same tested size
- WinterContact TS 870 P receives sport auto’s top “Outstanding” rating
- Both tires show strong performance on wet, snow-covered and dry roads
Hannover, Germany, September 2026. Continental’s WinterContact tire family has secured first place in two independent European winter tire tests. The WinterContact TS 870 won the latest test by British automotive magazine Auto Express in size 205/55 R16 on a Volkswagen Golf, while the WinterContact TS 870 P took overall victory in the German magazine sport auto test in size 205/45 R17 on a Mazda MX-5.
The two tests cover very different driving profiles, but point to the same strength: balanced winter performance across changing road conditions. The WinterContact TS 870 stood out in particular for its wet-weather performance, while the WinterContact TS 870 P combined strong results on snow, wet and dry roads with low rolling resistance.
“Winter driving places very different demands on a tire depending on the vehicle, road and weather conditions,” says Andreas Schlenke Head of Product Excellence at Continental. “These two results show the breadth of our WinterContact portfolio: from reliable everyday winter mobility to performance-oriented applications, our development focus remains the same – achieving the right balance of safety, handling and efficiency.”
WinterContact TS 870: third win in this size
In the Auto Express Winter Tire Test 2026, the WinterContact TS 870 achieved the overall top score of 100 percent in a field of eleven tires. It was the tire’s third Auto Express victory in the tested 205/55 R16 size.
Wet performance played a particularly important role in the result, accounting for 50 percent of the overall Auto Express score. The WinterContact TS 870 ranked first in wet braking and wet circle performance and shared first place in wet handling. It also finished first for cabin noise and third for rolling resistance.
The magazine highlighted the tire’s strong overall package, combining wet-weather performance with very good snow capability, good dry handling and low noise.
WinterContact TS 870 P: “Outstanding” in sport auto
The WinterContact TS 870 P secured first place in sport auto’s 2026 winter tire test, achieving 9.0 out of 10 points and the magazine’s top rating of “Outstanding”. Nine winter tires in size 205/45 R17 were tested on a Mazda MX-5.
The Continental tire achieved 9.0 points on snow, 9.4 in wet conditions and 9.0 on dry roads. The editors also highlighted its low rolling resistance and praised its strong grip, high safety reserves and balanced handling across winter road conditions.
sport auto weighted wet performance at 35 percent of the overall score, dry performance at 30 percent, snow at 20 percent and environmental criteria at 15 percent.
One portfolio, different winter demands
The WinterContact TS 870 was developed for compact and mid-size passenger cars, while the WinterContact TS 870 P is designed for more performance-oriented vehicles. Together, the two test wins underline Continental’s approach to winter tire development: adapting tire characteristics to different vehicle concepts while maintaining balanced performance across snow, wet and dry conditions.
Ragen Steele
Media Relations Manager
Business Area Replacement Tires EMEA
Continental Tires