Continental IceContact 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Continental IceContact 3 and Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 appear in 11 tests, 1 of which put both tires on the same track on the same day. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.
How the Continental IceContact 3 performs. It takes the win in dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 10 tests.
How the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 performs. It takes the win in wet. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 85/100, based on 1 test.
What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.
Verdict
The Continental IceContact 3 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in dry and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Continental IceContact 3 if
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise wet
Test profile
| Metric | Continental IceContact 3 | Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Nordic Winter | Nordic Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 10 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #2 |
| Avg rank | 5.4 | 7.5 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2021 |
| Tire Lab Score | 90.2 | 85.1 |
Tire Lab Score
Continental IceContact 3
Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental IceContact 3 | Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.8 123 | Avg rank 5.0 | Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.4 342 | Avg rank 6.0 | Continental IceContact 3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.1 251 | Avg rank 7.0 1 | Continental IceContact 3 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 5.5 113 | Avg rank 7.5 1 | Continental IceContact 3 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.9 26 | Avg rank 7.0 | Continental IceContact 3 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 4.6 11 | No data | Continental IceContact 3 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 1 independent test:
💧 Wet: Continental IceContact 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 5.8 for the Continental IceContact 3.
☀️ Dry: Continental IceContact 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.4, compared to 6.0 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
❄️ Snow: Continental IceContact 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.1, compared to 7.0 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
🧊 Ice: Continental IceContact 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 7.5 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental IceContact 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.9, compared to 7.0 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental IceContact 3 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.6, compared to no data for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental IceContact 3 or Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 ranks higher on average than the Continental IceContact 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Continental IceContact 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Continental IceContact 3 ranks better than the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental IceContact 3 appears in 10 independent tests, Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 in 1, with 1 head-to-head tests where both were measured.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →
