Continental IceContact 3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    2026 test data · 12 independent tests · 1 head-to-head

    → See full Continental vs Nexen brand comparison

    Continental IceContact 3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43: 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 Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 appear in 12 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 wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 10 tests.

    How the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 performs. It takes the win in efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 2 tests.

    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 Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in efficiency and Tire Lab Score. The Continental IceContact 3 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.

    Which one should you buy?

    • You prioritise wet
    • You prioritise dry
    • You prioritise snow
    • You prioritise efficiency

    Test profile

    MetricContinental IceContact 3Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43
    SegmentNordic WinterNordic Winter
    TypeWinterWinter
    Tests used102
    Best rank#1#1
    Avg rank5.48.8
    Latest test20252020
    Tire Lab Score90.292

    Tire Lab Score

    90.2
    Excellent · Nordic Winter
    92
    Excellent · Nordic Winter

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryContinental IceContact 3Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43Winner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 5.8
    123
    Avg rank 10.2
    1
    Continental IceContact 3
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 4.4
    342
    Avg rank 11.0
    Continental IceContact 3
    ❄️Snow
    Avg rank 6.1
    251
    Avg rank 8.5
    11
    Continental IceContact 3
    🧊Ice
    Avg rank 5.5
    113
    Avg rank 8.6
    1
    Continental IceContact 3
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 6.9
    26
    Avg rank 8.5
    Continental IceContact 3
    🔋Efficiency
    Avg rank 4.6
    11
    Avg rank 2.0
    1
    Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    Tests used in this comparison

    Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 1 independent test:

    💧 Wet: Continental IceContact 3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.8, compared to 10.2 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    ☀️ Dry: Continental IceContact 3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.4, compared to 11.0 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    ❄️ Snow: Continental IceContact 3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.1, compared to 8.5 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    🧊 Ice: Continental IceContact 3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 8.6 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental IceContact 3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.9, compared to 8.5 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    🔋 Efficiency: Continental IceContact 3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 4.6 for the Continental IceContact 3.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which is better in the wet, Continental IceContact 3 or Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental IceContact 3 ranks higher on average than the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    Which has shorter dry braking distance?

    The Continental IceContact 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 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 Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    How many tests were used in this comparison?

    Continental IceContact 3 appears in 10 independent tests, Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 in 2, with 1 head-to-head tests where both were measured.

    Also compare

    Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →