Continental IceContact 3 vs Nokian Nordman 8: 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 Nokian Nordman 8 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 wet, dry, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 10 tests.
How the Nokian Nordman 8 performs. It takes the win in snow, ice, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 95/100, 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 Nokian Nordman 8 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in snow 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 efficiency
Choose Nokian Nordman 8 if
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Continental IceContact 3 | Nokian Nordman 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Nordic Winter | Nordic Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 10 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #2 |
| Avg rank | 5.4 | 4.9 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2021 |
| Tire Lab Score | 90.2 | 94.9 |
Tire Lab Score
Continental IceContact 3
Nokian Nordman 8
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental IceContact 3 | Nokian Nordman 8 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.8 123 | Avg rank 6.0 | Continental IceContact 3 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.4 342 | Avg rank 6.0 | Continental IceContact 3 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.1 251 | Avg rank 4.3 1 | Nokian Nordman 8 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 5.5 113 | Avg rank 3.5 1 | Nokian Nordman 8 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.9 26 | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Nokian Nordman 8 |
| 🔋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 Nokian Nordman 8
The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.8, compared to 6.0 for the Nokian Nordman 8.
☀️ Dry: Continental IceContact 3 vs Nokian Nordman 8
The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.4, compared to 6.0 for the Nokian Nordman 8.
❄️ Snow: Continental IceContact 3 vs Nokian Nordman 8
The Nokian Nordman 8 wins this category with an average rank of 4.3, compared to 6.1 for the Continental IceContact 3.
🧊 Ice: Continental IceContact 3 vs Nokian Nordman 8
The Nokian Nordman 8 wins this category with an average rank of 3.5, compared to 5.5 for the Continental IceContact 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental IceContact 3 vs Nokian Nordman 8
The Nokian Nordman 8 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 6.9 for the Continental IceContact 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental IceContact 3 vs Nokian Nordman 8
The Continental IceContact 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.6, compared to no data for the Nokian Nordman 8.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental IceContact 3 or Nokian Nordman 8?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental IceContact 3 ranks higher on average than the Nokian Nordman 8.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Continental IceContact 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Nokian Nordman 8 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Nokian Nordman 8 ranks better than the Continental IceContact 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental IceContact 3 appears in 10 independent tests, Nokian Nordman 8 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 →