Continental VikingContact 7 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Continental VikingContact 7 and Continental WinterContact TS 860 S appear in 8 tests, though they have not yet met head-to-head in the same test. 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 VikingContact 7 performs. It takes the win in snow, ice, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 7 tests.
How the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S performs. It takes the win in wet, dry. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, 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 VikingContact 7 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in snow and Tire Lab Score. The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Continental VikingContact 7 if
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
Test profile
| Metric | Continental VikingContact 7 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Nordic Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 7 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #2 |
| Avg rank | 5.6 | 5.8 |
| Latest test | 2023 | 2019 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.9 | 88.8 |
Tire Lab Score
Continental VikingContact 7
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 6.3 11 | Avg rank 5.0 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 5.7 17 | Avg rank 2.5 11 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 6.7 214 | Avg rank 7.0 | Continental VikingContact 7 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 6.4 22 | No data | Continental VikingContact 7 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 3.4 52 | Avg rank 6.0 | Continental VikingContact 7 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 5.5 | Avg rank 11.0 | Continental VikingContact 7 |
💧 Wet: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 6.3 for the Continental VikingContact 7.
☀️ Dry: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S wins this category with an average rank of 2.5, compared to 5.7 for the Continental VikingContact 7.
❄️ Snow: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
The Continental VikingContact 7 wins this category with an average rank of 6.7, compared to 7.0 for the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
🧊 Ice: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
The Continental VikingContact 7 wins this category with an average rank of 6.4, compared to no data for the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
The Continental VikingContact 7 wins this category with an average rank of 3.4, compared to 6.0 for the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental VikingContact 7 vs Continental WinterContact TS 860 S
The Continental VikingContact 7 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 11.0 for the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental VikingContact 7 or Continental WinterContact TS 860 S?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S ranks higher on average than the Continental VikingContact 7.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S averages a better dry-braking rank than the Continental VikingContact 7 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Continental VikingContact 7 ranks better than the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental VikingContact 7 appears in 7 independent tests, Continental WinterContact TS 860 S in 1.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →
