Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S and Dunlop Winter Sport 5 appear in 27 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 WinterContact TS 860 S performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 1 test.
How the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 performs. It takes the win in snow, ice, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 26 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 Dunlop Winter Sport 5 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?
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Choose Dunlop Winter Sport 5 if
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise mileage
Test profile
| Metric | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 1 | 26 |
| Best rank | #2 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.8 | 8.6 |
| Latest test | 2019 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 88.8 | 91.6 |
Tire Lab Score
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.0 | Avg rank 8.0 244 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 2.5 11 | Avg rank 10.1 1 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 7.0 | Avg rank 6.3 1334 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🧊Ice | No data | Avg rank 7.4 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.0 | Avg rank 8.3 543 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
| 📏Mileage | No data | Avg rank 8.0 14 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 11.0 | Avg rank 11.2 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
💧 Wet: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 8.0 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
☀️ Dry: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S wins this category with an average rank of 2.5, compared to 10.1 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
❄️ Snow: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 6.3, compared to 7.0 for the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
🧊 Ice: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 7.4, compared to no data for the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 8.3 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
📏 Mileage: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Dunlop Winter Sport 5 wins this category with an average rank of 8.0, compared to no data for the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S wins this category with an average rank of 11.0, compared to 11.2 for the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental WinterContact TS 860 S or Dunlop Winter Sport 5?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S ranks higher on average than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S averages a better dry-braking rank than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S ranks better than the Dunlop Winter Sport 5.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 shows better mileage performance than the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental WinterContact TS 860 S appears in 1 independent tests, Dunlop Winter Sport 5 in 26.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →