Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Tristar Snowpower UHP: 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 Tristar Snowpower UHP appear in 2 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, snow. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 1 test.
How the Tristar Snowpower UHP performs. It takes the win in dry, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 83/100, 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 WinterContact TS 860 S is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Tristar Snowpower UHP still wins on dry, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Continental WinterContact TS 860 S if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Tristar Snowpower UHP |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 1 | 1 |
| Best rank | #2 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.8 | 6.8 |
| Latest test | 2019 | 2021 |
| Tire Lab Score | 88.8 | 82.6 |
Tire Lab Score
Tristar Snowpower UHP
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S | Tristar Snowpower UHP | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.0 | Avg rank 7.5 1 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 2.5 11 | Avg rank 2.0 11 | Tristar Snowpower UHP |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 7.0 | Avg rank 10.0 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 S |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.0 | Avg rank 5.5 1 | Tristar Snowpower UHP |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 11.0 | Avg rank 5.0 | Tristar Snowpower UHP |
💧 Wet: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Tristar Snowpower UHP
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 7.5 for the Tristar Snowpower UHP.
☀️ Dry: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Tristar Snowpower UHP
The Tristar Snowpower UHP wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 2.5 for the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
❄️ Snow: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Tristar Snowpower UHP
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 S wins this category with an average rank of 7.0, compared to 10.0 for the Tristar Snowpower UHP.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Tristar Snowpower UHP
The Tristar Snowpower UHP wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 6.0 for the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental WinterContact TS 860 S vs Tristar Snowpower UHP
The Tristar Snowpower UHP wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 11.0 for the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental WinterContact TS 860 S or Tristar Snowpower UHP?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S ranks higher on average than the Tristar Snowpower UHP.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Tristar Snowpower UHP averages a better dry-braking rank than the Continental WinterContact TS 860 S across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Tristar Snowpower UHP ranks better 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, Tristar Snowpower UHP 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 →