Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen Winguard Sport: 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 and Nexen Winguard Sport appear in 13 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 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 91/100, based on 10 tests.
How the Nexen Winguard Sport performs. It takes the win in efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 87/100, based on 3 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 Continental WinterContact TS 860 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Nexen Winguard Sport still wins on efficiency, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Continental WinterContact TS 860 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Continental WinterContact TS 860 | Nexen Winguard Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 10 | 3 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.2 | 17.5 |
| Latest test | 2020 | 2023 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91 | 87.4 |
Tire Lab Score
Continental WinterContact TS 860
Nexen Winguard Sport
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 | Nexen Winguard Sport | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 3.3 74 | Avg rank 19.5 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.4 531 | Avg rank 11.0 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 4.5 452 | Avg rank 14.8 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 3.0 11 | No data | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.0 32 | Avg rank 10.0 1 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 7.7 1 | Avg rank 18.0 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 9.4 1 | Avg rank 3.0 1 | Nexen Winguard Sport |
💧 Wet: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen Winguard Sport
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 3.3, compared to 19.5 for the Nexen Winguard Sport.
☀️ Dry: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen Winguard Sport
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 4.4, compared to 11.0 for the Nexen Winguard Sport.
❄️ Snow: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen Winguard Sport
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 14.8 for the Nexen Winguard Sport.
🧊 Ice: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen Winguard Sport
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 3.0, compared to no data for the Nexen Winguard Sport.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen Winguard Sport
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 10.0 for the Nexen Winguard Sport.
📏 Mileage: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen Winguard Sport
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 7.7, compared to 18.0 for the Nexen Winguard Sport.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen Winguard Sport
The Nexen Winguard Sport wins this category with an average rank of 3.0, compared to 9.4 for the Continental WinterContact TS 860.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental WinterContact TS 860 or Nexen Winguard Sport?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 ranks higher on average than the Nexen Winguard Sport.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Nexen Winguard Sport across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 ranks better than the Nexen Winguard Sport.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 shows better mileage performance than the Nexen Winguard Sport.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental WinterContact TS 860 appears in 10 independent tests, Nexen Winguard Sport in 3.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →