Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2: 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 2 appear in 18 tests, 3 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 WinterContact TS 860 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 91/100, based on 10 tests.
How the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 performs. It takes the win in mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 8 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 Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in mileage and Tire Lab Score. The Continental WinterContact TS 860 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 snow
Choose Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 if
- You prioritise mileage
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Continental WinterContact TS 860 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 10 | 8 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.2 | 10.8 |
| Latest test | 2020 | 2023 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91 | 91.7 |
Tire Lab Score
Continental WinterContact TS 860
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 3.3 74 | Avg rank 12.4 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.4 531 | Avg rank 7.8 1 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 4.5 452 | Avg rank 11.1 1 | 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 7.9 23 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 7.7 1 | Avg rank 5.5 1 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 9.4 1 | Avg rank 2.6 211 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 3 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 3.3, compared to 12.4 for the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
☀️ Dry: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 4.4, compared to 7.8 for the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
❄️ Snow: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 11.1 for the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
🧊 Ice: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 3.0, compared to no data for the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 7.9 for the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
📏 Mileage: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 7.7 for the Continental WinterContact TS 860.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 wins this category with an average rank of 2.6, 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 2?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 ranks higher on average than the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 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 2.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 shows better mileage performance than the Continental WinterContact TS 860.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental WinterContact TS 860 appears in 10 independent tests, Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 in 8, with 3 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 →