Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter: 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 Pirelli P Zero Winter appear in 11 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 Pirelli P Zero Winter performs. It takes the win in efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 87/100, 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 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Pirelli P Zero Winter 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 | Pirelli P Zero Winter |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Performance Winter | Performance Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 10 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #4 |
| Avg rank | 5.2 | 8.3 |
| Latest test | 2020 | 2024 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91 | 87.1 |
Tire Lab Score
Continental WinterContact TS 860
Pirelli P Zero Winter
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 860 | Pirelli P Zero Winter | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 3.3 74 | Avg rank 7.3 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.4 531 | Avg rank 10.5 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 4.5 452 | Avg rank 10.0 | 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 6.5 | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 7.7 1 | No data | Continental WinterContact TS 860 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 9.4 1 | Avg rank 5.0 | Pirelli P Zero Winter |
💧 Wet: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 3.3, compared to 7.3 for the Pirelli P Zero Winter.
☀️ Dry: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 4.4, compared to 10.5 for the Pirelli P Zero Winter.
❄️ Snow: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 10.0 for the Pirelli P Zero Winter.
🧊 Ice: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 3.0, compared to no data for the Pirelli P Zero Winter.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 6.5 for the Pirelli P Zero Winter.
📏 Mileage: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 wins this category with an average rank of 7.7, compared to no data for the Pirelli P Zero Winter.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental WinterContact TS 860 vs Pirelli P Zero Winter
The Pirelli P Zero Winter wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 9.4 for the Continental WinterContact TS 860.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental WinterContact TS 860 or Pirelli P Zero Winter?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 ranks higher on average than the Pirelli P Zero Winter.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Continental WinterContact TS 860 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Pirelli P Zero Winter 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 Pirelli P Zero Winter.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 shows better mileage performance than the Pirelli P Zero Winter.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental WinterContact TS 860 appears in 10 independent tests, Pirelli P Zero Winter 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 →