Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3: 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 870 and Firestone Winterhawk 3 appear in 16 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 870 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 12 tests.
How the Firestone Winterhawk 3 performs. It takes the win in efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 86/100, based on 4 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 870 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Firestone Winterhawk 3 still wins on efficiency, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Continental WinterContact TS 870 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Continental WinterContact TS 870 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Touring Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 12 | 4 |
| Best rank | #1 | #2 |
| Avg rank | 5.0 | 15.3 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2020 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.6 | 85.9 |
Tire Lab Score
Continental WinterContact TS 870
Firestone Winterhawk 3
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 870 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 4.5 137 | Avg rank 22.0 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.1 45 | Avg rank 13.0 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 4.0 647 | Avg rank 13.6 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 3.9 4 | No data | Continental WinterContact TS 870 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.1 23 | Avg rank 11.0 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Avg rank 10.5 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 8.7 | Avg rank 4.0 1 | Firestone Winterhawk 3 |
💧 Wet: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 22.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
☀️ Dry: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 wins this category with an average rank of 4.1, compared to 13.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
❄️ Snow: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 13.6 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🧊 Ice: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 wins this category with an average rank of 3.9, compared to no data for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 wins this category with an average rank of 6.1, compared to 11.0 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
📏 Mileage: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 10.5 for the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Firestone Winterhawk 3
The Firestone Winterhawk 3 wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 8.7 for the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental WinterContact TS 870 or Firestone Winterhawk 3?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 ranks higher on average than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Firestone Winterhawk 3 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 ranks better than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 shows better mileage performance than the Firestone Winterhawk 3.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental WinterContact TS 870 appears in 12 independent tests, Firestone Winterhawk 3 in 4.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →