Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 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 870 and Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 appear in 31 tests, 6 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 870 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 12 tests.
How the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 performs. It takes the win in ice, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 91/100, based on 19 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 Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 still wins on ice, 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 ice
- You prioritise efficiency
Test profile
| Metric | Continental WinterContact TS 870 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Touring Winter | Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 12 | 19 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 5.0 | 7.5 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2025 |
| Tire Lab Score | 91.6 | 91.2 |
Tire Lab Score
Continental WinterContact TS 870
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Continental WinterContact TS 870 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 4.5 137 | Avg rank 6.8 26 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 4.1 45 | Avg rank 7.0 123 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 4.0 647 | Avg rank 8.0 152 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 3.9 4 | Avg rank 2.7 11 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.1 23 | Avg rank 7.2 241 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 6.0 1 | Avg rank 7.5 1 | Continental WinterContact TS 870 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 8.7 | Avg rank 4.6 6 | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 6 independent tests:
💧 Wet: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 6.8 for the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
☀️ Dry: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 wins this category with an average rank of 4.1, compared to 7.0 for the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
❄️ Snow: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 8.0 for the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
🧊 Ice: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 2.7, compared to 3.9 for the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 wins this category with an average rank of 6.1, compared to 7.2 for the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
📏 Mileage: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 7.5 for the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
🔋 Efficiency: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 wins this category with an average rank of 4.6, compared to 8.7 for the Continental WinterContact TS 870.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Continental WinterContact TS 870 or Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 ranks higher on average than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 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 Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 shows better mileage performance than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Continental WinterContact TS 870 appears in 12 independent tests, Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 in 19, with 6 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 →