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Continental WinterContact TS 870 review

The Continental takes six outright test wins

The Continental is exceptional. It took multiple wins in the snow and wet tests, and lapped fastest in the dry. Its tally was six outright test wins, with all but one of the others being podium finishes. 

On the snow it set the standard in both braking and traction and was a close third around the circuit, although it did take a bit of cajoling to give its best. 

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But it made a clean sweep of the wet tests. It was clear of the field in braking and quickest around the wet circle and on the flooded circuit, where it added great traction, precision and unflappable poise; indeed, being stable and fast is a great combination in the wet. It was second in the deeper water of the curved aquaplaning test and third in a straight line. 

You really can have it all with the Continental WinterContact; it was third in dry braking and fastest around the dry handling track, where it demonstrated the same attributes it had in the wet and snow, namely lots of grip, precision and calm composure at the limit. Its weakest score was finishing in fourth place for rolling resistance, but even that wasn’t far off the pace. 

It was our 2020 champ in this size, and this year the Continental is an even more emphatic winner.  

We say…

“An unmatched level of ability in all conditions makes this an truly exceptional winter tyre.”

Blackcircles.com says…

“Feedback suggests these tyres give confidence in cold, wet or snowy conditions, including on ice.”

Continental WinterContact TS 870  
Overall100% 
Price£129 
Snow braking100%1st
Snow traction100%1st
Snow handling99.7%3rd
Straight aquaplaning92.0%2nd
Curved aquaplaning99.7%3rd
Wet braking100%1st
Wet handling100%1st
Wet circle100%1st
Dry braking97.1%3rd
Dry handling100%1st
Cabin noise99.3%2nd
Rolling resistance97.8%4th

Buy the Continental WinterContact TS 870 from Blackcircles.com...

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Products editor

Kim has worked for Auto Express for more than three decades and all but a year of that time in the Products section. His current role as products editor involves managing the section’s content and team of testers plus doing some of the tests himself. 

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