The Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 is a battle between a proven winter benchmark and Pirelli’s brand-new challenger. Early press-test results suggest the Cinturato Winter 3 is seriously competitive, putting it right on the heels of the TS 870. So, is Pirelli’s latest winter tire good enough to beat one of the best?
Table of Contents
Results: Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
Results below were taken from 2026 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test with a total of 13 tires tested. The graph below shows the comparison between Continental WinterContact TS 870 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 based on the relevant performance category. The Continental WinterContact TS 870 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
Since we are talking about the middle European winter segment with both tires having the converted 3 peak mountain logo, snow performances was tested. The tire size of interest is 205/55 R16 which is a common tire size for Toyota Camry. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a Volkswagen Golf.
Wet
In wet braking, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stops 0.99 meters shorter than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3, giving it a 3% advantage. Wet handling is completely even, with both tires recording 87.5 seconds, a 0% difference. However, the Pirelli fights back strongly in straight aquaplaning, reaching 85.6 km/h compared to 82.7 km/h for the Continental—a 2.9 km/h or 4% advantage.
Overall, the Continental is stronger in wet braking, while the new Pirelli leads in aquaplaning resistance, with wet handling dead even.
Cinturato Winter 3 :
- -3% in wet braking
- 0% in wet handling (lap time)
- +4% in straight aquaplaning
Snow
In snow braking, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 stops 0.29 meters shorter than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3, giving it a 2% advantage. However, the Pirelli is 0.18 seconds quicker in snow traction, a 3% advantage, and 0.44 seconds quicker in snow handling, giving it a further 1% advantage.
Overall, the Continental has a small edge in snow braking, while the Pirelli is stronger in traction and handling.
Cinturato Winter 3 :
- -2% in snow braking
- +3% in snow traction
- +1% in snow handling (lap time)
Dry
In dry braking, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 stops 0.5 meters shorter than the Continental WinterContact TS 870, giving it a 1% advantage. In dry handling, the Continental is 0.35 seconds quicker, giving it a 1% advantage over the Pirelli.
Overall, the Pirelli has a slight edge in dry braking, while the Continental is marginally quicker in dry handling.
Cinturato Winter 3 :
- +1% in dry braking
- -1% in dry handling (lap time)
NVH
In noise, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 is 0.2 dB quieter than the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3, with 67.4 dB compared to 67.6 dB. In percentage terms, the difference is effectively 0%. Overall, both tires are essentially equal for noise, with only a tiny advantage for the Continental.
Cinturato Winter 3 :
- 0% in exterior noise (+0.2 dB)
Rolling Resistance
In rolling resistance, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 records 8.20 N/kN compared to 8.26 N/kN for the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3, a small difference of 0.06 N/kN. This gives the Continental a 1% advantage.
Cinturato Winter 3 :
- -1% in rolling resistance
Price
For 205/55 R16, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 costs €103, while the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 costs €97. That makes the Pirelli €6 cheaper, or around 6% less expensive.
Tire size: 205/55 R16
- WinterContact TS 870 : € 103
- Cinturato Winter 3 : € 97
Difference: -6% more cheaper for Cinturato Winter 3
Conclusion from a Tire Expert’s Perspective:
From my perspective, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 remains the more rounded tire, with stronger wet and snow braking, slightly better dry handling, lower noise and marginally better rolling resistance. The Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3, however, is the more aggressive challenger, with better aquaplaning resistance, stronger snow traction and handling, slightly shorter dry braking, and a 6% lower price.
The key trade-off is clear: Continental gives you stronger braking and overall balance, while Pirelli gives you better aquaplaning, snow mobility and value.
Dr Edwin Pang