Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4: Hankook’s new evo 4 enters the Central European winter battle with a big question to answer: can it take the fight to Continental?
From rain-soaked motorways to snow-covered mountain roads, this showdown demands more than snow grip alone. The evo 4 has its chance to prove itself against the WinterContact TS 870 P—but has Hankook done enough to make Continental buyers think twice?
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Results: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4
Results below were taken from 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test with a total of 20 tires tested. The graph below shows the comparison between Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 based on the relevant performance category. The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 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 245/45 R19 which is a common tire size for BMW 5 Series & Audi A6. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a BMW 5 series.
Wet
The Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 takes 3.8 metres longer to stop in the wet, at 56.8 m versus Continental’s 53.0 m—a 7% disadvantage. In wet handling, Hankook is 3.2 km/h slower, averaging 79.5 km/h against 82.7 km/h—a 4% disadvantage. It also reaches straight aquaplaning 1.8 km/h earlier, at 90.7 km/h versus 92.5 km/h—a 2% disadvantage.
Continental wins across all three wet tests, with its strongest advantage in braking and handling.
i*cept evo 4 :
- -7% in wet braking
- -4% in wet handling
- -2% in straight aquaplaning
Snow
The Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 stops 0.1 metres shorter on snow, at 29.2 m versus Continental’s 29.3 m—effectively equal at 0% difference. Continental delivers 36 N more traction, at 5,279 N against 5,243 N, putting Hankook 1% behind. In snow handling, Hankook is 1.5 km/h slower, averaging 56.2 km/h versus 57.7 km/h—a 3% disadvantage.
Both tires brake equally well on snow, but Continental has a small traction advantage and a clearer edge in handling.
i*cept evo 4 :
- 0% in snow braking
- -1% in snow traction
- -3% in snow handling
Mileage
The Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 lasts 6,750 km longer, reaching 55,550 km versus 48,800 km for the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P—a 14% mileage advantage. That gives Hankook a clear durability win, offering more kilometres before replacement.
i*cept evo 4 :
- +14% in mileage
Dry
The Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 stops 0.5 metres shorter in dry braking, at 43.7 m versus Continental’s 44.2 m—a 1% advantage. In dry handling, Hankook is just 0.1 km/h slower, averaging 111.6 km/h against 111.7 km/h—effectively equal at 0% difference.
Both tires perform similarly in the dry, with Hankook taking a small braking advantage.
i*cept evo 4 :
- +1% in dry braking
- 0% in dry handling
Noise
The Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 both record 72.1 dB(A) at 80 km/h—a 0 dB difference and 0% difference. Neither tire has a noise advantage in this test.
i*cept evo 4 :
- 0% in exterior noise
Rolling Resistance
The Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 has 0.56 kg/t lower rolling resistance, at 7.64 kg/t versus Continental’s 8.20 kg/t—a 7% advantage. Hankook takes the efficiency win, requiring less energy to roll and helping reduce fuel consumption.
i*cept evo 4 :
- +7% in Rolling resistance
Price
In 245/45 R19, the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 costs €59 less per tire than the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5, at €187 versus €246—making it 24% cheaper. That saves €236 for a set of four, giving Hankook a clear price advantage.
Tire size: 245/45 R19
- WinterContact TS 870 P : € 234
- i*cept evo 4 : € 187
Difference: -20% more cheaper for i*cept evo 4
Conclusion from a Tire Expert’s Perspective:
In my tire expert view, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P earns its premium with stronger wet braking and handling, plus better snow handling. However, the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 4 delivers 14% more mileage, 7% better rolling resistance and slightly shorter dry braking. At €47 less per tire—20% cheaper—I see Hankook as the stronger value choice, while Continental remains my pick for wet-weather performance.
Dr Edwin Pang