Continental's VikingContact 8 Tops Tuulilasi Winter Tyre Test for Ice, Snow and Low Noise

Continental's VikingContact 8 topped a Tuulilasi magazine comparison of eight studless winter tyres, scoring 93 points in tests held in Älvsbyn, Sweden, and Tampere. The lineup included seven tyres aimed at Nordic conditions and one designed for Central European winters.

The magazine praised VikingContact 8's grip on ice and snow, balanced handling, strong wet-asphalt performance and low noise, calling the tyre one that "has virtually no weak points." It awarded full five-star ratings for ice grip, snow grip and noise level, and four stars for wet and dry asphalt traction.

Antti Ahomäki, Continental’s Nordic product manager for winter tyres, said the result reflects the balance needed for northern conditions: strong grip on ice and snow while remaining predictable on wet and dry surfaces. "When conditions change, the tyre must stay controllable; VikingContact 8 combines those properties into a functioning whole," he said.

In the tests the tyre led the field on ice for both acceleration and braking. Snow differences were smaller, but Continental was among the most consistent performers across the board.

The tyre is offered in rim sizes from 15 to 22 inches and is marketed as suitable for vehicles with different powertrains. VikingContact 8 also won Tuulilasi's 2025 comparison and shared first place in last year’s Tekniikan Maailma test.