Continental VikingContact 8 vs Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 tires

Continental has been a dependable tire brand since the 1870s and has offered top-notch quality tires consistently to become one of the best premium tire manufacturers in the world. The tire manufacturer is based in Hanover, Germany, and focuses on offering the most innovative and feature-rich tires. Continental’s offerings in the US tire market include all-season, UHP all-season, UHP summer, winter, all-weather, and all-terrain tires. The tire is suitable for use on passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, farm applications, commercial vehicles, and industrial equipment.

Nexen was founded in 1942 and is a South Korean tire brand that offers quality and value-centric tires in the American region. The tire manufacturer is known for its dependable range of all-season, all-terrain, winter, UHP summer, all-weather, highway, UHP all-season, mud-terrain, touring, sport, performance, and UHP summer tires. The range of Nexen tires fit on the variety of vehicles in the US, including passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, EVs, and more.

In this comparison, we will be pitting the Continental VikingContact 8 against the Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 to help drivers choose winter tires as per their driving style, preferences, and budget. To mention, the VikingContact 8 and the Winguard Winspike 3 are both capable winter tires, where the former is a studless winter tire boasting a premium class and cutting-edge innovations, while the latter is a studdable winter tire, offering great value. They both are good for driving on snowy and icy roads in wintry conditions and are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use to combat conditions like thick layers of snow or ice while driving on paved roads.

Let’s dive deeper into this VikingContact 8 vs Winguard Winspike 3 tires comparison and find out which one would be a sensible choice for your driving, based on their traction, handling, and longevity SimpleScores. Read on and get ready to make an informed choice!

Continental VikingContact 8 tires

Commencing with details about the Continental VikingContact 8, the tire made its debut in February 2024 and can be used on passenger cars, EVs, and plug-in hybrids. It comes with an array of features and technologies that define the par excellence of Continental and can offer confident driving in winter weather conditions, when the temperatures are consistently below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

It assures confident driving as it is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified and features a unique directional tread pattern carved out of a new-gen rubber compound for increased flexibility to offer solid traction and grip in harsh Nordic winter conditions. Additionally, the VikingContact 8 is also engineered for noise-free rides, excellent ride comfort, low rolling resistance, and better fuel efficiency. All of these abilities award the VikingContact 8 an overall SimpleScore of 8.8 on a scale of 10.

Get Continental VikingContact 8 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 tires

The Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 was launched in October 2020 and features a studdable tread pattern to house TSMI #12 studs. The tire can be used on passenger vehicles and has the ability to gain extra grip and traction because of its studdable design and Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified construction. Nexen has engineered this winter tire for solid winter traction, strong braking performance, enhanced ride comfort, improved stability, dependable traction, and responsive control on snow and ice-covered roads. Overall, these abilities accredit the Winguard Winspike 3 with an 8.4 SimpleScore.

Get Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Continental VikingContact 8 vs Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 tires on traction

Let’s compare the traction performances of both tires to find out which one out of the two grips the surfaces better in snow and ice, and can be a better companion for those who prefer better traction over anything else.

Starting with the Continental VikingContact 8, it earns a 9.3 SimpleScore in traction, ensuring superior grip and traction on snow and ice in winter weather. It sports an innovative tread design and flexible tread compound for increased grip. There are multiple 3D sipes on the tread along with snow edges and three-layer sipes across the shoulders for increased traction in deep snow and ice. Likewise, the rubber compound with optimum flexibility boosts grip and performance in low temperatures. The presence of lateral grooves ensures seamless water and slush channelling from the contact patch for solid traction and grip on snow and ice.

On the other hand, the Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 scores a dependable 8.5 in traction to provide consistent surefootedness in winter weather. The studdable directional tread pattern that can be pinned with #12 TSMI studs allows the tire to maintain traction in deep snow and ice for a commanding performance. Likewise, the abundance of sipes allows the tire to hold the surface better. The grooves incorporated in the directional design force water, slush, and snow out of the contact patch area for increased grip and traction, while the rubber compound is optimized to additionally provide contact with the surface.

As the scores reveal, the VikingContact 8 is way ahead of the Winguard Winspike 3 in traction because of its world-class technologies and cutting-edge features.

ADVANTAGE: Continental VikingContact 8

Continental VikingContact 8 vs Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 tires on handling

Handling plays a key role, especially in extreme winter weather conditions, where you need better braking performance, ride control, and stability than standard all-season tires. So, let’s find out which of the two tires is better in handling – the VikingContact 8 or the Winguard Winspike 3?

The VikingContact 8 scores an 8.8 for its crisp handling in winter weather and is tuned to reduce tread noise levels for enhanced ride comfort. The tread sipes ensure excellent ride control and braking on snow and ice, and likewise, the wide and flat footprint improves stability in sub-freezing conditions. The extended shoulder blocks additionally contribute to better cornering performance by resisting pressures and providing better manoeuvrability.

Comparatively, the Winguard Winspike 3 secures an 8.2 SimpleScore in handling. The score is decent enough to indicate that the tire provides great steering command and control in winter weather. When pinned with studs (wherever permitted by law), this tire offers impressive braking response and stability in deep snow and ice-covered roads. The tread blocks and flat contact patch help in gaining solid control to enjoy confident drives in winter weather. Similarly, the sharper tread block edges improve surface-biting ability for enhanced winter performance.

While the studdable Winguard Winspike 3 is great on the controllability part, it is the VikingContact 8 that again excels with a superior performance in the handling area.

ADVANTAGE: Continental VikingContact 8

Continental VikingContact 8 vs Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 tires on longevity

Now, let’s find out which of the two tires resists wear better and ensures a lasting service.

Commencing with the VikingContact 8, the longevity rating stands at 8.2, assuring decent service life. The Continental tire’s construction is energy efficient and controls wear rate. Its rolling resistant compound also controls the wear rate for a long-lasting service. The robust inner construction and flat contact patch of the VikingContact 8 keep the tire in shape for even wear and long-lasting service.

On the contrary, the Winguard Winspike 3 flips the game with an 8.5 SimpleScore in longevity. The wide and flat contact patch of the tire promotes even wear for long-lasting wear, whereas the abundant sipes lock the tread optimally for a lasting service. Both the inner construction and the rubber compound of the tire are robust enough to provide superior strength for a long-lasting performance.

Longevity is the area where a big change is noticed; the Nexen tire beats the premium VikingContact 8!

ADVANTAGE: Nexen Winguard Winspike 3

When to use each

Both the VikingContact 8 and the Winguard Winspike 3 are winter tires suitable for driving in moderate to extreme winter conditions on snow and ice-covered roads. These tires can be used in areas where the temperature consistently remains below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. As they both are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, you earn the confidence of driving them in winter weather.

The Winguard Winspike 3 comes with studdable tread, so this means you should use them with studs where it is permitted by law or in the months where the studs are allowed (refer to your region’s local laws to know about the use of studs). The VikingContact 8 is studless; however, its performance on snow and ice is quite promising.

As far as the rim sizes are concerned, the VikingContact 8 is offered in 15- to 22-inch tire sizes, while the Winguard Winspike is available in 13- to 22-inch rim choices.

Which one should you choose?

Based on overall SimpleScores, the VikingContact 8 is certainly better than the Winguard Winspike 3 (8.8 vs 8.4). However, they both have their own merits, and therefore, your consideration for tires should be based on your driving preferences, the choice between studdable vs studless tires, and your budget.

As far as the prices are concerned, the VikingContact 8 is offered at a starting price of at least $209 per tire, while the Winguard Winspike 3 is available at a starting price of at least $84 per tire. This means that a set of four VikingContact 8 tires can be bought at a price of at least $836, whereas a set of four Winguard Winspike 3 tires can be purchased at a starting price of at least $336.

Looking at SimpleScore data, you should pick the Continental VikingContact 8 if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the Chevrolet Cruze, Subaru Crosstrek, or Ford Escape.
• Want a tire that’s better in traction (9.3 vs 8.5)
• Want a tire that’s better in handling (8.8 vs 8.2)
• Want a tire in the rim size range of 15- to 22-inch
• Can pay more to buy an overall better tire with a studless pattern

On the other hand, you should prefer the Winguard Winspike 3 if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the GMC Terrain, Mazda 3, or Ford F-150
• Need a tire that’s better in longevity (8.5 vs 8.2)
• Need a tire in the rim size range of 13- to 22-inch
• Need a reliable and studdable winter tire at a lower price

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.