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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Continental WinterContact TS 850 — Compared (September 2026)

Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.

Tire A Bridgestone

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

Winter Premium Touring tires

Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
96/100
35 professional tests
User signal (40%)
71/100
110 owner reviews
Dry
84
Wet
88
Snow
77
Comfort
80
Noise
63
Treadwear
59
Handling
73
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Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Continental

Continental WinterContact TS 850

Winter Premium Touring tires

Continental WinterContact TS 850 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
57 owner reviews
Dry
88
Wet
89
Snow
80
Comfort
89
Noise
–
Treadwear
85
Handling
85
Check price on Amazon

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Continental WinterContact TS 850 — better treadwear, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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Category breakdown

7 categories, side by side

Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.

Dry

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 850 leads by 4
A
84
B
88
Why this score
SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 850
Professional tests (TWG score) 89 –
Tire Rack owners 87 –
Tyre Reviews owners 77 88

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 850 leads by 1
A
88
B
89
Why this score
SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 850
Professional tests (TWG score) 91 –
Tire Rack owners 88 –
Tyre Reviews owners 84 89

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 850 leads by 3
A
77
B
80
Why this score
SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 850
Professional tests (TWG score) 80 –
Tire Rack owners 81 –
Tyre Reviews owners 72 80

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 850 leads by 9
A
80
B
89
Why this score
SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 850
Professional tests (TWG score) 84 –
Tire Rack owners 81 –
Tyre Reviews owners 74 89

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A
63
B
–
Why this score
SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 850
Professional tests (TWG score) 63 –

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 850 leads by 26
A
59
B
85
Why this score
SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 850
Tire Rack owners 64 –
Tyre Reviews owners 59 85

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) WinterContact TS 850 leads by 12
A
73
B
85
Why this score
SourceBlizzak LM005WinterContact TS 850
Tyre Reviews owners 73 85

Scores at a glance

CategoryBridgestone Blizzak LM005Continental WinterContact TS 850
Relative Score 76 86
Dry 84 88
Wet 88 89
Snow 77 80
Comfort 80 89
Noise 63 –
Treadwear 59 85
Handling 73 85

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Bridgestone Blizzak LM005

The Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 is widely regarded as a class-leading winter tire for wet and slushy conditions, offering exceptional grip and braking performance that rivals summer tires. While it performs reliably in fresh snow, user consensus indicates a significant decline in performance and tread life after the first two seasons, with many owners reporting premature wear and increased noise levels as the tire ages.

Pros

  • Exceptional wet-weather grip and aquaplaning resistance.
  • Predictable and stable handling on dry roads.
  • Strong performance in slush and fresh snow when new.
  • High levels of ride comfort and low noise levels during the initial phase of ownership.

Cons

  • Rapid and premature tread wear, often failing to last beyond 15,000–20,000 km.
  • Significant performance degradation in snow and ice after the first or second season.
  • Development of loud humming or buzzing noises as the tire ages.
  • Reports of tread deformation, wobbly blocks, or uneven wear patterns.

Observations

  • Heavy vehicles, including EVs and large SUVs, appear to accelerate the rapid tread wear observed by many users.
  • Users with RWD vehicles noted that while the tire is predictable, it can struggle with traction on steep inclines once the tread depth drops below 5mm.
  • Drivers of performance-oriented or heavier cars reported noticeable understeer during spirited driving in dry conditions.
Tire B Continental WinterContact TS 850

The Continental WinterContact TS 850 is widely regarded as a benchmark winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction in snow, slush, and wet conditions. While most users report high levels of confidence and comfort, some note that the tire's soft sidewall construction can lead to a less precise steering feel and accelerated shoulder wear when pushed aggressively in warmer temperatures.

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow and icy conditions
  • Outstanding performance in wet weather with strong resistance to aquaplaning
  • High levels of ride comfort and low cabin noise
  • Strong longevity and durability over high mileage
  • Improved fuel efficiency compared to many summer tire counterparts

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls can result in a 'floating' or vague steering feel during cornering
  • Performance degrades noticeably in temperatures above 10-15°C
  • Reports of accelerated shoulder wear, particularly on heavier or RWD vehicles
  • Occasional complaints regarding reduced grip levels after the first or second season

Observations

  • RWD vehicle owners frequently report that these tires transform winter drivability, allowing for confident navigation in deep snow where other tires struggle.
  • Users transitioning from larger summer wheels to smaller winter setups (e.g., 16-inch or 15-inch) often report significant improvements in ride comfort and fuel economy.
  • Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles noted a lack of turn-in feedback due to the soft sidewall design, which may not suit those seeking a sporty driving experience.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 B · Continental WinterContact TS 850
CategoryWinter Premium Touring tiresWinter Premium Touring tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available11—
Rim diameters17″ – 21″—
Tread depth9/32″—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure50 psi—
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone

Continental

Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 850 — better treadwear, handling and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 85 vs 59 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 85 vs 73 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 89 vs 80 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Continental WinterContact TS 850 scores 88 vs 84 on dry.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
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Tire B · Continental WinterContact TS 850
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How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.