76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
96/100
35 professional tests
User signal (40%)
71/100
110 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 vs Firestone Winterhawk — 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.
VS
86
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
89/100
1 owner review
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Firestone Winterhawk — better treadwear, handling and comfort. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 if wet and dry matter most to you.
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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
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM005 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winterhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 80 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM005 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winterhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 80 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winterhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winterhawk leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winterhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 90 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winterhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 63 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winterhawk leads by 31
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winterhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 64 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 59 | 90 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winterhawk leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | Winterhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 90 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | Firestone Winterhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 86 |
| Dry | 84 | 80 |
| Wet | 88 | 80 |
| Snow | 77 | – |
| Comfort | 80 | 90 |
| Noise | 63 | – |
| Treadwear | 59 | 90 |
| Handling | 73 | 90 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Weight the categories that matter to you
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
76
/ 100
Tire A
86
/ 100
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.
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.
Not enough owner reviews yet to extract themes.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | B · Firestone Winterhawk |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 11 | — |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 21″ | — |
| Tread depth | 9/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Bridgestone
86
/ 100
Firestone
Winner: Firestone Winterhawk — better treadwear, handling and comfort. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 if wet and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Firestone Winterhawk scores 90 vs 59 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Firestone Winterhawk scores 90 vs 73 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Firestone Winterhawk scores 90 vs 80 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 scores 88 vs 80 on wet.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
Tire B · Firestone Winterhawk
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 also compared with
Firestone Winterhawk also compared with
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.