75
/ 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 Michelin X Ice Snow — 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
80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
11 professional tests
User signal (40%)
84/100
17 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin X Ice Snow — better treadwear, noise and comfort. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 if dry and wet 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 19
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 56 |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 78 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 97% | 81% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 100% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Blizzak LM005 leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | 71 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 81 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 99% | 72% |
| Wet Circle (% of best) | 100% | 100% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 94% | 96% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
X Ice Snow leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 79 |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 94 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
| Snow Circle (% of best) | 99% | 96% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 97% | 95% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
X Ice Snow leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | 93 |
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 87 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
X Ice Snow leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 63 | 74 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
X Ice Snow leads by 32
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 64 | 88 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 59 | 91 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
X Ice Snow leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Blizzak LM005 | X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 75 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 80 |
| Dry | 84 | 65 |
| Wet | 88 | 75 |
| Snow | 77 | 85 |
| Comfort | 80 | 90 |
| Noise | 63 | 74 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 91 |
| Handling | 73 | 75 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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
75
/ 100
Tire A
80
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 100% #1/6 · 2023/24 Tyre Reviews UHP Winter Tyre Test | 84% #3/5 · The Best Snow Tyres for 2025/26 | +16.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 97% #6/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 81% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +15.9 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #6/9 · 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #4/5 · The Best Snow Tyres for 2025/26 | -1.1 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 83% #1/7 · 2023 AMS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/9 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | -17 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 98% #10/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 97% #5/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +1 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 88% #15/15 · 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | 89% #8/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -0.3 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #2/7 · 2022 Sport Auto All Season Tyre Test | 99% #7/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +1.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 57% #7/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 95% #6/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | -38.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/10 · 2021 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 25% #4/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | +8.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #2/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #13/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +2 | Different tests |
| Snow Circle | Snow | 99% #6/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 96% #3/9 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | +3 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 95% #6/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | +2.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 99% #7/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 97% #4/8 · 2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tyre Test | +2.1 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 98% #5/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 81% #2/8 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | +17.7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 90% #6/11 · 2019 AMS Winter SUV Tyre Test | 98% #3/5 · The Best Snow Tyres for 2025/26 | -7.5 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 90% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 80% #4/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +10 | Different tests |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 100% #1/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 97% #7/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 93% #2/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 78% #5/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +15.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% #2/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 72% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | +27.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 100% #1/10 · 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test | 100% #10/10 · 2026 Tire Rack All-Weather vs Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 94% #2/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 96% #4/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | -2.2 | Different tests |
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.
The Michelin X-Ice Snow is widely regarded as a top-tier studless winter tire, offering exceptional traction in deep snow, slush, and icy conditions. While users note a slight compromise in dry-road handling and noise levels compared to previous iterations or summer tires, the consensus highlights its superior longevity and confidence-inspiring performance in severe winter climates.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and lateral grip in deep snow and slush
- High level of confidence and stability on icy surfaces
- Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality for a dedicated winter tire
Cons
- Average performance and handling on dry or wet pavement
- Increased road noise as the tires wear over time
- Can feel slightly 'twitchy' or less stable at the absolute limit of handling
- Higher price point compared to some competitors
Observations
- Tesla owners report that the tire maintains a quiet cabin environment, effectively managing road noise despite the vehicle's lack of engine sound.
- Users with performance-oriented vehicles like the Lexus IS 350 noted that the tire provides a comfortable ride even in larger 19-inch fitments.
- Drivers of smaller vehicles, such as the Fiat Panda and Mazda MX-5, report high confidence in extreme sub-zero conditions and long-distance winter touring.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 | B · Michelin X Ice Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | 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?
75
/ 100
Bridgestone
80
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin X Ice Snow — better treadwear, noise and comfort. Pick the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 if dry and wet matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 91 vs 59 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 scores 84 vs 65 on dry.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 scores 88 vs 75 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Michelin X Ice Snow scores 74 vs 63 on noise.
Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
Tire B · Michelin X Ice Snow
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 also compared with
Michelin X Ice Snow 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.